Eastbourne Borough Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 2

Match 94/22/2101 - Wednesday, 29th March 2023 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Eastbourne Borough Academy (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 2 Hermitage 19,72
Headcount: 21

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 66/6,571

The Academy edged ever closer to retaining their National League Under-19 Alliance title with a workmanlike performance against a resilient Eastbourne Borough side that battled to the final whistle despite playing for 55 minutes with 10 men.

Chatham Town maintained their relentless pursuit with a 5-0 win at VCD but this could come to an end after the Easter break should the Angels also beat VCD and the Chats lose to Maidstone United.

Whilst Eastbourne gave Tommy Parkinson’s lads a much sterner challenge than they did at Longmead back in December when the Angels ran out 8-2 winners, for much of the game they were well in control.

Tonbridge should have been in front within the first two minutes when Hayden Velvick set up Ben Hermitage for a tap-in at the far post, but the striker who came into the game with 34 goals to his credit, steered his close range effort wide of the post.

Hermitage atoned for his miss on 19 minutes when he was on hand to open the scoring after firstly, a Fyn Rutherford effort came back off the bar to Ashton Thomas whose shot was parried by goalkeeper, Finlay Tarrant, but only into the path of Hermitage who made no mistake.

Eastbourne worked hard to get themselves back in the game with Ollie Peterson proving a handful but their cause was not helped when Shea Brennan was brought down on the edge of the box as the Tonbridge midfielder was about to break through. The referee decided that the defender had been the last man and issued a red card, in fairness, it seemed a harsh decision.

Into the second period and with their man advantage, Tonbridge sought to capitalise but found a hardworking Eastbourne defence a tough nut to crack. Early in the half, after Kian Austin had sent Hermitage clear, penalty appeals were turned away as he was brought down and from a free kick Austin saw a header drift wide.

After 57 minutes, Chester Smith rescued a tricky situation with an interception to deny Peterson but the threat to the Angels goal was rarity.

Chances for the Angels, the keeper saving at the feet of Rutherford and a header over from Tom Green, came and went before they doubled their lead from the penalty spot after 72 minutes when Hermitage converted after Josh McArthur had been brought down.

Smith had a heart stopping moment when his clearing header narrowly went the right side of his own post and with nine minutes remaining, at the other end, McArthur rattled the bar after robbing a defender of the ball.

Tommy Parkinson commented that his side had not been at their best “by a long way” with decision making and quality letting them down. But he also gave credit to their hosts who had defended well and worked tirelessly despite going down to 10 men.

Tonbridge Angels 4 Hungerford Town 3

Match 93/22/2100 - Saturday, 25th March 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (4) 4 Jack Wood 15,22 Turner 33 Greenidge 45
Hungerford Town (1) 3 Gyebi 9 Great Evans 77,78
Attendance: 1,169

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/6,505

When a 95th minute Hungerford cross from the right sailed to the far post to be met by the head of the towering, aptly named Great Evans, memories of the January visit of Slough flashed before our eyes. As the best part of 1,200 people held their breath the ball drifted harmlessly wide to the signal the referee’s final whistle. Tonbridge Angels had dodged a bullet and their play-off hopes remained on course.

It should never have been like that. A 4-1 half-time lead against a team in the relegation zone with an abysmal away record had engendered hopes that a confidence boosting, high scoring win was within the Angels’ grasp. But, of course, Tonbridge don’t do easy.

Non-League Day brought an extra couple of hundred through the turnstiles and, hopefully, some of the Football League season ticket holders who entered for a tenner went home having seen an exciting game and encouraged to return. The regulars would have preferred easy street.

The pursuit of a National South play-off spot was given a further boost earlier in the week with the return of Jeremy Santos, on loan from Charlton to the end of the season. Santos took his place on the bench with Bailey Akehurst, on loan from Gillingham, replacing Craig Braham-Barrett, who is on international duty, captaining Montserrat.

Hungerford took a surprise lead after 10 minutes with a goal of disappointing simplicity. A corner was partially cleared but the recycled cross from Evans allowed Jeremiah Gyebi a free header.

The curse of Tonbridge’s form against the lower placed sides was quickly lifted with an equaliser within five minutes from Jack Wood. A long ball forward from Joe Turner found Lewis Gard who played in Wood to come in from the right, travel across the face of goal past two defenders, before shooting into bottom right hand corner.

The Angels were in front on 22 minutes with a fine team goal. From the heart of defence the ball was played out to the left where Turner interchanged with Scott Wagstaff who played the ball down the line for Akehurst to deliver a delicious cross that was misjudged by the Hungerford goalkeeper, Jed Ward, and once the ball sailed over his head, Wood was at the far post to touch the ball home for his eighth goal of the season.

Devonte Aransibia forced Ward into a save at his feet before the Angels took a 3-1 lead after 33 minutes through Joe Turner, who received a pass from Jordan Greenidge, who had outmuscled his marker, to shoot under the body of the advancing Ward.

Henly dealt comfortably with a shot from Ryan Jones and a shot from Jake Evans cleared the bar by some distance, before on the stroke of half time, Greenidge capitalised on some calamitous defending, to intercept a woeful back pass from Matt Berry-Hargreaves and shoot past the helpless Ward.

Jack Wood was replaced five minutes into the second period with an injury and when Greenidge steered a header wide soon after it seemed that the big victory was still on the cards.

But the game went strangely flat and little of note happened until 13 minutes from time when the visitors pulled a goal back through Great Evans for little more than a consolation until a minute later when a cross from the left wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell at the feet of Evans to score again and now the home faithful’s nerves were very much on edge.

And live on their nerves they did as Hungerford piled forward until the not-so great Evans header relieved their agony.

In terms of Non-League Day it was a great success; it should have been a day when supporters left Longmead buoyant at a win, heavy in size, but people left grumbling that it was almost thrown away. I’m grateful that the Slough feeling was just about avoided.

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Cray Valley PM U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 92/22/2099 - Thursday, 23rd March 2023 - Isthmian Youth League

Cray Valley PM U18 (1) 1 Knight 17
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Lambert 10
Attendance: 29

Admission: £4
Mileage: 80/6,467

The Under-18’s produced a brave performance to come away from Cray Valley, potentially the eventual champions, with a hard earned and well deserved point.

The point lifted the hosts to league’s summit and set up an intriguing clash next week against the reigning champions Sutton Common Rovers, that could well decide the destination of the title.

On a miserably wet evening, manager Dom Welsh drafted in 16 year-old Noah Mills at left back with 15 year-old Fin McLeod up top and another 15 year-old in Harry Johns on the bench.

Kicking up the slope in the first half on a pitch that had held up remarkably well given the conditions of the last couple of days, the Angels started brightly and were ahead in the 10th minute when a free kick from 20 yards was drilled into the bottom corner by Max Lambert.

Sadly for the Angels the lead didn’t last too long and Cray were on level terms after 17 minutes when Oliver Knight drove a shot home from 12 yards after goalkeeper Matt Larkin had saved well an initial effort from Alex Jones.

It was a measure of the defensive performances of Will Puffette and Tom Green that Larkin was not asked to make another save of note during the first 45 minutes. At the other end of the field, Cray goalkeeper, Aidan Wicks saved from McLeod whilst Cameron Honavar shot over.

Defences ruled the evening as neither goalkeeper was seriously tested during a hard fought second period. Cray Valley’s best chance came after just three minutes when Sinayomi Abiola met a corner with a powerful header that cleared the bar.

After 53 minutes, Felix Waring brought a good save out of Wicks and the keeper was brought in action again saving from Sam Firman with a follow-up effort from Honavar blocked.

The last half-hour was a midfield battle in which the Angels youngsters stood up well to the task with no great alarms or Larkin needing to make a single save.

Dom Welsh felt that his side’s performance was “up there with the best of the season” whilst highlighting the youthfulness of his team against, and we will find out next week, possibly the best team in the league.

Gillingham 2 Crewe Alexandra 1

Match 91/22/2098 - Tuesday, 21st March 2023 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 2 Nichols 57 O'Brien 71
Crewe Alexandra (0) 1 Ainley 62
Attendance: 5,796

Admission: £19
Mileage: 40/6,387

Tuesday night, for the first time in three years, I sat in my old season ticket seat of 20+ years in the Gordon Road Stand. On my occasional visits this season I have borrowed my brother’s Rainham End season but find the atmosphere, shall we say a bit too raucous. I counted a dozen supporters that have continued to sit in their seats for the duration of my absence and it was good to sit there and witness a different, more senior, set of people’s feelings on the new era. Without doubt the atmosphere is better, it could hardly have gotten worse, but I sense that the feel good factor of the Galinson’s is fragile. Now, that feeling is not in any way a thought that the Galinson’s have had a honeymoon period and that is coming to an end but that I don’t think the type of football that was on offer on the night is going to be tolerated past the end of this season and safety.

Despite the wins and good home form, I don’t get the impression that Neil Harris has won over the support entirely. People presently seem prepared to a certain extent to give him the benefit of the doubt given the past situation but, with a summer rebuild, I think Gillingham supporters deserve better. I could not put up with a whole season of what I saw on Tuesday.

The manager had to rip up the team sheet and start again in January with a view to getting out of the mess they were in, and to Harris’ credit, he has almost certainly achieved that objective. The next stage is to build a squad that can challenge at the other end of the table and my guess is that the process will involve another shredding and another restart.

It’s good to see 5,700-odd on a Tuesday night when the visitors bring less than 100. And it’s good to see merchandising and catering outlets open and doing business but I feel Brad and Shannon have a lot of work to do and that might eventually include sacking Harris.

The first half was as turgid as anything I’ve watched anywhere all season. Crewe were just dreadful and Gillingham no better. One chance saw Crewe’s Dan Agyei drag a shot wide and that was that.

Surely the second half would see some improvement and given there were three goals, two of which were really good goals, then there was. On 57 minutes, the opening goal was scored by the home side. Alex McDonald had been taking a bit of stick from those around me, but his busy style marked him out as the player most likely to unlock the Crewe defence and so it was when he swept a crossfield pass to Tom Nicholls, whose first time effort from the left hand edge of the six yard box found the far bottom corner.

Crewe struck back almost immediately and, on 61 minutes, a cross from Rio Adebisi struck the top of the bar and the ball was headed away for a corner from which Callum Ainley struck a superb volley into the far corner. Gillingham failed to clear their lines and when the ball was recycled it fell at the feet of Ainley, somewhat fortuitously, but from there it was a great finish.

On 71 minutes the Gills got their noses in front once more when Crewe made a hash of clearing the ball it was fed to Aidan O’Brien whose shot went in off the advancing goalkeeper.

In the final minute, Gillingham thought the game had been made safe when Oliie Hawkins headed in but the referee decided that the tall striker had fouled his marker and disallowed it. It seemed a harsh decision and Harris certainly felt so but his protestations were too strong and he saw red for his troubles.

Gillingham survived a time added scare, courtesy of goalkeeper Glenn Morris who made two close range saves before the ball was hacked to safety and the valuable points secured.

From a personal point of view, I’m quite sad that I cannot rekindle that buzz I had with Gillingham. I want them to win, but I just don’t get that knot in my stomach that I get when Tonbridge are defending a 2-1 lead with five minutes to go. I celebrated with everyone else that last ditch defending in the final moments but I almost felt that I was feigning the emotion! What I had, just isn’t there anymore. That’s fine because I have it with the Angels but emotionally I don’t want to completely divorce myself from the Gills. If that sounds like a bit of psycho babble it probably is!

Havant & Waterlooville 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 90/22/2097 - Saturday, 17th March 2023 - National League South

Havant & Waterlooville (0) 1 Faal (pen) 86
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 J. Wood
Attendance: 1,001

Admission: Pass
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 209/6,347

Would I have taken a point on the way in? YES. Would I have taken a point at half-time? NO. Am I pleased with a point? YES. That goes some way to summarise the pattern of this game. So let’s break in down those three phases.

Despite a recent poor run of form that has resulted in Havant’s Paul Doswell removing himself to an upstairs role of Director of Football, albeit that he was serving a 12 match touchline ban for a colourful turn of phrase directed at Ebbsfleet’s German manager Dennis Kutrieb, they still sat handily placed within the play-off zone, three points in front of the Angels. So, it was never going to be easy against one of the better resourced clubs in the division, but one that has, once again, massively underachieved.

The first half saw Tonbridge dominant. Jack Wood scored a fine goal; struck a post and Jordan Greenidge wasted a one-on-one opportunity with very little alarm at the other end. So it is fair to say that at half-time, the game could, and possibly should, have been put done and dusted, home and hosed.

But it was not and the Angels were left clinging on to their point and had Jonny Henly to thank for a added time save after the home side had equalised through a dubious penalty with four minutes remaining.

Despite a journey that had been stop-start with M25 and M3 hold-ups we arrived in Hampshire with a reasonable amount of time to spare and finding the weather spring-like for what seems the first time in months. Team news saw Jamie Fielding out with a broken hand and Tommy Wood rested to the bench.

Almost from the outset, to even the most untrained of eyes, it was clear that Jack Wood was about to lead his full back a merry dance setting up an opportunity for Greenidge on 11 minutes that the home side scrambled to safety.

Wood gave the Angels a deserved lead, after 23 minutes, when he received the ball from a throw-in; rode a challenge and from the right hand edge of the box, curled in a shot from the right into the far corner with a strike very reminiscent of his recent goal at Eastbourne.

The Angels had a scare immediately after the goal as Henly needed to be alert to avoid Tariq Hinds conceding an own goal, and personally, I was uncomfortable every time Mo Faal, surely a player destined for a move upwards, was on the ball.

A big chance fell to Greenidge, five minutes from the break, when he picked the pocket of Joash Nembhard to go one-on-one with goalkeeper, Teddy Sharman-Lowe, but his attempt to clip the ball over the advancing keeper was charged down and scrambled to safety.

Into first half added time and Jack Wood fastened on to a loose headed clearance and in an identical run to that of his goal almost produced the same outcome but this time the ball rebounded of the far post.

Four minutes into the second period, Tonbridge had a goal ruled out for offside after Sonny Miles had run onto Ben Swift’s head-on following a free kick. His cross was converted by Swift but Miles was deemed to have strayed a yard offside.

Havant were awoken from their slumber and started to impose themselves on the game as any team losing at home should. A snap shot from Charlie Ruff was comfortably dealt with by Henly and, on the hour, the goalkeeper fumbled a cross under pressure but Faal’s effort from the loose ball cleared the bar by some distance.

A through ball saw Tyrell Miller Rooney take a heavy touch off his chest allowing Henly to save at his feet, but the pressure was mounting.

The big chance to put the game to bed for the Angels came on 77 minutes. Hinds played the ball forward to Lewis Gard after Miles had broken down a Havant attack. A deft touch from Gard saw him clear to lay the ball into the path of Joe Turner, who from the edge of the box lifted his shot over the bar.

Shortly after some superb defending from Craig Braham-Barrett, the Montserrat-bound defender was judged to have brought down Josh Passley, a decision that could easily have gone either way, on the very edge of the penalty area for the award of a penalty, that was fairly leathered home by Faal, giving Henly absolutely no chance.

In the dying embers of seven minutes of added time, Henly produced a brilliant fingertip save to deny a header from James Roberts and avoid a cruel defeat.

Perhaps it’s an indication of just how far the Angels have come to leave Havant with a sense of disappointment, but that was the way it felt.

Artois United 2 K Sports Sunday 2

Match 89/22/2096 - Friday, 17th March 2023 - Maidstone & Mid Kent Sunday League Presidents Cup Final

Artois United (2) 2 Shaw, Corke
K Sports Sunday (0) 2 Willmott (pen), Goldsmith
Artois win 5-3 on pens
At Maidstone United
Attendance: 234

Admission: £5
Programme: Included
Mileage: 20/6,138

Oasis Academy 0 Hugh Christie 4

Match 88/22/2095 - Wednesday, 15th March 2023 - Kent Schools Academies League

Oasis Academy (0) 0
Hugh Christie (2) 4 Brown 2 Southern Lavender
Headcount: 12

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 52/6,118

Ramsgate 4 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 87/22/2094 - Tuesday, 14th March 2023 - Kent Senior Cup QF

Ramsgate (2) 4 Carvalho 27 Rowland 44,68 Riley-Snow 66
Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 Greenidge 15 Rutherford 54 Tommy Wood (pen) 60
Attendance: 240

Admission: Pass
Programme: Free
Mileage: 100/6,066

48 years of hurt won’t stop us dreaming, but it will become 49.

Three cup competitions, three mishaps against lower league teams, whoever is in charge from George Cohen through to Jay Saunders, some things never change.

The Kent Senior Cup was never on the high priority list but a Cup Final day out at Gillingham was something that could be looked forward as an end of season reward for supporters. But, sadly, our Cup jinx endures for another year.

Jay Saunders either rested or had unavailable six of Saturday’s starting line-up and, to be honest, it showed in a performance that was way below par.

Ramsgate are a progressive club on and off the pitch; leading Isthmian South East and engaging with the local community to great effect with the advent of their 3G pitch a couple of years ago.

The evening started well enough with the Angels on top and eventually going in front on 15 minutes through Jordan Greenidge, who cut in from the right to fire into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Two minutes later, Greenidge had the ball in the net again with a well placed header but this was ruled out with a debatable offside decision. At 2-0 up, who knows?

Tonbridge continued to hold the majority of the play, so it was somewhat against the run of play when Ramsgate equalised with a goal from Gil Carvalho after a cross from Callum Emptage found the scorer getting in front of Tariq Hinds.

Greenidge created his own opportunity to restore the lead on 35 minutes but dragged his shot wide

If questions were to be asked of the defending for the opening goal, they certainly needed asking for the second as Kane Rowland was allowed to meet a cross unchallenged to deflect the ball past a static George Bentley.

As the weather deteriorated from a light drizzle to a torrential downpour that had the Tonbridge contingent scuttling back to the covered terrace that is set back some distance, their side came out for the second half full of attacking intent to retrieve the game. Tommie Fagg struck a good shot that was parried to safety by Josh Bexon before, in the 54th minute, after an initial cross from the right by Jack Wood, the ball fell to Fyn Rutherford who curled his shot into the top corner for the equaliser.

Tonbridge were in front five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Tommy Wood was brought down. The striker took the penalty himself to send Bexon the wrong way.

In two horrible minutes for goalkeeper Bentley, the tie was turned on its head in favour of Ramsgate. Firstly, on 66 minutes, a shot from 30 yards by Blaise Riley-Snow crept under the keeper to gift the home side an equaliser and, two minutes later, a heavy touch from a back pass ended with a clearance straight to a Ramsgate player who touched it inside to Rowland for the easiest of tasks to stroke the ball into an unguarded goal.

Such was the erratic nature of the game, it felt that there were more goals to come but Aransibia pulled a shot wide in the best of the late opportunities.

So, another year passes without cup success; should three points be won at Havant in the quest for a play-off spot on Saturday, this will be quickly forgotten. But, for now, this was a lost opportunity.

Sheppey United U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 86/22/2093 - Monday, 13th March 2023 - Isthmian Youth

Sheppey United U18 (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 Garcia 34 McLeod 84
Attendance: 22

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 54/5,966

The Under-18’s moved into fourth place in the table with a sound performance at Sheppey United and now sit just a point behind their hosts in their quest for a top three finish.

A day of gale force winds had subsided into what was still a strong wind that would be a factor in the game’s quality.

The opening quarter hour was evenly fought that showed every indication of a close, hard fought encounter that would ensue.

Both sides had efforts on goal in the first five minutes with Reuben Etherington firing over for the Angels and Harrison McCall shooting wide after winning the ball in midfield.

The home side enjoyed the better of the early exchanges although Matt Larkin was only really tested the once saving at the feet of Raeden Jeffrey.

McCall produced a surging run from deep before shooting wide on 28 minutes before a superb strike from Zach Garcia from 20 yards with an angled shot into the top corner gave the Angels the lead. It was a fitting end to an industrious half from the Angels midfield engine.

The Angels finished the half on top with further efforts from Sam Firman.

With the wind slightly in their favour second half, Sheppey pushed hard for an equaliser but the Angels back line remained resolute with Garcia and Etherington putting in immense shifts in front of them.

So resolute were the Angels that whilst reducing the hosts to shots from distance that didn’t test Larkin, the best of the chances fell to the visitors with Firman bringing a good save from Sam Nicholson.

Six minutes from the end, Tonbridge as good as wrapped up the game when Fin McLeod headed home a Felix Waring corner.

Unfortunately the game ended on a low when the Angels' Rockie Burke and Sheppey’s Ezra Oloyede saw red cards after a difference of opinion that sparked a mass outbreak of handbags.

That brought added time of 12 minutes in which the Angels preserved their clean sheet with relative ease.

Dom Welsh acknowledged the game hadn’t been a classic but that his side “completed the double over a talented Sheppey United side with some excellent defending and very good game management. We are learning different ways to win which is key for development.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Ebbsfleet United 1

Match 85/22/2092 - Saturday, 12th March 2023 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Wagstaff 84
Ebbsfleet United (1) 1 Wright 42
Attendance: 1,770

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/5,912

Draws bring a range of emotions. They can be a fair result; they can bring disappointment when you feel your side deserved more or they can feel like a win and this was the emotion as Tonbridge Angels took their fourth point of the season from the champions-elect, Ebbsfleet United.

All week I had labelled this encounter as a free hit with low expectation. True, the Angels were in decent form but their opponents were 14 games unbeaten and coming in off the back of a 7-2 demolition of play-off chasing Worthing. But, for manager’s, there is no such thing as a free hit and Jay Saunders surprised many with his team selection that saw leading goalscorer Jordan Greenidge rested to the bench.

Plenty of people in an attendance of 1,770, a league game record for Longmead, heeded the advice to arrive early and the bars and tea shacks were busy over an hour before kick-off. Naturally enough, given their runaway status at the top of National League South, Ebbsfleet brought a healthy support, estimated at around 600.

Through the first half, the game seemed to be taking its expected course with the Angels aiding the visitors cause with a half in which they gave the ball away, too often and far too cheaply.

But, in truth, despite a huge amount of possession, clear cut chances for Ebbsfleet were few and far between. After 10 minutes, Jonny Henly saved comfortably a low shot from Omari Sterling-James and it was another 25 minutes before he was tested again, taking a knock for his trouble.

In between, Tonbridge had their moments with Mark Cousins saving at his near post from Tariq Hinds and a Joe Turner free kick from a good position clearing the bar.

Greg Cundle had the ball in the Angels net on 35 minutes but was clearly offside and as the clock ticked towards the break, hopes of getting to the dressing room unscathed were dashed when a shot from Josh Wright came back from the crossbar and as bodies tumbled in the box, the ball landed back at Wright’s feet to stab it home.

Devonte Aransibia was introduced for the injured Jamie Fielding at the break and immediately Tonbridge retained possession better and with it Scott Wagstaff’s influence grew.

That’s not to say that Ebbsfleet didn’t have their chances early in the second period to put the game to bed. Cundle was through one-on-one with Henly, but the goalkeeper came out on top.

But now the home side were creating their own chances as Turner shot into the side netting and Jack Wood fired over after good work from Hinds and when, with seven minutes remaining, an ugly clearance from Haydn Hollis bounced of his own bar, you sensed that the league leaders were wobbling.

And from the resultant corner, Ben Swift headed back into the centre from beyond the far post, Tommie Fagg challenged and as the ball dropped, Wagstaff stabbed home at the second attempt.

An Aransibia effort from 20 yards dipped at the last moment and only narrowly cleared the bar to deny what would have been a celebrated double.

Disgruntled Ebbsfleet fans were heard grumbling about their team and the miles travelled as they departed. Cheer up guys, you’ll win the league by more than 20 points and next season Gateshead is a mere 300 miles away.

Pictures: Kathryn Bell

Eastbourne Borough 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 84/22/2091 - Tuesday, 7th March 2023 - National League South

Eastbourne Borough (0) 1 Remy 82
Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Jack Wood 2,30
Attendance: 625

Admission: Pass
Programme: £3
Mileage: 81/5,874

My beloved Angels, why do you put me through the wringer time and time again!

A squad so threadbare only three substitutes could be named and one of them a goalkeeper with the starting XI containing players obviously out of position roared into a two goal first half lead before surviving a second half onslaught of Alamo proportions.

Priory Lane, home of Eastbourne Borough, has never been a happy hunting ground with no victory since 2012 and the outlook was not looking good with Scott Wagstaff needing to fill at right back for the injured Jamie Fielding; Jack Wood coming in for the absent loanee Marcel Elva-Fountaine whilst Craig Braham-Barrett and Tommie Fagg remained on the unavailable list.

That low sense of expectation was quickly dispelled with a goal within two minutes. A cross from the left from Joe Turner was rather lamely cleared to Devonte Aransibia just outside the box, who laid it off for Jack Wood to curl a shot past Lee Worgan and into the far corner.

Tonbridge bossed the opening half-hour with the home side showing very little forward momentum and it was no great surprise when the Angels went two up after 30 minutes. From a quickly taken throw-in just inside their own half, Jordan Greenidge back heeled into the path of Tommy Wood who linked brilliantly with his namesake who strode to the edge of the box, skipping a challenge before burying a low shot into the far corner.

Worgan was pressed into action a couple of minutes later when he pushed away a low cross before Eastbourne had their first sight of goal on 37 minutes when the ball was fed to the left for Leone Gravata to bring a good low save out of Jonny Henly.

A free kick from Aransibia in an encouraging position was comfortably saved by Worgan and, just before the break, Greenidge drove into the area to fire in a shot that the goalkeeper did well to push away for a corner.

It had been a great half for the Angels, two fine goals and chances for the home side kept to a bare minimum so the second half onslaught after, no doubt, a few home truths in the home dressing room was to be ex[pected.

An early cross from the right saw a Jaden Perez header drift harmlessly wide but, on the counter attack, the Angels were also dangerous and when Greenidge got into his stride, the Eastbourne defence were finding him pretty much unmanageable. On 57 minutes, from inside his own half, he broke away down the left and, although Kai Innocent kept pace with him, he could not prevent the big striker from getting his shot away, narrowly missing at the far post.

The action switched immediately back to the other end with Jonny Henly making a good save to claw the ball out of the top corner following a shot from 20 yards by Perez.

The pressure on the Tonbridge goal was mounting but the efforts were largely tame with Henly only being pressed into a couple of routine saves although an 80th minute interception from Sonny Miles seemed crucial. But, two minutes later, a penalty, the fourth in three games, was conceded, albeit that it was an almighty soft one. A ball, lofted into the box, saw Norman Wabo tangle with Tommy Wood and go down, the referee gave it some thought before pointing to the spot, from where Shiloh Remy sent Henly the wrong way to set up a nail biting finish.

Luke Pearce for he home side shot low for a regulation save from Henly before Greenidge had another 30 yard gallop that brought a similar save from Worgan and when referee Robinson-Tant indicated that there would be three minutes of added time, less than expected, memories of Hemel Hempstead when he infuriated Angels’ supporters by playing virtually no added time were stirred. This time we were grateful for the small amount which was seen out with no great alarm but greeted with much relief and delight at the final whistle.

The last week or so has seen more ups and downs than Blackpool’s Big Dipper and, without putting the cart before the horse again, I’m expecting that is going to be the story of the next six weeks,