Boreham Wood 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 55/24/2294 - Saturday, 21st December 2024 - National League South

Boreham Wood (0) 1 Ndlovu 76
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Nelson 71
Attendance: 713
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 165/4,059

It is less than half a mile from Elstree Studios where last week, Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland took the dancing honours. Jay Saunders’ men waltzed the 60-odd miles around the M25 to take the lead role in Strictly Come Scrooges and in the weekend before the Christmas festivities, for just a few minutes, the bells were ringing out for a Fairy Tale of Meadow Park.

It was a dogged performance that restricted the National League South’s form team to a single first half chance and a second period that saw the Angels take the game to their hosts to earn a 72nd minute lead through Ronnie Nelson, only to be pegged back four minutes later.

Jay reflected after the match, played out in persistent rain, “It’s a good point away from home. In general you take a point away, but to come to Boreham Wood, for me, one of the best sides in the league, it was a good test for us today. But when you are in the lead in the 75th minute, especially after a really good team performance, it is disappointing to have conceded in the way we have from a set piece but it is a good point for us, especially on the back of two home wins.”

One change was made from the starting XI that beat Chesham United on Tuesday evening with Sean Shields niggling ankle injury sidelining him for Scott Wagstaff to step iin.

Boreham Wood came into the game on the back of five straight wins, no defeats in nine and an in-form striker in Kwesi Appiah who had scored eight times in the last five games.

The noisy, boisterous Blue Army were in fine voice but that was probably masking a nervousness as the home side put the Angels under expected early pressure. Matt Rowley needed to be alert to turn over the bar a cross-cum-shot from Jon Benton and, in the fifth minute, he made a superb, low save to his right to thwart Appiah adding to his impressive tally.

As the rain started to fall more heavily, the visitors began to grow into the game and whilst the Boreham Wood goalkeeper, Nathan Ashmore, was largely untested, the threat of the hosts was being comfortably resisted.

Rowley was brought into action again on 38 minutes saving well from Jayden Richardson, before the Angels supporters left the comfort of the covered North Bank to brave the elements at the open end, buoyed by their favourites resolute display.

Jay’s half-time team talk had asked his side to show more belief and in the opening seven minutes of the second half two great chances had been created. After two minutes, Trevan Robinson who had continuously stretched a mountainous back three, broke clear and his pass into the box found Mo Dabre but a goal saving challenge denied an effort on goal.

Five minutes later, a free kick from Liam Vincent was narrowly wide of Ashmore’s left hand post, and when the goalkeeper spilled a cross from Vincent, it was the Angels who were knocking at the door.

Boreham Wood wrested back the momentum and the Angels back line were desperately throwing bodies in the way of shots from Benton and Appiah before Jack Payne fired over from 20 yards.

On 72 minutes, the Christmas tree lights shone brightly when Vincent’s cross was fumbled by Ashmore and there was Nelson to stab home his first goal for the club.

Sadly, the joy was short-lived. A corner saw a clearance rebound into the path of Lee Ndlovu who finished from around six yards.

A big finish from the home side was only to be expected but, although Rowley was asked to turn over a shot from Tom Whelan, Tonbridge saw the game out without any undue alarm and it was Ashmore that needed to make an added time save from Vincent.

“You’ve got to believe was the general message to all of them at half time. Defensively, first half we were excellent, they had one shot and then second half we were a little bit better on the ball and asked a few more questions, got into some good areas, maybe cold have nicked another goal . I’m not saying they didn’t get chances but for the majority of the game, it was a good, disciplined away performance,” Jay summed up with a final message to the supporters; “Fantastic again today, and I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.”

Gillingham 2 Cheltenham Town 2

Match 54/24/2293 - Friday, 20th December 2024 - EF League Two

Gillingham (1) 2 J. Clarke 24 Lapslie 68
Cheltenham Town (1) 2 Young 36 Miller 60
Attendance: 5,938
Admission: £20
Mileage: 48/3,894

Match Report

Tonbridge Angels 1 Chesham United 0

Match 53/24/2292 - Tuesday, 17th December 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Robinson 17
Chesham United (0) 0
Attendance: 684
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,846

Tonbridge Angels’ back line had every sinew stretched during a second half onslaught from their visitors, Chesham United and when that line was breached there was a Player of the Match performance from goalkeeper Matt Rowley to preserve the clean sheet for three precious points.

Jay Saunders, interviewed after the match said, “There wasn’t a lot of difference between the sides. We have come up against a very good team. We had our spells in the first half after a nightmare start. Chesham are very good on set pieces, long throws into the box which we didn’t deal with; a penalty early doors that, thankfully, Matt has saved and then we had a spell when we were better, scored our goal and a chance to go 2-0 up which we didn’t take. In the second half, against the wind, we struggled to get out. The boys dug deep and we’ve managed to get the three points, so I’ll take that and move on.”

On a cold Tuesday evening with a little light rain in the air, Saunders made two changes to the side that took the points on Saturday with Harry Ottaway and Trevan Robinson coming in for Scott Wagstaff and Makise Evans, both of whom dropping to the bench alongside Garrett Kelly, a new signing from Welling United.

In a first half just about shaded by the Angels, Chesham were awarded a penalty after seven minutes when Callum Adebiyi went down in the box after a challenge from Jamie Fielding. The Chesham skipper stepped up for the spot kick but Rowley dived low to his right to turn the ball away and begin a terrific evening for the on loan Reading stopper.

The penalty miss, rather than deflate Chesham, saw them draw confidence to give the Angels an uncomfortable 10 minutes before Trevan Robinson put the hosts in front. The striker was sent clear down the right hand side by Ottaway and after his initial effort had rebounded back to him off a retreating Chesham defender, he swept his shot into the the top corner at the far post.

The Angels might, no should, have given themselves a more comfortable evening on 26 minutes when a surging run to the byline from Ethan Sutcliffe ended with a cross to the far post where Robinson, sliding in, somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar from a matter of inches.

Chesham continued to show plenty of threat, especially down the right from where Connor Roberts produced a string of crosses that put the centre of the Angels defence under aerial pressure.

By the time the half-time whistle sounded, the Angels were just about good value for their lead but all the warnings had been made that a difficult second period would ensue.

Chesham’s leading goalscorer, Nathan Minhas, was proving a real handful and it took a superb tackle from Ronny Nelson to stop him in his tracks on 55 minutes.

Just past the hour, four successive corners were swept in from both sides, the third of which saw a great shot from Brad Clayton bring another excellent save from Rowley.

Whilst the pressure from the visitors was intense, the rearguard action from the Angels was denying any clear-cut chances and, on the counter on a couple of occasions, Mo Dabre was able to break clear.

Referee Isaac Searle caused much frustration with three minutes of regular time to play when Tonbridge broke clear only to be pulled back for an innocuous head injury that barely needed attention.

A moment of madness from Chesham’s Jack Cawley, who kicked out at substitute Evans as the Angels sought to keep the ball in a corner, a second yellow card brought a red, and gave the Angels a more comfortable six minutes of added time than they might have expected.

In reply to Matt Davison’s comment regarding the impressive defensive performance, Saunders responded: “I’m only disappointed that we didn’t get onto the ball enough in the second half. It’s a fine line, we have had games this season, Gosport away, when we have had loads of the ball and not come away with the right result, whereas the last couple we haven’t been as good on the ball but we have won the points. But the defensive display is another clean sheet and is excellent. Matt in goal and the back three marshalled them well and they have a very good front line.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Aveley 1

Match 52/24/2291 - Saturday, 14th December 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Ring (o.g.) 19 Sutcliffe 78
Aveley (1) 1 Akanbi 21
Attendance: 927
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,808

“It wasn’t the prettiest of games to watch. Response-wise I’m pleased with the boys, that was a tough one today they took a lot of stick from us, from the supporters and the first half we looked very nervy. We did what we didn’t do on Tuesday night, work hard and win individual battles, which we did in large parts. It was about bouncing back and we’ve done that,” said Jay Saunders after the Angels returned to winning ways following the disappointing midweek reverse against, the then basement club, Enfield Town with a hard earned win against Aveley.

Saunders shuffled his pack with Crossley Lema, Mo Dabre and Makise Evans returning to the starting XI for Charlie Pegrum (sickness), Taylor Maloney (injured) and Harry Ottaway, who took a place on the bench.

The first half was evenly contested and neither set of supporters, in an impressive pre-Christmas attendance of 927, could argue with the teams returning to the dressing rooms at the break with the scoreline level.

The first real chance of the afternoon fell to the visitors when ex-Angel Ibby Akanbi fired well over after 10 minutes. But it was the Angels that took the lead after 19 minutes when a move that. started with goalkeeper Matt Rowley saw an interchange of passes between Sean Shields and Liam Vincent before the latter's cross was turned into his own net by the Aveley captain Jason Ring, giving James Holden no chance.

Tonbridge’s lead was to last barely two minutes when Akanbi took his opportunity clinically after a challenge between Iram Uche and Scott Wagstaff saw the ball loop beyond Ethan Sutcliffe to the welcoming feet of Akanbi.

Neither side was able to gain control of the game in the remainder of the first half with a headed chance for Mo Dabre for the home side and a last minute header from Manny Ogunrinde the best of the chances to add to the score.

Whilst the game remained evenly contested in the second period, Tonbridge were just about shading both the possession and the threat. Dabre steered a header narrowly wide and, just past the hour, substitute Trevan Robinson headed over.

The breakthrough for the home side finally arrived on 76 minutes when a right sided corner from Shields found the head of Sutcliffe, who climbed highest in a forest of bodies to steer it between Holden and his right hand post.

The final chance of the remaining minutes fell to the home side when a free kick was headed goalwards by Harry Ottaway but evaded the far post and the Angels saw the game home with a good spell of retained possession.

Saunders summed up: “Aveley won’t be down there at the end of the season, they are very good at what they do, they work really hard and don’t let you settle. Could we play better? One hundred per cent. Were we at our best? No, but for me, today was about getting the three points and we know we can improve.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Enfield Town 3

Match 51/24/2290 - Tuesday, 10th December 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Fielding
Enfield Town (2) 3 Hutchinson Youngs
Attendance: 798
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,770

If ever there was an illustration that nothing can be taken for granted in this, an elite division, it was encompassed in 90 frustrating minutes for the Angels.

Enfield Town, without a win in eight games and bottom of the table, arrived at the Halcyon Wealth, Longmead Stadium to meet a Tonbridge Angels side that were unbeaten in league matches at home but were to return to north London with three very handy points in their back pocket.

When asked where the performance of his side had come from, Jay Saunders honestly answered: “I’m not sure. I’m not going to stand here and defend anyone but all over the park we weren’t good enough tonight. I think it’s a mentality thing, You turn up, we are playing a team bottom of the league and we are unbeaten at home and I think some of the boys just thought we would roll them over.

“We made them fully aware that Enfield have some good individual players. They’ve played this league and higher, regardless of their league position but too many turned up and expected to go through the motions and we lost too many individual battles. We didn’t do that side of it that you have to do against teams down the bottom which is show fight and desire.”

On a cold, damp evening at Longmead, Jay made one change from the team that saw League action at Weymouth with Sean Shields coming in for Makise Evans, who took a place on the bench.

In contrast to how the game was to materialise, the Angels positively roared out of the traps with a first minute shot from Shields being acrobatically turned over the bar by the Enfield Town goalkeeper, Rhys Forster, and from the resulting corner, Jeremy Santos saw his shot comfortably saved by the visiting custodian.

The first warning shot that the visitors were not here to make up the numbers came on six minutes when ex-Angel loanee, Jake Hutchinson, dragged his shot narrowly wide from close range.

Enfield took the lead on 20 minutes when a cross from the right from Lennon Peake was met with a deft header from Hutchinson that was steered beyond the reach of Matt Rowley to nestle into the corner of the net.

Rowley was then asked to make a brilliant stop, three minutes later, pushing Sam Youngs shot away at full stretch to safety with the help of the post.

Just past the half-hour, Enfield Town doubled their advantage. A left-sided corner was headed on at the near post by Bayley Brown where it was met with a second header from Hutchinson.

A quick response was needed from the Angels, and their supporters got it, when a Shields corner saw Jamie Fielding duck into space to bury a header and give the home side something to take into the second period.

After five minutes of the second half, in which Ethan Sutcliffe put a header over, Saunders made changes with Taylor Maloney being replaced by Ryan Hanson and moments later, Evans came on for Charlie Pegrum.

Santos flashed a cross across the face of goal that begged a touch and, on the hour, Scott Wagstaff was replaced by Mo Dabre. This was quickly followed by a fourth change when Crossley Lema entered the fray for Sutcliffe.

Dabre’s injection of energy gave the Angels fresh impetus and on 74 minutes he was sent clear but one-on-one with Forster, the goalkeeper saved with his legs and, came off best two minutes later when Dabre’s shot was saved at the second attempt.

But, with 10 minutes remaining, Tonbridge succumbed to the sucker punch when a quickly taken throw saw Youngs go clear to finish clinically from a tight angle.

Jay summed up: “Enfield deserved to win, we weren’t good enough. If you look at possession, we had more than them but did we do anything with it? No. We gave them two goals to hang on to and to slow things down which – and fair play to them – they did really well. I can’t stand here and say we deserved to win that game of football because we didn’t do enough and we were nowhere near good enough tonight.”

Gillingham 1 Salford City 0

Match 50/24/2289 - Saturday, 7th December 2024 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 Clarke
Salford City (0) 0
Attendance: 5,278
Admission: £20
Mileage: 45/3,732

Tonbridge Angels 2 Herne Bay 1

Match 49/24/2288 - Tuesday, 3rd December 2024 - Kent Senior Cup QF

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Sutcliffe 25 Robinson 65
Herne Bay (1) 1 Salako 36
Attendance: 278
Admission: £8
Mileage: 38/3,687

Tonbridge Angels progressed to the semi-finals of the Kent Senior Cup with a narrow win against a stubborn Herne Bay side that stayed in game for its duration.

“It sounds good (to be through the the semi-final), that was the plan at the beginning of the night but I’m not overly impressed with the team performance. It’s difficult when you make seven changes, there’s some lads in there that haven’t played for some time so this competition is important for that, let alone actually trying to win it, it’s good for us to be able to give some of the boys a game. We are through, I thought Herne Bay worked really hard, put us under a lot of pressure and didn’t let us settle and we made hard work of it,” commented Jay Saunders after the match.

The seven changes referred to saw Andrew Norburn make his first senior start between the sticks. Crossley Lema, Ryan Hanson, Trevan Robinson, Deondre Date, Naz Bakrin and Mo Dabre being the starters from Saturday’s side at Weymouth.

It was one of those nights cold enough to see a cloud of steam coming off the players whenever there was a huddle following an injury and the vast majority of the attendance, including a very vocal cluster up from the east Kent coast, seeking the relative warmth of the covered enclosures.

The opening half-hour was pretty much one-way traffic with the Angels dominating. A third minute corner was met with a header from Hanson that was blocked with the follow-up shot going over and minutes later, Date flashed a shot across the face of goal.

On 24 minutes, Robinson was sent clear by Santos, who through the evening was the centre of everything, but he had his angle narrowed by Josh Bexon, the visiting goalkeeper, who deflected the ball away for a corner, the result of which being delivered by Santos to the head of Ethan Sutcliffe who scored from around six yards.

Herne Bay’s first real foray into the Angels’ territory brought a surprise equaliser on 36 minutes when the dangerous strike pair of Kane Haysman and Michael Salako linked well for the latter to finish into the bottom corner. Haysman, three minutes later, forced Norburn into his first save.

The crossbar thwarted the Angels taking a half-time lead when a corner from Santos was worked to the edge of the box from where a driven shot from Hanson rattled the woodwork.

The half-time break saw Scott Wagstaff, who had taken a heavy knock, replaced by Liam Vincent and this almost brought an instant dividend as he flashed one of his trademark crosses into the box that evaded everyone.

On the hour, Vincent’s cross to the far post saw Robinson hook the ball over the bar at the near post, before the striker received a superb crossfield pass from Sutcliffe to cut in from the left and bury his shot into the bottom corner to restore the Angels’ lead.

Chances to put the tie to bed came and went for the home side as Sutcliffe saw a header cleared from the line and Vincent’s shot clear the bar after good build up between Robinson and Lema.

A late free kick for Herne Bay on the edge of the box produced a nervous moment but the shot clear the bar and the game was seen out comfortably.

Dover beat Deal to seal one of the other semi-final positions with games between Bromley and Ebbsfleet, Phoenix Sports versus Welling to secure the other places.

Sheppey United U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 4

Match 48/24/2287 - Monday, 2nd December 2024 - Isthmian Youth

Sheppey United U18 (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels U18 (3) 4 Penman 12 Famibafobee 28 Larkin 32 (pen) Pritchard 48
Attendance: 40
Admission: £5
Mileage: 54/3,649 cThe Under-18’s cruised back to winning ways on Monday with a comfortable four goal win at Sheppey United.

Dom Welsh said after the game: “It was a dominant performance and we played some outstanding football in large periods that perhaps deserved more goals but the final pass didn’t always land.”

It was also good to see patience rewarded for a player who shone on the night: “A top performance from Rush Broderick, he has waited for his opportunity and absolutely took it tonight.”

When the wind blows off the estuary at Sheppey, it makes for a cold night and the number of “hoods up” bears testimony to the chill wind.

Tonbridge dominated the game from the first whistle to practically the last, although much credit should be given to the Sheppey side that acquitted themselves to a difficult task, especially in the second half.

After early chances for Fiachra Pritchard and Robert Penman, the Angels took the lead after 15 minutes when Broderick set up Penman to score from the edge of the six yard box.

One-way traffic was maintained before, after 28 minutes, Adam Larkin’s cross found Tolu Fabimafobee in space on the right side of the box to finish between the goalkeeper and his near post.

Just past the half-hour, the Angels were awarded a justified, but somewhat fortunate, penalty as a defender stumbled and fell on the ball clearly handling it in the process. Larkin converted from the spot.

Before the break, Noah Millis struck a fierce shot from 20 yards that cannoned down from the underside of the crossbar with the goalkeeper saving from River Ballach.

An early second half goal from Pritchard after good approach play from Fabimafobee and Ballach might have opened the door for an avalanche of goals but Sheppey worked hard to avoid such an occurrence.

The home side had their first real opportunity of the night on 55 minutes when their centre forward, who had grafted tirelessly, saw his shot go narrowly wide and the Angels’ goalkeeper, Josh Hanson, needed to be alert to save from the same attacker.

The Angels had several opportunities to add to their total but their touch in front of goal eluded them through the second period.

Glebe 1 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 47/24/2286 - Saturday, 30th November 2024 - SCEFL Premier

Glebe (0) 1 Bamber 52
Tunbridge Wells (1) 1 Hudson 45
Attendance: 100
Admission: £8
Mileage: 65/3,595

Welling United 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 46/24/2285 - Tuesday, 26th November 2024 - National League South

Welling United (2) 2 Lankshear 11 Redfearn 19
Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Vincent 60,78 (pen)
Attendance: 503
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 86/3,530

How’s your glass? If it’s half full, then a point from 2-0 down after 20 minutes is a good one. If it’s half empty, then a second half of one-way traffic might well have ended with that elusive first-ever win against Welling at Park View Road.

A first 20 minutes in which the home side didn’t exactly spring from the traps, more so that the Angels didn’t leave them at all, saw them two goals down that could easily have been three, and possibly game over, had it not been for a goal line clearance.

Jay Saunders said of the slow start: “The first half hour wasn’t good enough. Away from home you need to be solid, you need to be hard to beat. I thought we came here and expected the game to be played at our tempo and our own way but the players have to earn the right away from home, especially when you come to a team that have not been on the best of runs but had a great result at Slough (on Saturday), they were obviously up for it and we weren’t awake One of our supporters shouted “wake up” that hit the nail on the head, we just hadn’t got going.”

On a coldish night, mercifully dry, Saunders elected to go with the side that beat Hemel Hempstead Town at Longmead on Saturday and with the relative short journey to South London, there was a healthy following of Angels supporters in attendance.

An 11th minute attack from the home side saw a dangerous cross from Paul Osew that was deflected away for a corner, from which Alex Lankshear was allowed to climb, unchallenged, at the far post, to head home.

Two minutes later another corner spelt trouble for the Angels as Jack Burchill’s stabbed shot needed Charlie Pegrum to head from the line.

Tonbridge threatened to get back on terms after 15 minutes when a through ball from Sean Shields sent Makise Evans clear but the Welling goalkeeper, Rhys Lovett, was quick off his line to smother with the rebound falling to Mo Dabre, who could only shoot into the side netting.

On 19 minutes, the Angels fell two behind, when a cross from the right from Chiori Johnson was met by Josh Redfearn with a touch that took it beyond Matt Rowley and into the far corner.

A reaction was certainly needed and Tonbridge needed to wake from their slumbers and the first seeds of a recovery were planted when they were denied a clear penalty after 23 minutes when Dabre got in front of his marker to be wrestled to the ground only for the appeals to be waved away.

Jay Saunders made two half-time substitutions with Crossley Lema replacing Ethan Sutcliffe and Taylor Maloney replacing Ryan Hanson with a change of shape that saw them going to a four along the back line. Both Lema and Maloney, ex of the parish of Welling, made an immediate impact with Maloney’s cross from the left finding its way across the face of goal to strike the far post and Lema’s cross that saw an effort from Evans clear the bar.

A sigh of relief was breathed when a good opportunity for Burchill was struck wide before, on the hour, the Angels reduced the deficit as a right-sided free kick from Liam Vincent found the gap between Lovatt and his post.

Evans headed over from an inviting cross before, on 78 minutes, a corner from Shields was headed towards the far post and as Evans tried to get to the loose ball he was bundled to the ground by Garrett Kelly, who saw a second yellow and subsequent red for his efforts.

Vincent stepped up to calmly strike the ball into the bottom corner, giving Lovatt no chance.

With the man advantage and momentum, the Angels searched for the winner and the big chance came in the final minute of regular time when Evans was sent clear by Shields but Lovatt made a really good stop with the follow-up from Pegrum clearing the bar.

Jay Saunders summed up: “It was interesting before the game, there were a few of the subs that were disappointed not to start and I said that the subs are going to be massive tonight and, to be fair, everyone of them that came on, first Taylor and Crossley were excellent, Santos came on and made a difference and Deondre when he came on, so that was a positive out of tonight.”

Tonbridge Angels U18 3 Welling United U18 4

Match 45/24/2284 - Monday, 25th November 2024 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels U18 (3) 3 Penman 7 Pritchard 15 Famibafobee 35
Welling United U18 (1) 4 26, 72, 87, 90
Attendance: 33
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,444

Tonbridge Angels U18 fell victim to an amazing comeback from their visitors, Welling United, who recovered from 3-1 down to take home the points with three second half goals.

Manager Dom Welsh bemoaned “silly mistakes and missed chances at pivotal moments” whilst praising the visitors on their second half performance.

It all looked plain sailing for the Angels after 15 minutes in which they had dominated the game and opened up a two goal lead. Strangely plain sailing as Welling are always one of the better sides in the division.

The opening goal came on seven minutes when a well worked short corner routine caught the visitors flat footed and ended with a shot from Robert Penman finding a heavy deflection on its way into the net. On the quarter hour a cross from the right saw Fiachra Pritchard outpace the defence to fire home.

Welling were shocked into action and after asking a couple of saves from Josh Hanson, they pulled a goal back on 26 minutes when a header was buried from a corner and they were searching hard for an equaliser, including a good save from Hanson, when the Angels restored their lead to two goals after 35 minutes when Tolu Fabimafobee tucked the ball home after a cross found him at the near post.

Welling came from the dressing room with a renewed sense of purpose but successive chances for Callum Fincham and Penman should have taken the game beyond them before, with 18 minutes remaining, they pulled a goal back with a far post header.

Momentum was with Welling and when the ball was scrambled home with four minutes remaining there was a sense of foreboding that there might still be time for a winner and so there was when, in the final minute, a cross into the box was tucked home from close range to seal a stunning comeback.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Hemel Hempstead Town 0

Match 44/24/2283 - Saturday, 23rd November 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Shields
Hemel Hempstead Town (0) 0
Attendance: 796
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,406

Two second half goals from Sean Shields, on his 50th appearance, were more than enough for Tonbridge Angels to comfortably record a first-ever victory over Hemel Hempstead Town.

On an afternoon where Storm Bert had all but a dozen hardy supporters from the nearly 800 attendance heading for the covered enclosures, the Angels were largely in control of the game throughout.

Jay Saunders speaking after the game: “I’m pleased that we’ve kept our unbeaten run at home in the League going with a good three points in difficult conditions, especially in the first half, against the wind was difficult. I was pleased with the all-round performance, we’ve controlled large parts of the game and today taken our chances.”

Jay brought his new loan signing, Makise Evans straight into the starting line-up for Trevan Robinson with Ethan Sutcliffe and Shields returning from the side that exited the FA Trophy at Gosport Borough; Crossley Lema (who had suffered illness during the week) and Nazir Bakrin taking places on the bench.

Having sacrificed their favoured, second half direction of play towards the south stand to play against the wind in the first half they restricted the visitors to precious little whilst creating the best chance when Charlie Pegrum steered his shot wide from close range after being sent clear by Shields.

There was no lack of passion in the game as three first half challenges from both sides ended up in yellow cards and player melees but as the game settled into a pattern it was the Angels that wove them albeit without testing the Hemel goalkeeper, James Holden unduly.

In the second period, now with the worsening elements in their favour, the Angels pressed on quickly creating chances for Shields and debutant Makise Evans before finally going ahead after 53 minutes when Shields’ shot took a heavy deflection to wrong foot Holden.

Evans’ pace was continually troubling the Hemel backline and when Holden was needed to venture 30 yards from his goal line he was robbed by the debutant before the ball was scrambled to safety.

Of Evans’ debut, Jay commented: “I thought he had a really good debut, he’s had one training session with us on Thursday. He’s a young lad, one thing I knew we would get was work rate and honesty from him and I thought we got that and he was unfortunate not to score, but he worked hard and will get better as he is integrated into the squad.”

The second half was completely dominated by the Angels with the visitors not managing a shot on target until the 72nd minute that was comfortably saved by Matt Rowley.

The game was finally put to bed with three minutes remaining when a cross from Pegrum evaded Evans but fell to Shields who had an easy finish from the edge of the six yard box.

Jay concluded: “Today was a big win, now we need to back it up on Tuesday night at Welling, another place where we don’t have the best record, and it we can do that, we are in a good place.”

Bert tried his hardest to dampen the Angels spirit but nobody, supporters and squad alike, were having any of it!

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Glebe U18 2

Match 43/24/2282 - Monday, 18th November 2024 - Isthmian Youth League Cup QF

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Pritchard 67
Glebe U18 (0) 2 Unknown 76,85
Attendance: 33
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,368

The Under-18’s suffered a disappointing quarter final defeat as their visitors, Glebe, executed the perfect smash and grab.

The home side dominated the game for huge periods and when they finally broke down a resilient Glebe defence after 67 minutes it seemed that the path to the semi final had been set but the visitors responded with two headed goals leaving a sense of frustration and missed opportunity.

Dom Welsh, never lost for words, was almost that: “Less said the better. We dominated the game but through lapses of concentration we were punished. We deserved what we got in the second half, good luck to Glebe in the semi-final.”

It was a filthy night at Longmead with driving rain sending supporters of both sides to the covered areas.

The pattern of the game was set from the outset with the Angels pressing forward but too often a misplaced pass, overhit cross and stubborn defending saw attacks break down with no end product.

Half-time arrived with the game goalless but the deadlock appeared to have been broken early in the second half when Robert Penman found the net but the goal was denied by the assistant referee’s flag.

Glebe firing a couple of warning shots across the bows of the Angels back line when Josh Hanson was asked to save on 50 minutes and from a corner, a header when well placed was steered wide.

Despite this, it continued to be the Angels that held the vast majority of possession with Penman shooting wide on the hour before they finally made their breakthrough when Callum Fincham broke clear down the right to across to the far post where Fiachra Pritchard was on hand to tuck the ball home.

Stung into a more positive mindset after going behind, Glebe instantly brought a save from Hanson and, after 76 minutes, a free kick sent to the far post found a header that Hanson desperately tried to keep out at the post, but the referee adjudged that the ball had crossed the line for the visitor’s equaliser.

The goal completely changed the momentum of the game and following a succession of Glebe corners, a clearance bounced up on the edge of the box from where an arriving defender headed upwards for the ball to loop over Hanson and into the net.

Five minutes remained and Glebe naturally resorted to what they had done excellently for most of the game, defending resolutely to see the game to its conclusion and enjoy the full time celebrations of a place in the last four.

Gosport Borough 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 42/24/2281 - Saturday, 16th November 2024 - FA Trophy 2R

Gosport Borough (0) 1 Cope 87
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 594
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 240/3,330
New Ground: 388

This FA Trophy tie pivoted in the space of a minute, late in the game, leaving the Angels exiting the competition at the hands of their hosts, Gosport Borough.

Three minutes remained when Trevan Robinson was sent through on goal, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he shot wide. The game quickly switched to the other end, a shot from Samuel Faniyan was parried by the Angels keeper, Matt Rowley, but only into the path of Cope who took his chance from close range and the Angels Wembley interest was ended for another year.

“We were toothless in the final third. We’ve had loads of possession, balls in the box, opportunities, but you have to take them and make them count, we haven’t done that and we’ve got punished at the end,” said a frustrated Jay Saunders after the game.

Under grey Hampshire skies, Jay was denied the services of Noel Leighton (injury) and Sean Shields (illness) as he made one change from the side that gained a point at Torquay with loan signing Charlie Pegrum coming in for Shields.

From one of countless Liam Vincent crosses through the game, Jamie Fielding headed into the hands of Callum Ward after six minutes and a stalemate followed with little or nothing being achieved by either side in a half instantly forgettable for an attendance of 594.

The second half began and continued with the same momentum with an early effort from Crossley Lema clearing the bar and Vincent continuing to rain crosses into the box only to find the final touch missing.

The Angels themselves had a mighty let off on 52 minutes when Alfie Stanley saw his header rebound off a post back into the grateful arms of Rowley.

It is said that possession is nine-tenths of the law, football doesn’t work like that and as chance after chance went begging, Ryan Hanson shooting over after 54 minutes; Robinson at the goalkeeper after 58 minutes and forcing Ward into a good, low save on 72; the spectre of penalties was looming large. And all the while, Vincent continued to cross the ball …

When the last few minutes were entered and penalties seemed inevitable, the fateful 87th minute pronounced its verdict and despite Vincent putting one last cross into the box that was attacked by the pushed forward defenders Fielding and Nazir Bakrin, the ball was scrambled to safety.

Asked about the finishing, Jay concluded: “People have been given enough chances, but the facts are the chances we have, Trev goes through at the end, he has to score. There is no like, he’s unlucky, I’m done with unlucky, he has to score, you can’t go through like that and not finish, one-on-one with the keeper, it’s not good enough.”

Tonbridge Angels 6 Beckenham Town 1

Match 41/24/2280 - Tuesday, 12th November 2024 - Kent Senior Cup 2R

Tonbridge Angels (4) 6 Sutcliffe 19 Leighton 25 Date 28,76 Dudley 32 Bakrin 55
Beckenham Town (0) 1 Wallace 48
Attendance: 306
Admission: £8
Mileage: 38/3,090

Tonbridge Angels cruised into the Kent Senior Cup Third Round with a comfortable win over Beckenham Town.

Both sides made several changes from their Saturday starting XI’s with Jay Saunders giving Academy players Ben Martin-Coward, Hayden Velvick and Casey Dudley, who had a fine game with an wonderful individual goal, Angels starts. Further scholars, Mackenzie Richardson and Andrew Norburn were introduced as substitutes. Senior players returning were Joe Tyrie, Deondre Date and Ethan Sutcliffe.

Jay Saunders was naturally pleased with the Kent Senior Cup progress and a six goal haul: “It was a worthwhile exercise. I thought Beckenham come here and played some good football. We made a lot of changes, got minutes into people that we needed too, some experience for some of the younger lads coming through, scored a few goals and all in all it was a good night’s work.”

Beckenham, leaders of Isthmian South East, were a potential banana skin, but a positive start with Noel Leighton testing the goalkeeper, Archie Burford, after two minutes and Trevan Robinson rather wastefully, shooting into the side netting after a quarter hour, put the visitors on the back foot.

Tonbridge took the lead in bizarre fashion on 19 minutes when a cross into the box from Sutcliffe was mispunched into his own net by Burford and with three further goals coming in the next 13 minutes the game was taken away from the visitors.

Two minutes after the opening goal, Robinson struck the post from 20 yards before Dudley set up a cross for Leighton to double the Angels lead.

On 28 minutes, Date was sent clear to shoot into the far corner and when Dudley skipped through the Beckenham defence to add a clinical finish the game was over as a contest.

Beckenham scored after three minutes of the second period when Jamarie Brissett set up Tylah Wallace for a close range finish but any hope for the visitors of a stirring comeback ended when a clearance rebounded off substitute Nazir Bakrin for the Angels fifth goal.

Several chances came and went before, on 76 minutes, Bakrin supplied the pass for Date to add his second goal and the Angels’ sixth.

As the game closed out Leighton struck a post and goalkeeper Norburn was given 10 minutes between the sticks.

In the draw, already made, Tonbridge have a home tie against Herne Bay in the next round.

Tonbridge Angels U18 5 Chatham Town 1

Match 40/24/2279 - Monday, 11th November 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 5 Gallacher 8 Pritchard 25 Penman 63 Barton 84 OG 90
Chatham Town U18 (1) 1 9
Attendance: 33
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,052

On the coldest night of the season so far, the Under-18’s produced a performance to warm the cockles of their shivering band of parents and supporters.

Dom Welsh emphasised the importance of the win in the light of a couple of games in which they haven’t turned possession into points: “An excellent performance. We dominated the ball for large periods and played with intensity out of possession. We said to the boys after the game last week (at Maidstone) and before tonight about dominating the ball again and being better in possession and paid off. We were really good in periods and Chatham are always competitive, they’ve only lost by the odd goal to Maidstone and Welling this season.”

From the outset it was clear that this game would be a good one with no indication that a seemingly one-sided scoreline might ensue. Ash Banwait steered a shot wide in the opening minute with Chatham responding immediately, forcing Josh Hanson into his first save of the evening.

Tonbridge went ahead in the eighth minute when the second of successive corners was played short to Callum Fincham, whose cross to the far post was met by the highest-climbing Jack Gallacher to head home. True to the nature of the opening minutes, Chatham were level within a minute when a cross from inside of the box was turned home from close range by the centre forward.

The Angels regained the momentum and efforts from Fincham employed the goalkeeper before a defence splitting through ball sent Fiachra Pritchard clear to bury his strike into the corner.

The home side continued to dominate the half with Adam Larkin shooting wide and the goalkeeper making saves from Robert Penman.

Tonbridge started the second period in the same vein and the only surprise was that it took until the 63rd minute before the move of the match between Fincham and Larkin opened up an opportunity for Penman to score from close range.

Now in the ascendancy, a raft of substitutions didn’t alter the momentum and, with the best individual goal of the match, substitute Harry Barton skipped away from two challenges while keeping in play a ball that was travelling the sideline before cutting in to shoot between the keeper and his near post.

Perhaps Chatham might feel that a fifth goal in added time when a miscommunication saw a pass back evade the goalkeeper for an own goal, summed up their evening.

Torquay United 0 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 39/24/2278 - Saturday, 9th November 2024 - National League South

Torquay United (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 3,250
Admission: Media Pass
Mileage: 550/3,014

Tonbridge Angels bounced back from the disappointment of their FA Cup exit with a performance of resilience, concentration and stubbornness to return from Torquay United with a hard-earned, well-deserved point.

A delighted Jay Saunders reflected: “We asked the boys for a response and we ran hard today. It’s never an easy place to come, they are doing really well in the league, good management team and a good squad of players that are full time and obviously we’ve had an early start this morning, so you know that you are up against it. But I’m really pleased with the performance … a clean sheet away from home at Torquay, you’ll take a point.”

Arrival on the English Riviera was greeted with as leaden skies as those left behind in the Garden of Eden.

Three changes were made from last Saturday’s starting XI with Trevan Robinson, Scott Wagstaff and Mo Dabre coming in for Noel Leighton, Taylor Maloney and the recalled Jason Adigun.

The playing of the Last Post and a minute’s silence was respected by the crowd of 3,250 which included an official total of 44 hardy Tonbridge Angels fans that had made the 250-odd mile journey down to the Devon coast.

Naturally enough, buoyed by their body of support, Torquay made much of the early running, but in all honesty, they created very little of concern in the opening half-hour whilst a raking cross to the far post from Liam Vincent that just evaded Crossley Lema and a Jamie Fielding from a corner that was steered wide of the post were concerning moments for the home defence.

At the half-time whistle, Matt Rowley returned to the dressing room having not had a save to make.

No doubt with a few harsh words in their ears, the home side once again started the second half with momentum and there were celebrations from areas in the stadium when a left wing cross from Matt Carson was swept into the side netting by Omar Mussa and when Carson went down in the box under a challenge from Ryan Hanson, there was a collective holding of breath from the Angels faithful.

But the Angels continued to defend with a degree of comfort until, with memories of the time added heartbreak at Truro flooding back, a free kick from Jordan Young found the diving head of Rekealan Jeffers to bury the ball into the far corner. Despair turned to relief with the sight of a raised linesman’s flag and the moment had passed and a goalless draw had probably not been so rapturously celebrated in a long time.

And mention must be given, and acknowledged by Jay Saunders of the support given by those Angels fans, who led by the incessant drumming of Harry Lewis, put in a shift in the same manner as their purple clad team had on the pitch. “I thought the support was outstanding today, we fully appreciate it’s a long way to come, cost a lot of money and I’m just glad we have given them something to go home with. But from first to last minute, again fantastic and as much as we let people down last week, we fully appreciate them coming in their numbers and making the noise they did.”

Maidstone United U18 3 Tonbridge Angels U18 3

Match 38/24/2277 - Tuesday, 5th November 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Maidstone United U18 (2) 3
Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 3 Manwait 50 Penman 66 Larkin 68 (pen)
Attendance: 55
Admission: £3
Mileage: 20/2,464

As the 5th November fireworks exploded into the night sky behind the Genco stand, a cracker of a game unfolded.

Last time out, manager Dom Walsh had some harsh words following their home defeat against Sutton Common Rovers, but coming back from 2-0 and 3-1 down and to be denied a win by a missed penalty, this time he was fulsome in his praise: “That was a credit to both sides, an absolutely top game of football. From 2-0 and 3-1 down, the boys battled well, playing some fantastic football in the second half.”

The first half seemed to carry a hangover from the last game as whilst Maidstone were good, the Angels were not really at the races. From the outset the home side were on the front foot and completely dominating proceedings with both wingers posing problems for a harassed Angels defence. After a quarter hour, #19 should really have scored, putting the ball wide and from a corner, River Ballach was needed to clear from the line.

Tonbridge had a good chance on 19 minutes when a quickly taken free kick by Callum Fincham put Finachra Pritchard through but the Maidstone goalkeeper was quick off his line to smother the ball at his feet.

But, it was no surprise when Maidstone went ahead on 27 minutes when the #9 pounced on an error to put them one-up and when a couple of passes ripped open the Angels defence for #9 to score again, it looked like the evening might be a long one.

The Angels lads responded well towards the back end of the half with the goalkeeper saving well from Jack Gallacher and, just before the break he was brought into action again to deny Robert Penman.

Dom Welsh introduced Alfie Gilder as a second half and the formation change quickly had an impact after the goalkeeper had saved well at his near post from Penman, the resultant corner led to a loose ball in the penalty area that was seized upon and driven home by Ashvir Banwait.

The route back into the game was seemingly abruptly halted a minute later when the Stones #11 drove the ball into the top corner that left Josh Hanson helpless.

But that never-say-die spirit returned to the team, driven on by skipper Adam Larkin.

On 66 minutes, Penman robbed the dallying goalkeeper to place the ball into an unguarded net and two minutes later, the Angels were on level terms when Penman was brought down by #5, who saw a red card for the offence, for Larkin to thump home the spot kick.

Despite their man disadvantage, Maidstone were still dangerous but now on the break and #9 hit a post before the Angels were awarded a second penalty, six minutes from time, this time after Pritchard had been brought down. Larkin’s penalty cleared the bar and despite an added time effort from Noah Millis that was saved, the spoils were deservedly shared.

Dom Welsh added: “The second half change brought out the best in us. I thought that was the best we’ve played in a long while, even before they went down to 10 men.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Harborough Town 4

Match 37/24/2276 - Saturday, 2nd November 2024 - FA Cup First Round

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Shields 90+4
Harborough Town (1) 4 Walsh 41 Stephens 61,71 Forbes 86
Attendance: 3,132
Admission: £14
Mileage: 38/2,444

I guess, in life not just in football, we've all had the big day, that's long been looked forwarded to, that goes horribly wrong. This one went horribly wrong.

It’s FA Cup First Round day to the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium and, arguably, the biggest game since Tonbridge Football Club’s liquidation in 1976 and the subsequent relocation in 1980. The First Round Proper was reached by the Angels four years ago, but the occasion was somewhat diminished by Covid, an empty stadium and, to be fair, the 7-0 defeat to Bradford City didn’t help!

This time the gates are open, ticket sales indicate the top end of the ground’s capacity could be reached and everyone at the club is eagerly anticipating the big day.

Our visitors are Harborough Town, of the Southern Premier League Central, and whilst the side from Leicestershire occupy a league position in the bottom half of the table, nobody should be fooled into taking them lightly.

Harborough’s route to this stage has seen them dispose of National League North Leamington in the Third Qualifying Round and the reformed Bury Football Club, who were unbeaten in the North West Counties League prior to the cup tie and arrive well supported having sold around 350 tickets.

That was the preview and the warnings signs were posted.

Tonbridge Angels exited the FA Cup in disappointing fashion as they fell to a 4-1 home defeat to their Southern Premier League Central visitors Harborough Town.

A nightmare second half in which they conceded three times whilst seeking to retrieve a single goal deficit at the break, left the vast majority of a record attendance of 3,132 stunned.

A downcast Jay Saunders said after the game: “I’m gutted, absolutely gutted, it’s a tough one to take and it will take a little while to get over that.”

An hour before kick-off the car park was full to closure, a high percentage of the crowd were already staking their claim on their favourite position and the anticipation and excitement which makes the early rounds of the FA Cup the magical competition it is was in the air.

Saunders made just the one change from the starting XI that lost to a last minute goal at Truro with Ryan Hanson being restored and Mo Dabre dropping down to the bench.

For half-an-hour, the occasion appeared to get the better of both sides as neither could gain any sort of control of the game leaving both goalkeepers untroubled.

The first effort of note came from Sean Shields, on 32 minutes, cutting in from the left, took aim from 30 yards and his shot was destined for the top corner had it not been for the acrobatic intervention of the Harborough goalkeeper, Elliott Taylor, who turned the ball over the crossbar.

Tonbridge then had two chances in quick succession as they looked the most likely to break the deadlock. Liam Vincent’s cross to the far post was turned away for a corner and, on 38 minutes, a shot-cum-cross from Noel Leighton both missed the far post and the sliding in Jason Adigun by the barest of millimetres.

Harborough’s giant defenders, that were getting forward for long throws and set pieces were always going to cause a problem and, with four minutes of the half remaining, a corner from Josh Walsh was met with a towering header from Paul Malone that Matthew Rowley could only help on its way into the roof of the net.

Jay Saunders make two changes at the break introducing Tariq Hinds and Trevan Robinson for Crossley Lema and Jason Adigun and the Angels gained the early impetus in the half with a free kick from Vincent that led to a shot from Taylor Maloney going wide and from successive corners Naz Bakrin and Noel Leighton had headers that were saved.

Against the run of play, Harborough doubled their advantage just past the hour when a through ball into the left channel from Ben Starkie sent Ben Stephens into a one-on-one with the advancing Rowley and the visitor’s top scorer put the ball into the bottom corner with an unerring finish.

With the Angels now having to chase the game from two down, Maloney was sacrificed for Scott Wagstaff and, once again found themselves punished by with a break from Harborough. An attack broke down and the ball was hacked clear to the feet of Jamie Fielding, who found himself quickly under pressure from the excellent Riley O’Sullivan, who won the tussle and played the ball into Stephens to finish again into the bottom corner.

It was game over, Mo Dabre was introduced at the expense of defender Bakrin, only for the Angels to succumb to another break away with four minutes remaining when O’Sullivan drove forward from the right before releasing substitute Dan Forbes to add a fourth.

If anything was to sum up the Angels day it was an incredible save from Taylor in added time to deny Vincent and although the visitor’s custodian was to be beaten by a shot from the edge of the box by Shields for a consolation goal it was too little, far too late.

Saunders added after the game: “I congratulate Harborough, first of all, they had a game plan and executed it well and defended well and, at the other end, they were a threat at set pieces. I take nothing away from Harborough, they have come here today and done a job, but we’ve got to be better in both boxes.”

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Sutton Common Rovers U18 2

Match 36/24/2275 - Monday, 28th October 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Unknown (o.g.) 17
Sutton Common Rovers U18 (0) 2
Attendance: 53
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/2,406

Nobody would turn up to watch a football match if the end result was already known, the game’s unpredictability is its charm.

So, more often that not, you come away at the final whistle either pleasantly surprised or disappointed. Sadly, and not because of a defeat for the home side, this was a game that promised much and disappointed.

Two unbeaten sides, both with recent history of high (in the case of Sutton Common Rovers, champions) finishes in the Isthmian Youth League should have produced a spectacle but instead produced a scrappy affair that was won by a goal, out of context with the game, sweetly struck into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Tonbridge Angels U18’s have a team with an identity, always a footballing side, pass and move but, on the night, the ball was the enemy, nobody was willing to take care of it and as SCR were little better, it didn’t make for a particularly enjoyable watch, whatever the result.

Dom Welsh, the U18’s manager, agreed with that assessment saying after the game: “Really disappointing evening at home, after showing hunger and desire to claim a good victory last week, a lack of the same attributes saw us come unstuck tonight. A game of very few chances sees us fall to our first defeat in the league this season.”

With the clocks having gone back, the evening’s weather had that miserable feel of dampness, autumn drifting towards winter.

After 17 minutes in which Tonbridge’s Callum Fincham brought a save from the SCR goalkeeper, Thibault Hardy, an inventive free kick routine between Fincham and Robert Penman saw the latter’s delivery into the box deflected into his own net by a defender.

A couple of corners sent in to the far post saw Adam Larkin ghosting in but not quite getting the necessary touch.

After 36 minutes, Sutton Common equalised when a shot from outside of the box was parried by Josh Hanson but only into the path of Kodai Fujita who scored from close range.

A goal line clearance preserved the Angels parity before a good move ended with Tolu Fabimafobee putting his shot wide.

Tonbridge’s corner routine to the far post brought another header for Larkin whilst Hanson needed to produce a smart save to turn over a free kick.

After 70 minutes, SCR took the lead when a clearance found George Bond, 25 yards from goal to drive the ball into the bottom corner.

Four minutes remained when substitute Harry Barton’s effort was scrambled to safety but the Angels produced very little for a lot of huff and puff in the last 20 minutes.

Those that watch the U18’s regularly know that this was a performance out of character, unexpected but, hey, that’s football.

Truro City 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 35/24/2274 - Saturday, 26th October 2024 - National League South

Truro City (1) 2 Harvey 39 (pen) Kabia 90+4
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Leighton 51
Attendance: 1,550
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 686/2,368
New Ground: 387

A marathon journey, eight hours worth of heavy traffic to the Premier Inn at St Austell and a less troubled return journey of six hours but with a glum face after a 94th minute winning goal for the hosts. Truro City's new ground, three miles out of town is a work in progress. They have all the basics and a whole expanse in which to expland. If I ever have the will to return it will be interesting to see the progress.

Tonbridge Angels suffered 94th minute heartache as their hosts seized on an error to deny the visitors a well deserved point and send their hardy band of supporters home with something for their monumental effort.

Jay Saunders commented on the late, late goal after the match: “I’m gutted to be coming away with nothing, to be honest, I felt we were good enough to earn something from it, but, decision making, the decision at the end, Ryan knows that he should spin the ball and he hasn’t and tried to make a pass that gets cut out and they break and score. I thought it was harsh on us, but that’s this league, it’s unforgiving and we have to pick ourselves up.”

The Angels’ supporters, and the team coach, had endured journeys of nightmare proportions as a M5 lorry fire and half-term traffic on Friday hampered the trip to Truro, the westernmost tip of the National League South season.

Bright Cornish sunshine greeted those supporters to the new Truro City Stadium where Jay Saunders made three changes to the side that beat Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday. With Toby Steward being recalled by his parent club Portsmouth, Jay moved quickly to replace him with Matthew Rowley, on loan from Reading. Crossley Lema returned to the starting XI after suspension for Tariq Hinds and Mo Dabre replaced the injured Jeremy Santos.

Neither side exactly sprinted out of the blocks and it was a quarter hour gone before Rowley made his first, comfortable, save in an Angels shirt from a Tyler Harvey header. Moments later, a cross from the left from Liam Vincent found the head of Jason Adigun, but he was slightly underneath it and the ball cleared the bar.

Vincent was proving the Angels most potent outlet and two crosses in a minute needed the intervention of the Truro goalkeeper, Dan Lavercombe.

On 29 minutes, Rowley gave a first glimpse that he will be a more than capable replacement for Steward when he acrobatically turned over the crossbar a shot from 20 yards by Harvey.

The first half spun in the space of 60 seconds after 38 minutes. A Vincent cross to the far post was headed back into the centre of the goal by Adigun to Noel Leighton, who headed over from close range. The ball was quickly moved to the other end which saw Dom Johnson-Fisher move to take a pass just inside the 18 yard box before Lema slid into a tackle which brought the winger down.

Harvey, the league’s leading goalscorer, confidently struck the spot kick into the corner despite the best efforts of Rowley.

To go in two behind at the break would have been wholly unjust but Tonbridge had to survive an effort from Harvey that was blocked by Ronnie Nelson and another from Johnson-Fisher that cleared the bar.

At the break, an injury to Vincent necessitated his substitution with Ryan Hanson.

The Angels were level after six minutes of the second half when a superb cross field pass, left to right, was brilliantly collected by Lema who drove inside of his marker before letting fly with a shot that was parried by Lavercombe, but only into the path of Leighton who smashed it home from eight yards.

The visitors parity was rescued, on 57 minutes, by the width of the post that was struck with a shot from 25 yards by Will Dean and five minutes later, a shot from Johnson-Fisher was wide.

Tonbridge seemed to a weathered the storm as the game drifted towards an added time of four minutes and, in fact, looked as likely to grab a winner as their hosts.

But, in the final moments, a clearance from the Truro goalkeeper saw Nelson win a headed challenge with the ball landing at the feet of Hanson in the centre circle, who tried to move the ball on but his pass was wayward and two passes saw substitute Jaze Kabia clear one-on-one with Rowley to tuck the ball into the corner.

There remained a few seconds for the Angels to throw everything forward including goalkeeper Rowley for a corner after a Shields effort had been deflected wide by the goalkeeper but it was not too be and the long journey home began reflecting on what might have been.

Jay Saunders summed up: “Defeats away are fine lines, we are not going away and getting battered by teams, it’s just little individual errors that are costing us at the moment and that’s what we have got to cut out but it is something I’m sure we will put right.”