Tonbridge Angels 0 Braintree Town 0

Match 69/22/2076 - Saturday, 28th January 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Braintree Town (0) 0
Attendance: 1,001

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,746

With both these teams level on points perhaps a draw was the predictable outcome and so it proved and whilst no goals were scored there was plenty of decent football played by both sides as they attempted to battle their way towards the play offs. Traditionally, Angels have often found the Iron a difficult nut to crack and it was considered that possibly one goal either way might well settle the encounter. In the event, neither defence was breached although to be fair to both sides it wasn’t for the want of trying.

For the Angels starting line up Ben Swift came in for Tommy Parkinson and Tommie Fagg was the replacement for the injured Scott Wagstaff. New signing Bivesh Gurung on loan for one month from Maidstone United saw the match out from the Bench but will have gained a good appreciation of how Tonbridge set up and play.

Supporters arriving just after kick off may have been confused to see Braintree playing in the Tonbridge change strip. A clash of colours forced the referee to insist on the dress code change.

The home side definitely had the better of the first half giving the Braintree defence plenty to think about with Greenidge having a chance in the 4th minute and from the resulting corner the ball had to be cleared off the line.

On 18 minutes a lovely Hinds cross for the home side was headed onto the bar by Turner when it seemed easier to score and there were further chances for Tonbridge through Hinds, Aransibia and Fagg but perhaps the closest Angels came to opening the score was on 38 minutes when Greenidge hit the woodwork with a header followed by Turner again through but his final effort drifted just wide of the left hand post. With Braintree offering little in that first period there was concern that Angels hadn’t been able to get their noses in front while they were on top. Surely the visitors would up their game and so it proved.

For the first 10 minutes of the second period Tonbridge continued their dominance with chances for Braham-Barrett with s 30 yarder which brought a good save from Sims, and Greenidge from close in who claimed vociferously that he had been held. But gradually events started to turn in favour of the visitors who began to get a foothold on the game with substitute Boachie in particular asking questions of the Tonbridge defence. Former Angel, Matt Rush had an effort from distance and at the other end Fagg should have done better on 78 minutes but delayed the shot and the chance was gone.

As the game began to reach its conclusion, Braintree continued to look the likelier to break the deadlock but a combination of poor shooting and the hard work of the Tonbridge defence saw the two teams having to settle for a point apiece which over the 90 minutes was probably a fair result.

Afterwards, Angels Boss Jay Saunders said: “In the end I have to be happy with the point. Earlier in the season it was a game we might well have lost.”

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Harris Academy 1 Hugh Christie 1

Match 68/22/2075 - Wednesday, 25th January 2023 - Kent Schools Premiership

Harris Academy Falconwood (1) 1 8
Hugh Christie (0) 1 Gardner 77
Headcount: 5
Played at Long Lane
New Ground: 353

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 80/4,708
Academy teams: Welling United v Tonbridge Angels

Tonbridge Angels 4 Dover Athletic 0

Match 67/22/2074 - Tuesday, 24th January 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 4 Turner 7 Greenidge 16,50 Wood 90
Dover Athletic (0) 0
Attendance: 661

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,628

Angels cruised to a convincing win against Dover Athletic that takes them to just two points off the play off zone.

It was an unchanged starting line up following the win at St Albans with a welcome return of Ben Swift following injury to the squad although he had to be content to start his evening on the bench.

Tonbridge were out of the blocks very quickly with a Gard effort as early as the 4th minute which was pushed round the post by Whites keeper Nelson. It was a warning to Dover which seemingly they didn’t heed as Angels then went ahead three minutes later. Fielding played in Hinds whose cross reached Turner and having made the space for a shot he fired past Nelson into the roof of the net.

On 15 minutes Angels doubled their advantage. The goalscorer this time delivered a fine cross and there was leading scorer Greenidge with a thumping header that no goalkeeper was going to save.

Although Dover improved their rate of possession they just couldn’t create any realistic chances with the Angels defence easily able to deal with all that was thrown at them.

As the half reached its last few minutes Angels could have gone further ahead following another defence splitting run from Turner which put Tariq Hinds in but it was a decent save from Nelson.

On resumption one might have expected something of a fight back from the visitors but instead it was the hosts that should have gone further ahead through Gard with a Turner assist , but then they did get the third goal that likely killed the game. It was that man Greenidge again this time outrunning the Dover defence with his 11th goal in 11 games and his second of the night.

Once again Dover did have periods of possession but its how you use that possession and with respect they seemed bereft of creative ideas.

Greenidge should have had his hat trick on 63 minutes when once again he found himself clear but this time keeper Nelson made a good block. Eight minutes later Swift now on for Parkinson who had suffered slight concussion, had a chance with a header from a Gard free kick and on 83 minutes it was another substitute Jack Wood who forced the keeper again into serious action saving his shot following a Tommie Fagg pass.

Wood however was not to be denied when in the 90th minute he scored Angels 4th goal of the night and it could have got even worse for Dover when Gard found himself clear of a tiring Whites defence but the hit was straight at Nelson.

Angels Boss, Jay Saunders, said afterwards: “Delighted with the win with everyone playing their part. We were both clinical in attack and sound defensively.”

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Sutton Common Rovers U18 0

Match 66/22/2073 - Monday, 23rd January 2023 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 Firman 41 Lambert 89
Sutton Common Roves U18 (0) 0
Attendance: 30

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,590

A first-ever win for Tonbridge Angels Under-18's against Isthmian Youth champions, and this season’s league leaders, Sutton Common Rovers came in quite bizarre circumstances that would not have been witnessed many times before.

Three times the Angels were awarded penalties, three times they were missed without working the goalkeeper, with two different takers.

SCR came with a depleted side, but this was probably the Angels best performance of the season and it would have been interesting to see where this performance might have taken them against a full strength Sutton team.

From the first whistle to the last, Tonbridge showed an attacking intent and displayed a creativity that produced chance after chance but, sadly, in front of goal opportunities came and went with regular abandon.

After a bright start, the Angels were awarded a penalty after eight minutes when Ethan Knight was brought down but Felix Waring’s spot kick cleared the bar.

Sam Firman tested the SCR goalkeeper, Derek Humphries before, on 21 minutes, a second penalty was awarded, this time for a foul on Will Puffette. Waring bravely stepped up again but his effort was this time wide of the right hand post.

Whilst the Angels were still enjoying the better part of possession, SCR created a couple of chances around the half-hour with Lorcan Oliver firing over and Matt Larkin making a really good save to deny Daniel Lewis.

Four minutes remained of what might have been seen as a frustrating half when the home side put together a top quality move that brought the opening goal. Rockie Burke started the move with a pass that sent Cameron Honavar away and his pass found Firman in space to drive the ball into the bottom corner.

Honavar stretched Humphries again before the break with the Angels good value for their lead.

The Angels continued their dominance in the opening minutes of the second period with Knight and Honavar going close before, after 49 minutes, they were awarded a third penalty after Max Lambert had been felled. This time the responsibility fell to Max Cormack, but once again the spot kick cleared the bar.

Chance creation could not be faulted as Lambert sent Honavar clear only to be thwarted by the keeper’s legs and then Lambert struck a post.

With so many chances spurned, it seemed almost inevitable that SCR would get one chance and that would be all they needed but Larkin was alert to save from Xavier Obi and Max Lapa.

The game was finally put to bed in the 89th minute but not before efforts from Burke, Lambert and Puffette had brought more frustration. But, good work from Burke ended with the ball falling at the feet of Lambert who hooked home from close range.

Dom Welsh was pleased with the performance and his side’s creativity but even he was perplexed as to how only two goals were scored!

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

FC Elmstead 4 Staplehurst Monarchs 0

Match 65/22/2072 - Saturday, 21st January 2023 - SCEFL Division One

FC Elmstead (2) 4 Gugas-Cowen 1 Keeble 38,51 Sheridan 86
Staplehurst Monarchs (0) 0
Attendance: 44

Admission: £4
Programme: Included
Mileage: 64/4,552

Postponements elsewhere offered the opportunity of a rare lend of support to my local club, Staplehurst Monarchs, away at FC Elmstead, who groundshare at Sutton Athletic. Unfortunately for the Monarchs, it would have to be an away game as they have suffered more than most with postponements, having not had a home game for seven weeks.

It was another bone chilling afternoon and as the game wore on into its closing stages, the players studs on the hardening surface sounded like the runners and riders going past at Epsom.

Staplehurst could possibly lay claim to being a bit ring rusty having only had a three games in that seven week period and they were certainly caught cold as the home side were ahead in just 28 seconds. The lack of a team sheet for Elmstead means credit can’t be given to anyone other than the goalscorer in a well worked move down the left which ended with the ball being fed to the right hand angle of the six yard box from where Joedon Gugas-Cowan drove the ball into the bottom corner.

Elmstead stayed on the front foot with Steve Lawrence saving after five minutes but Staplehurst immediately mounted their first attack on goal that saw Lorenzo Couzzo test the home goalkeeper.

But that proved to be the only time he was tested in the opening half-hour as Elmstead created and wasted several good chances.

On the half hour, the Monarchs had their best chance of the half, and ultimately the game, as Brad Large sent David Latunde clear but his effort was saved by the legs of the advancing keeper.

Kieron Pallett fired over before Elmstead went two in front with a goal direct from a corner by Callum Keeble that sailed over the head of Lawrence to nestle into the far corner. Due warning of Keeble’s ability to inswing a corner had been given from his previous two such crosses.

On 40 minutes, Pallett saw yellow for a challenge that whilst bookable it highlighted the Elmstead’s bench for their propensity to over reaction. There is little doubt that refereeing at this level could be better, but the constant haranguing of the officials ultimately does no one any favours.

Another yellow card, this time for Sam Swift brought the same reaction with no small indiscretion being an opportunity missed for more abuse of the referee's ears.

A half-time retreat to the warmth of the clubhouse and a cuppa was rewarded with a biscuit to go with the tea, a welcome first!

Unfortunately, Elmstead’s show of charity was reciprocated early in the second period as Lawrence was caught dwelling on the ball which led to the ball being robbed and crossed to give Keeble a tap-in that as good as signalled game over.

When Staplehurst’s Latunde was bundled over when through on goal, the Elmstead bench stayed strangely quiet and the yellow card stayed in the pocket. The free kick, 20 yards out, was driven tamely into the wall.

The home side were in complete control of the game with chances before wrapping up their comfortable victory in the 84th minute when Harry Sheridan converted from around 10 yards after a cross from the bye-line.

As the Monarch’s tweeted after the match, they’ve had better days at the office.

Chatham Town U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 64/22/2071 - Monday, 16th January 2023 - Isthmian Youth

Chatham Town U18 (1) 1 Obeng 28
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Honavar 19
Attendance: 32

Admission: £1
Programme: None
Mileage: 32/4,488

The Under-18’s battled hard to take a point from Maidstone Road after going down to 10 men with 15 minutes to go when Mike Hollamby saw red for a second cautionable offence.

It was a pretty chilly evening but at least it was dry as Dom Welsh’s troops took to Chatham’s 3G showing a couple of changes with Hollamby and Ethan Knight coming into the starting XI.

Tonbridge started well and dominated the first half-hour in which they took the lead on 19 minutes.

First chance of the game fell to Knight who pulled his shot wide and this was quickly followed by Max Cormack testing the Chats goalkeeper, Rashawn Bowton, who despite his diminutive stature had a good game.

The goal was a fine individual effort from Cameron Honavar, who skilfully skipped a couple of challenges to tuck it past the advancing keeper.

Following the goal, the Angels continued to dominate with Bowton saving well from Felix Waring and Knight, so it was a surprise and somewhat disappointing when a defensive error allowed Adom Obeng to equalise for the home side.

The goal encouraged the Chats and they were the equals of their visitors for the remainder of the half.

In what was a good game, both sides started the second period brightly with the Angels seeing a header from a corner cleared from the line whilst a great effort from Harry Beech, for Chatham, rattled the cross bar.

Perhaps Chatham had marginally the better of the early part of the second half with Beech and Calum Scovell having efforts that were not too far wide whilst Honavar had a great chance, on 66 minutes, that was a whisker wide.

The game might have, should have, had a nervous ending for the Angels when Hollamby was sent off. His first touch on the touchline was a little heavy and in an effort to retrieve the ball his lunge carried him into his opponent, but down to 10 men the Angels were actually the better side for the final 15 minutes which, mysteriously, included the best part of 10 minutes added.

Honavar brought a good save from Bowton with a header, but at the other end a great chance was spurned when Matt Larkin parried from Beech, but the ball fell invitingly for a follow-up shot that was put wide.

A draw was the right result and Dom Welsh reflected afterwards: “A much improved performance, defensively excellent throughout (we made one mistake all game defensively and got punished), we just lacked the final finishing touch.”

St Albans City 2 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 63/22/2070 - Saturday, 14th January 2023 - National League South

St Albans City (1) 2 McConnell 13,64
Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Turner 35 Greenidge 37,88
Attendance: 1,205

Admission: Pass
Programme: Not Purchased
Mileage: 170/4,456

Angels repeated their feat of last season by travelling to Clarence Park and coming away with all the points and by the same score line with even a player, Joe Turner, scoring again but this time he had to be content with the opening Tonbridge goal rather than the winner; he won’t be complaining.

Tom Parkinson came in for the injured Ben Swift while Craig Braham-Barrett came to the back line with Jack Wood dropping to the bench.

It was the usual quiet start to the game as both teams worked each other out but gradually St Albans started to take the ascendancy with Wiltshire and Neal both having sights of the Angels goal but nothing to seriously worry Jonny Henly. That said Saints were starting to move through the gears nicely and it came as no surprise when they opened the scoring in the 13th minute through McConnell despite there being a suspicion of offside.

St Albans continued to look comfortable with Angels having difficulty in putting together any fluent moves. It was a case of digging in and preventing St Albans from increasing the scoreline. In fact it took until the 25th minute before the visitors put together anything to seriously worry the home side defence. A Braham-Barrett cross was scrambled away by the Saints defence. But it encouraged Angels to be more adventurous and suddenly there was Joe Turner, following a Lewis Gard pass, scampering through the St Albans defenders and shooting past keeper Dylan Berry.

If that could be said to be somewhat against the run of play then what was to follow was extraordinary. On 37 minutes a Tonbridge corner saw Jordan Greenidge rise highest in the Saints goal area and Angels found themselves ahead. It was quite a turnaround and certainly not in the script so far as St Albans were concerned.

Sound defending saw the visitors go in for the break still ahead. It was obvious that playing down the slight slope as is their preferred option that Saints would come at their guests from the very start of the second period. And so it proved with a dangerous home corner that put the Angels back line into all sorts of trouble but the final effort from the attackers was blazed high over the bar.

There was the occasional Angels raid typified in the 63rd minute when Greenidge seemingly chasing a lost cause almost embarrassed the City defender. A minute later St Albans almost predictably had drawn level with McConnell claiming his second goal of the afternoon converting a cross from the right.

At that point it was really a case of whether Angels could hang on and claim a more than useful point. With St Albans making the most of the running the visiting defence rose to the challenge and constantly frustrated the hosts in their efforts to restore the lead.

On 75 minutes Aransibia took a free kick for the visitors. It was struck well enough but straight at Berry. It was at the other end where most of the action was taking place but for all their efforts it was increasingly looking like the draw. But Angels had other ideas.

On 89 minutes, Jack Wood, an inspired substitution, started moving the ball with pace deep into the Saints penalty area and whilst he might have gone all the way his shot instead ricocheted across the area with Greenidge at an acute angle squeezing the ball between goalpost and keeper for his second of the game.

Despite a dangerous near post St Albans header in stoppage time Angels held on to claim an important three points which still keeps them in touch with those coveted play-off positions.

A delighted Angels Boss, Jay Saunders said afterwards: “We have come here today and beaten a team who in my opinion are the best we’ve come up against so far this season. After the disappointment of the festive period double header defeat against Welling and last Saturday (3-3 draw with Slough) I have to be very pleased with todays result.”

Tonbridge Angels Academy 2 Worthing Academy 2

Match 62/22/2069 - Wednesday, 11th January 2023 - National League U19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 2 Velvick 14 Green 85
Worthing Academy (1) 2 Dolaghan 28 Thorne 63
Headcount: 12

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,286

Where’s VAR when you need it!

The Academy were denied a last kick of the match winner by a linesman’s flag who gave a hairline decision against Hayden Velvick, who had allegedly strayed offside. In all fairness, whilst a late winner would cheer the hearts of Tonbridge Angels supporters, it would have been rough justice on a Worthing side that fully deserved to take something out of the game.

The draw maintains the Academy’s position at the top of the National League Under-19 Alliance but they lose their 100% record.

Following last week’s one-sided romp for the Angels, this game provided excellent entertainment with both sides neither asking or giving any quarter.

Tom Parkinson’s side was forced into a couple of changes with academic examinations taking priority for Josh McArthur and Shea Brennan.

After a fairly quiet opening the first chance of the game fell to Worthing after 13 minutes with a shot that was pulled narrowly wide, but within a minute it was the Angels that opened the scoring. A shot from Will Saunders was parried by the Worthing goalkeeper but leading scorer Velvick was on hand to seize onto the loose ball to score and take his total for the season to 22.

Tonbridge might have gone 2-0 up just three minutes later when, in similar circumstances to the opening goal, the goalkeeper parried a shot from Joe Tyrie into the path of Velvick who tucked it home but the referee decided that the goalkeeper had sufficient downward pressure on the ball to deem that it was kicked from his hands.

The Worthing goalkeeper saved well from Velvick and Saunders shot over as the Angels were well on top at this stage of the game.

But the visitors fought back and it took a superb challenge from Ashton Thomas to foil one attack which was followed quickly by a shot that was narrowly wide from the full back. So, it came as little surprise, when on 28 minutes a fine move that started on the left with a fine cross from Lewis Thorne found Bradley Dolaghan at the far post to score, this being his 23rd goal of the season.

Although Sam Grant tested the Worthing goalkeeper, the visitors remained on top for the remainder of the half although Angels’ keeper, Lewis Wilkins wasn’t seriously tested.

The Angels came out from the dressing room for the second period with a renewed sense of purpose and very nearly regained the lead after three minutes when a brilliant pass from Billy Robbins found Leo Vowles whose fiercely struck shot came back from the underside of the crossbar, despite protests that the ball had crossed the line, the game continued.

Worthing were still giving as good as they got and it wasn’t undeserved when they went in front after 63 minutes with some excellent work down the left hand side saw the ball crossed from the byeline for Thorne to drive it into the bottom corner.

With a league defeat for the first time this season staring them in the face, Tonbridge threw everything at their visitors in search of an equaliser. Substitute Tom Green fired over; and the goalkeeper bravely saved at the feet of Robbins before, with 10 minutes remaining, what looked to be the golden chance, Hermitage headed wide from a Grant cross.

But the Angels stuck at it and their equaliser came on 85 minutes when a quick throw from Grant found Robbins whose cross saw Green smash home from around the penalty spot.

Green had the ball in the net again with three minutes to go, this time disallowed for a foul before, in the seventh minute of time added, from Vowles’ cross, Velvick turned and shot only for the celebrations to be cut short.

It was great entertainment and, guess what, we can do it all again as the two teams meet again at Woodside Road next Wednesday.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Faversham Town 0

Match 61/22/2068 - Tuesday, 10th January 2023 - Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Wood 7 Turner 19
Faversham Town (0) 0
Attendance: 58

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,248

Tonbridge Angels U18 0 Maidstone United U18 3

Match 60/22/2067 - Monday, 9th January 2023 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 0
Maidstone United U18 (1) 3 Court (pen) 31 Barber 49 Hatton 63
Attendance: 51

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/4,210

The Angels Under-18’s opened their 2023 account with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to their A26 rivals, Maidstone United, who were much improved from the opening game of the season and dominated from the first whistle through to the last.

From the moment, 20 seconds into the match, that William Barber was sent clear to put his effort into the side netting, the visitors were quicker to the ball, passed it better and won the challenges that mattered and in Riley Court, had the best player on the pitch.

It was a difficult evening, one that Dom Welsh called as indifferent whilst complimenting Maidstone on their excellent performance.

What might have been, had a 10th minute goal for the Angels not been ruled out, who knows but from that moment, Maidstone took control of the game and it took some solid defending from the Angels to maintain the goalless status until just past the half-hour mark when Court converted from the penalty spot after a foul in the box.

Chances came and went for the Stones with Barber and Elliot Wenham missing the target and Matt Larkin saving well from Court, but at just the single goal, the home side were still in the game at the break as a fair proportion of the attendance headed for the warmth of the bar on a cold evening.

Tonbridge had an early second half opportunity when Felix Waring’s effort was deflected for a corner from which Will Puffette steered a header wide.

On 49 minutes, a swift counterattack from the visitors led to their second goal when an Angels attack broke down, the ball was swept out to the left and, in the blink of an eye, a run and cross saw Barber touching in from close range.

Maidstone reasserted their control on the game with Tyler Jackson-Hunt heading wide from a corner and Larkin saving well to deny Joe Terry.

The game was effectively was put to bed in somewhat controversial circumstances just past the hour, when Larkin appeared to be fouled when dealing with a cross before the ball was stabbed home by Tayler Hatton from a couple of yards.

Substitutions revitalised the Angels and they did make a spirited end to the game but Maidstone defended steadfastly with blocks from a shot from Waring and a cross from Joe Newman that begged a touch.

Larkin excelled in the final moments turning over a Terry free kick as the visitors took home the points.

Tonbridge Angels 3 Slough Town 3

Match 59/22/2066 - Saturday, 7th January 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (3) 3 Greenidge 20,45 Aransibia 44
Slough Town (0) 3 Lench 50 Goddard 76 Amartey 80
Attendance: 853

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/4,172

With a run of three consecutive defeats immediately behind them and their visitors Slough Town sitting in 18th position it would have been seen by Angels supporters as an opportunity to perhaps get back to winning ways. As we all know football often doesn’t produce the results that appear and so it proved in this game.

Looking at Angels starting line up, Tariq Hinds replaced Craig Braham-Barrett at left back while Ben Swift returning from injury was preferred to Tommy Parkinson at centre back.

A blustery Longmead saw Slough make the better start with Obi forcing a terrific save from Henly and the Angels keeper again called into serious action all within the first 10 minutes. Gradually however Tonbridge started to take control of proceedings. In the 20th minute a glorious cross from Angels right back Fielding saw Greenidge take full advantage and put the home side in front.

There were then more chances for Tonbridge through Miles, and Wood but eventually Angels made the pressure tell with a double strike just before half time. A Turner cross gave Aransibia the opportunity to head past Forster and then with the Slough defence in disarray Greenidge got his second goal following good work by Gard.

If Angels thought the match was done and dusted in their favour they were to be very mistaken. Within six minutes of the restart Slough had reduced the arrears through a Matt Lench long range effort and with the wind in their favour the Rebels looked like they might get something from the game.

Slough always looked the likelier to add to the scoreline and produced a number of long range efforts that just went wide. But it was simply a prelude to what was to prove an exciting end. On 75 minutes Goddard was allowed to turn on the edge of the box and let fly with a 20 yarder that put Slough just one behind. On 86 minutes the visitors then drew level with recent loan signing Amartey producing a wonderful strike. At that point they might have harboured thoughts of winning the game but in the end the drama was over with Angels wondering how they had let a 3-0 half time lead let slip.

Angels Boss,Jay Saunders didn’t hold back in his post match comments; “I’m very disappointed with the end result. Quite honestly it feels like a defeat. When you are 3-0 up at the break and playing at home then you must see the game out. We’ve scored goals, yes, but it’s our defensive duties that have let us down today.”

Sheppey United Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 19

Match 58/22/2065 - Wednesday, 4th January 2023 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Sheppey United Academy (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels Academy (4) 19 Vowles 2,56,90 McArthur 3,55,59,84 OG 9 Saunders 23 Hermitage 51 (pen),54,63,68 Green 65 Velvick 77 Tyrie 78 Grant 81,89 Thomas 82
Headcount: 12

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 52/4,134

The Academy showed very little mercy on bottom placed Sheppey United as they racked up their biggest ever Academy win with an amazing 15 second half goals.

Sheppey are in their first year in the National League Under-19 Alliance and were no match for an established Academy, least of all the reigning champions and the club setting the pace this season.

Given the ultimate result, it was a steadfast effort from the islanders to go into the break four goals down, having conceded three in the opening 10 minutes. But an early salvo of second half goals saw heads drop and as legs became cramped, the Angels were scoring almost at will in the final 20 minutes.

It was a blustery day at Holm Park which, before kick off, made you wonder if it could be a leveller but the game was already beyond doubt after nine minutes as the Angels raced into a three goal lead.

A first minute corner won after Leo Vowles brought a good save from the home goalkeeper but poor marking from the resultant corner allowed Vowles to score from close range. Within a minute, Josh McArthur drove into the box to bury his shot into the bottom corner. When a cross from the right was turned into his own net by a Sheppey defender, the game was as good as over before 10 minutes had elapsed.

The Ites youngsters steadied the ship somewhat and fashioned a chance of their own but the shot was struck over the bar.

After 23 minutes a really good move involving Hayden Velvick and McArthur opened an opportunity for Will Saunders to crash home a fourth.

Tonbridge created several chances in what was mostly one-way traffic but some brave goalkeeping kept the score at 4-0.

And so to the second half that became an avalanche of goals from minute 51 through to the 59th in which the scoreline went from four to nine. Ben Hermitage scored from the penalty spot and three minutes later capitalised on a woeful back pass. McArthur rolled a shot in for seven; Vowles from close range for eight before McArthur claimed his hat trick.

A 20 yard effort from Hermitage brought up his hat trick and took the Angels total into double figures and after Hermitage had struck both bar and post in the space of 10 seconds, Tom Green smashed home the eleventh and, after 68 minutes, Hermitage got his fourth and the Angels 12th.

It was a strange anomaly that 12 goals scored and, despite his usual hard working performance, leading scorer Velvick had failed to find the net. This was corrected on 77 minutes, linking with Hermitage before slotting home.

It initiated another flurry of goals, five in seven minutes, as the Sheppey side folded.

Skipper Joe Tyrie found the top corner from 25 yards; substitutes Sam Grant and Ashton Thomas and McArthur’s fourth took it to 17.

Added time goals from Grant and Vowles rounded off the one-sided encounter.

Sheppey United are a progressive club with a rich Kent Youth League pedigree, one hopes that they are able to recover from a chastening first season experience to establish their Academy in the National League Alliance.

Welling United 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 57/22/2064 - Sunday, 1st January 2023 - National League South

Welling United (2) 2 Maloney 14 Azeez 45
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Gard 23
Attendance: 932

Admission: Pass
Programme: Not purchased
Mileage: 80/4,082

A family bereavement had already cast a cloud over Christmas and two defeats over the festive period to Welling United failed to add even a slither of sunshine to dispel the personal gloom.

Irritatingly, as with the game at Longmead on Boxing Day, the Angels deserved to take something from the game but Welling are blessed with Ade Azeez, who only needs a sniff of a chance.

Jay Saunders made two changes from the Boxing Day game with Tom Parkinson in for the injured Ben Swift and Joe Turner returning to the starting XI after his hernia operation for Louis Collins.

Park View Road is finally a ground that might soon be in the throes of some loving care. The far end is now condemned and out of use, as is the underneath of the main stand which meant that the teams emerged from groundsharers Erith and Belvedere’s dressing rooms.

Sadly, what doesn’t change is Tonbridge’s inability to win a game there, with no win ever recorded against a Welling side.

Welling started the brighter and in the fourth minute Jamie White hit the crossbar following a free kick and three minutes later another Wings free kick went inches wide of Jonny Henly’s right hand post.

Angels simply couldn’t get the ball down and create any kind of cohesive play and there was an air of inevitability about Welling opening the scoring after 14 minutes. A cross from the left was touched back into the path of Taylor Maloney whose shot from 20 yards flew into the top corner.

Shaken out of their early lethargy, the Angels settled and started to give the Welling defence something to think about. After 23 minutes, Devonte Aransibia moved the ball out wide to Scott Wagstaff, whose cross was partially cleared but only to Lewis Gard who moved to the right to strike between the goalkeeper and his near post from a fairly acute angle.

Four minutes later, Jack Wood was denied by a brilliant last ditch challenge but it was Welling that regained their lead a minute before the break when Daniel Nkrumah, a fine prospect on loan from Leyton Orient, turned Jamie Fielding on the left to put in a cross that Azeez met at the near post.

Gard had an opportunity in first half added time but his deflected shot was well saved by Myles Roberts.

After 63 minutes, Papadoplous hit the post for the hosts but from then until the final whistle it was the Angels that were the dominant side. A shot from substitute Tommie Fagg, dipped late and only just cleared the bar and when in the final seconds of the game the ball fell inviting to Ruben Soares-Junior it seems a well-earned point was to be had, but as the ball sailed over the bar it signalled just another frustrating afternoon at Park View Road.