Tonbridge Angels 4 Charlton Athletic XI 3

Match 09/24/2248 - Tuesday, 30th July 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 4 Tyrie 24 Santos 54,67 Robinson 78
Charlton Athletic XI (3) 3 Casey 19 Mwamba 34 Safa 42
Attendance: 413
Admission: £8
Mileage: 38/346

Jeremy Santos bade a final farewell to his former employers with two goals and a virtuoso performance that delighted the home crowd as Tonbridge recovered from a 3-1 half-time deficit to beat a Charlton Athletic XI with the winner coming from a first Angels goal for Trevan Robinson.

The hottest day of the year held temperatures in the mid-20’s at kick-off time that saw a Tonbridge team, captained by Joe Tyrie, that included four trialists.

Early chances came for Charlton with Harvey Kedwell testing Toby Steward whilst Hayden Velvick linked well with Fum Shomotun before the latter shot wide.

After the Charlton goalkeeper made a double save, after 18 minutes, to deny Crossley Lema with the rebound falling to a trialist, the visitors went in front a minute later when Alan Mwamba sprung the offside trap to run clear before sliding the ball across to Pat Casey who had a tap-in to finish.

The lead was to last five minutes before the Angels equalised when a Santos free kick was met with a diving header at the far post from Tyrie.

The Angels enjoyed a good spell following the goal with the Charlton goalkeeper turning over a good effort from a trialist and Shomotun having a effort on goal deflected for a corner.

But it was the visitors that regained the lead after 34 minutes when a long ball forward saw the Angels defence missing as Mwamba strode clear to score past Steward.

Three minutes before the break, Charlton opened up a two goal lead when Jacob Safa’s shot squirmed from the grasp of Steward, who tried desperately but unsuccessfully to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Half-time changes for the Angels saw Ryan Hanson and Jamie Fielding enter the fray and right from the opening moments, Santos took the game by the scruff of the neck with the keeper making a fine low save to turn away his 20 yard shot.

Santos was not to be denied two minutes later when Mo Dabre rolled the ball into his pass and from 20 yards he stroked the ball into the bottom corner.

The Angels were now in control of the game. Dabre had two efforts before, on 67 minutes, a free kick was awarded on the right hand edge of the box, 20 yards out. Santos stood over it, Angels’ fans almost expected, and that wand of a right foot delivered for the equaliser.

Twelve minutes remained when Santos crossed for Trevan Robinson to gleefully smash the ball into the net from close range.

Charlton had one last throw of the dice that brought a good save out of substitute goalkeeper, Toby Smith before the referee brought the curtain down on an entertaining evening.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Punjab FC 4

Match 08/24/2247 - Sunday, 29th July 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Lucas 80
RG Punjab FC (2) 4 Suhail 10 Omang 16 Boby 73 Usham 90 Headcount: 65
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/308

On Thursday, at Aston Villa’s Bodymoor Heath Training Ground, Punjab FC will line up for their opening match in the Next Generation Cup, organised by the Premier League.

In preparation for the competition, Punjab, from Mohali in the north-west of India, visited Longmead to meet Tonbridge Angels U18’s and entertained to a level that would suggest they are going to be good opposition for Aston Villa, Everton and Tottenham in their group stage matches.

Dom Welsh said after the game, a 4-1 defeat for his charges: “The levels of technical ability and intensity the opposition showed tonight was fantastic to watch.”

Warm-up was an apt description on a very warm evening in which the Angels faced older opposition with their visitors being an Under-21 team.

Punjab were quick out the blocks and showcased their pace and ability from the opening stages in which they tested Angels goalkeeper, Matt Larkin before taking a 10th minute lead when a left sided pass inside of the defender, sent the speedy winger, Suhail, clear to tuck his chance away into the far corner.

They added a second after 16 minutes, when once more good movement and accurate passing opened up an opportunity for Omang to slot home.

Tonbridge managed to respond and impose some pressure of their own with a trialist putting a shot wide and after Callum Fincham had an effort saved the rebound was put over the bar. But, the closest they came to reducing the deficit was thwarted on the half-hour when a Punjab defender made a fantastic clearing header from the line.

The game was played in three 30 minute periods and in the final act of the first, Omang was extremely unlucky as he saw his shot rebound to safety after hitting both posts.

The second 30 minute period remained goalless despite Adam Larkin clipping the bar on 50 minutes and both goalkeepers making good saves.

The game was put out of the reach of the home side on 73 minutes when the slick passing Indian side showed there is still a place for route one with a long ball forward that saw Boby through on goal to finish past Larkin.

The Angels U18’s more than deserved a consolation goal and this duly came with 10 minutes remaining when a corner was headed on for 15 year-old Ashton Lucas to poach a finish at the far post.

The touring side had the last word in the final minute when they opened up the Angels defence to allow a tap-in at the far post for Usham.

Dom Welsh, speaking of his own team’s performance said: “They are a full time professional group, naturally quicker, sharper and fitter. But had we taken a few chances it may have been closer. But, our boys competed admirably and did the club proud.”

Kennington 0 Tunbridge Wells 2

Match 07/24/2246 - Saturday, 27th July 2024 - SCEFL Premier

Kennington (0) 0
Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Feasey Attendance: 140
Admission: £5
Mileage: 36/270

The Kennington programme described their visitors on the opening day of the SCEFL season as the league’s stalwarts.

An accurate assessment of which there can be no doubt, but one which Tunbridge Wells supporters could probably wish they were not saddled with after 57 years at the same step. Surely no other team in the country has served longer without a promotion or relegation.

The Wells have had an encouraging preseason and with this opening success at a ground where fortune rarely favours them there were reasons for optimism.

But any dreams of ending that long wait are tempered with the knowledge that the league is awash with money and that the Wells’ and most of the division have budgets that are dwarfed by the likes of Faversham Town.

But Leicester City proved that miracles do happen and all the challengers can do is be consistent, win games and hope that the favourites stumble.

Since I was last at Homelands, the landlords Ashford United have replaced their threadbare carpet and the stadium instantly looks a great deal more respectable.

Kennington made a good start with Harry Linch threatening down the right side and efforts from Charlie Owen and Alfie Giles tested the Wells’ goalkeeper, George Bentley.

Having survived the opening quarter hour, Tunbridge Wells opened the scoring when a cross from the right allowed Jacob Feasey to touch home past Joe Mant.

Once in front, the Wells dominated and chances fell to Kazeem Richards, Regan Corke and Lewis Unwin before Bentley saved well, after 27 minutes from Fin Dent.

Further chances for Feasey and Unwin should have seen Tunbridge Wells put the game to bed before the break.

The early part of the second period saw the Wells continue to dominate but a failure to convert their chances including Feasey missing from the spot left them vulnerable.

The penalty brought a chaotic few minutes that also saw Kennington’s Adam Phillips sent off, seemingly for dissent.

After 72 minutes, Mant kept the home side in the game with a double save from Unwin and substitute Rory Ward but five minutes later from a corner Siji Akinlusi secured the point with a powerful header.

Time remained for Kennington’s Liam Whiting to sit out the final moments in the sin bin.

An encouraging result for the Wells, but meanwhile Faversham were flexing their muscles.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Ebbsfleet United 3

Match 06/24/2245 - Tuesday, 23rd July 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Ebbsfleet United (3) 3 Thomas 11 (pen),45 Edser 14
Attendance: 449
Admission: £8
Mileage: 38/234

Despite falling two goal behind within the first quarter hour, Tonbridge Angels might well have gone home feeling relatively encouraged from a spirited performance against their National League neighbours, Ebbsfleet United.

On a warm, muggy evening, Tommy Parkinson and Lloyd Blackman, in Jay Saunders’ absence, selected a starting XI that for the first time this pre-season showed no trialists (although three appeared from the bench).

Ebbsfleet were quickly into their stride and a shot from Greg Cundle took a wicked deflection that brought an outstanding save from Toby Steward.

The visitors took a ninth minute lead from the penalty spot after Nathan Odokonyero was brought down in the box under a challenge from Mo Dabre that brought an end to the ex-Angels loanee’s evening. Kwame Thomas stepped up to send Steward the wrong way from the spot.

Certainly, at this early stage in the game, the slick passing of Ebbsfleet left the Angels under pressure and they fell two goals behind when a long throw into the box wasn’t cleared and the ball fell to Toby Edser who stabbed it home from close range.

Tonbridge fought hard to get a foothold in the game. A Sean Shields free kick found the head of Liam Vincent and a well worked move ended with Trevan Robinson shooting wide.

Five minutes before the break, Vincent embarked on a surging run down the left that ended with a shot that tested the Fleet goalkeeper, Harrison Firth, into a very good save.

Sadly for the Angels, their spirited recovery in the first half was brought to an end with Ebbsfleet scoring a third goal on the cusp of the break. A pass down the left saw Dominic Poleon in the clear. His shot was welll saved by Steward but the rebound fell at feet of Thomas who was left with a simple tap-in.

Tonbridge produced an entertaining second half performance that only lacked a goal that would have been richly deserved. Jeremy Santos, becoming ever more influential in the game had two efforts in less than a minute just shy of the hour mark with both shots narrowly wide.

Good work from Dabre gave Robinson a chance that he dragged wide and Shields tested Firth with well two struck shots. The best chance fell to a second half trialist who headed Shields cross wide before Dabre had a final chance that came after good work from Vincent.

The Angels move on to the Crabble on Saturday when Dover Athletic are our hosts.

Photo: Kathryn Bell

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Gillingham U16 1

Match 05/24/2244 - Monday, 22nd July 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 2 Barton 12,41
Gillingham U16 (1) 1 Unknown 25 Headcount: 80
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/196

Tonbridge Angels U18’s produced a highly encouraging performance in their latest Pre-Season Friendly to beat a Gillingham XI at Longmead on Monday evening.

Under-18’s football has a two year cycle, each year players depart the age group but there is always a greater churn in the second year. This year it was the same as it ever was and last season’s squad that came within two points of winning the title was broken up with manager Dom Welsh through the summer rebuilding for the new season.

After an opening PSF which brought a 1-0 win against Glebe the visit of Gillingham promised, and found, a much sterner test which the new intake handled exceptionally well.

Whilst Gillingham fielded a side that was labelled as Under-16’s, Dom Welsh also named a squad that contained three Under-16’s, 10 first years (effectively Under-17’s) and just four second years.

A very healthy attendance, enjoying free admission, that approached the three figure mark were treated to a competitive and entertaining encounter that was won by the Angels with two goals from Harry Barton.

The Angels opening goal came after 12 minutes with a lovely passage of play that ended with a cross from Arthur Gregory that found Barton, who dispatched his shot into the bottom corner.

The Gills were on level terms on 25 minutes when a scramble in the box saw a stabbed shot find its way past goalkeeper Josh Hanson.

Tonbridge regained their momentum with the Gills goalkeeper denying efforts from Fiachra Pritchard and skipper Adam Larkin although Hanson needed to be alert making a good save with his feet from a Gills wing back.

The lead was regained on 41 minutes when a Larkin cross was finished clinically by Barton.

Despite the second period ending goalless, there were plenty of chances for both sides with Hanson making a good last minute save to preserve the friendly win for the Angels.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Margate 1

Match 04/24/2243 - Saturday, 20th July 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Trialist 28,37
Margate (1) 1 Ababio 26 Attendance: 280
Admission: £8
Mileage: 38/158

Tonbridge Angels edged out their visitors, Margate, on a warm sultry afternoon, coming from behind to win 2-1.

Jay Saunders took what probably will be a last look at several trialists before making decisions on them; gave valuable minutes to Ryan Hanson, Tom Clifford and Fumnaya Shomotun and, with goalkeeper Toby Steward unavailable, two more Toby’s, Edwards and Smith had a half each between the sticks.

Given the makeshift nature of the first half team it was hardly surprising that Margate were the more cohesive in the opening 20 minutes. From a fourth minute corner Edwards needed to turn a header over the bar and further corners followed before Brandon Davey fired in a shot straight at Edwards.

After just 14 minutes a trialist was forced to give way through injury for the introduction of Crossley Lema.

After 26 minutes, Margate took a deserved lead when Hanson was robbed on the left touchline by Jordan Ababio, who dribbled into the box before despatching his shot past Edwards.

The lead was only to last three minutes when Shomotun cut in from the right to fire in a pass across the face of goal to the opposite corner of the six yard box from where a trialist scored with a good finish.

The East Kent visitors continued to give a good account of themselves with a Tyrone Sterling effort and a free kick from ex-Angel and Gate manager Ben Greenhalgh cleared the bar but it was the Angels who nudged themselves in front after 37 minutes with the same link up as the first goal but this time the trialist swept a great finish into the top corner.

The half-time break saw the introduction of Hayden Velvick and Liam Vincent and Tonbridge should have added to the scoreline when an exquisite through ball from Hanson sent a trialist through on goal but he placed his shot wide of the post.

Further changes were made on the hour with Jeremy Santos, Mo Dabre and Jamie Fielding entering the fray.

After 70 minutes, Velvick rounded the goalkeeper to run the ball into the net only to be disappointed by a late linesman’s flag and Margate’s goalkeeper, Reece Hobbs denied the goalscoring trialist a hat trick with a save by his feet and moments later pushing away a Tom Clifford effort.

The last act of the game really should have brought an equaliser for Margate when a defensive mistake allowed the ball to land at the feet of Ibrahim Olutade but the ex-Angel fluffed his lines and his weak shot was cleared from the goal line.

Jay Saunders speaking of his squad depth following the game: “I think it’s good, we want competition this year, everyone was saying to me what a good performance it was against Bromley and if you are looking at that we still had Cross (Crossley Lema), Hanson, Fum (Fumnaya Shomotun), we had quite a few out … You only had to look last year at the amount of times we had knocks and niggles and we had to have people playing out of position and this year we can’t have that this year so we’ve tried as best we can with the budget to work it the best we can to give us as much depth as possible and I’m pleased in general with where the squad is at, giving us plenty of competition and that’s what we want.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Bromley 3

Match 03/24/2242 - Tuesday, 17th July 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Tyrie 31 Trialist 84
Bromley (0) 3 Amantchi 61 Leigh 62 Trialist 68 Attendance: 432
Admission: £8
Mileage: 38/120

Tonbridge Angels , despite a 3-1 home defeat, put in an encouraging performance against a Bromley side, arriving at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium for the first time with EFL status following their National League play-off win at Wembley.

In his post match interview with Matt Davison, Jay Saunders commented: “Yeah, I thought we were better, obviously certain people coming into the team made a difference in that in certain positions but, I thought, it was a much better first half. I thought second half they started moving the ball and we sort of got a little bit leggy individually because we’ve done a lot of minutes lately, but overall pleasing with some good individual performances.”

The Angels goalkeeper, newly arrived on a season’s loan from Portsmouth. Toby Steward was drafted straight into the action and had a composed debut, with safe handling throughout, marshalling his back line verbally and made a couple of excellent saves, one first half save, low to his left to push away a well struck shot bringing appreciation from the Longmead faithful.

Bromley opened the game on the front foot, Steward making his first save in an Angels’ jersey after four minutes and following a free kick blasted into the wall, Joe Tyrie needed a moment to clear his head after bravely taking the force of the shot.

But the Angels grew into the game with Trevan Robinson narrowly shooting wide and Sean Shields bringing a save out of the Ravens’ goalkeeper.

Tonbridge went ahead after 31 minutes when Tyrie met a Shields cross from the left with a firm header.

The home side stood firm until the break without undue alarm despite Bromley exerting significant pressure.

The second half opened with Tonbridge having chances to extend their lead with a trialist forcing the visiting goalkeeper into a good save on 51 minutes and a minute later, Robinson seeing his header deflected away for a corner.

Eventually, just past the hour, Bromley’s undoubted quality brought dividends when a through ball sent Levi Amantchi poking home as Steward advanced.

One very quickly became two, when a pass to the right side of the six yard box saw Lewis Leigh drive an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

At that point Bromley changed almost their entire team and, on 68 minutes, a free kick from the left saw a trialist convert with a header.

Tonbridge responded with a spirited last 20 minutes that saw Shields having a shot cleared from the line; a Tyrie header that cleared the bar before two trialists combined with a pinpoint cross from the right that was finished with a good header.

It might well have been that the Angels came away with a very heartening draw as a last minute header from Tyrie was just over.

Jay Saunders concluded: “I’m pleased with how it’s going, we’ve just got to get fitness into them. When you are playing a full time team like Bromley it’s tough and you can see they’ve got that yard of sharpness but that’s why I was really happy with that first 45 and got really good work in there.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Chatham Town 3

Match 02/24/2241 - Saturday, 13th July 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Trialist 1
Chatham Town (1) 3 Nelson 3 Attendance: 362
Admission: £8
Mileage: 38/82

Tonbridge Angels slid to a second pre-season defeat against a fiercely competitive Chatham Town, who looked particularly capable of going one better than their play-off final defeat of last season.

Jay Saunders once more selected from a squad with a mix of senior players, Academy/Under-18’s and half-a-dozen trialists.

Extra minutes were added to the legs of Sean Shields, Scott Wagstaff, Jamie Fielding and Taylor Maloney who played more than an hour whilst Liam Vincent got through 90 minutes in three different positions.

The game got off to the most bizarre of starts with quite possibly the quickest goal ever seen at Longmead with the Angels taking the lead after about 10 seconds. A back pass to Chatham goalkeeper, Ben Bridle-Card saw the clearance rebound off an Angels trialist striker and into the net to the bemusement of everyone assembled.

The lead was to last barely two minutes as a Chatham cross from the right was met with a strong header from Sid Nelson which Toby Edwards could only help into the roof of the net.

A header from Angels’ Ronny Nelson almost added to the frenetic beginning to the game before a sense of order prevailed.

The visitors continued to create the better of the chances with an audacious lob from 40 yards over a stranded Edwards just clearing the bar whilst Edwards did well to save low to his left to deny ex-Angels loanee Bayley Akehurst.

The second half introduction of Jeremy Santos added craft and energy to the midfield but a well marshalled Chatham defence gave up very little to trouble Bridle-Card.

After 65 minutes, the Chats took the lead when a well struck free kick was well saved by Edwards but his parry fell to the feet of Simon Cooper who powered his shot into the net from the right side of the six yard box.

The lead was doubled six minutes later when Kofi Anokye-Boadi was afforded time and space to convert a cross from close range.

Edwards made two further saves of note before an exquisite chip from Trevan Robinson over the advancing goalkeeper deserved more than hitting the right hand upright.

As the black clouds that had gathered over Longmead emptied their contents over the departing attendance of 362 it is as well to remember that this is mid-summer.

Reflecting on when he will be seeking to hone his squad, Jay told Ellis Piddock: “Probably from Margate (next Saturday), we will mix it up on Tuesday night against Bromley. We have to be a little bit careful at the moment, we’ve got lots of injuries, nothing major, but niggles that we don’t want to turn into something worse.”

Picture: Kathryn Bell

Corinthian 3 Tonbridge Angels 7

Match 01/24/2240 - Saturday, 6th July 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Corinthian (1) 3 30,72,80
Tonbridge Angels (4) 7 Trialist17 7 Trialist5 23 Trialist14 35 Shields 44 Santos 68 Shomotun 70 Trialist18 86 Estimated attendance: 80
Admission: £3
Mileage: 44/44

The opening pre-season friendly brought a comfortable win for the Angels at Gay Dawn Farm, home of SCEFL Premier Division Corinthian. On a day when the weather eased its way through all four seasons, Jay Saunders mixed a sprinkling of trialists, Mr and Mrs Trialist will be justly proud with 10 of their offspring featuring, alongside the majority of the first team squad with two completely different teams each half.

The grass pitch at Corinthian is always well kept and looked resplendent as Tonbridge kicked down the slope in the first period. Sean Shields had an early chance that was narrowly wide before Trialist17 performed a smart turn in the box to fire home and give the Angels a seventh minute lead.

The lead was doubled on 23 minutes when, following a corner, Ronny Nelson’s effort took a couple of deflections, the final one off Trialist5, to wrong foot the home goalkeeper.

The weather played its part in Corinthian’s opening goal after half-an-hour, but this should not diminish the effort of the Corinthian player whose 40 yard lob caught the wind, but also the trialist goalkeeper off his line to nestle into the net.

The two goal advantage was restored five minutes later when Trialist14’s clever dummy opened up the space for him to slot home with a good finish.

The final act of the first half ended with Shields collecting the ball on the left side of the box to fire into the far corner.

Corinthian opened the second half on the front foot and last season’s Angels Under-18 goalkeeper, Toby Edwards made a fine save to open his half between the sticks.

As the storm clouds gathered from behind Edwards’ goal, on 68 minutes, Mo Dabre fed the ball to Jeremy Santos, who moved the ball onto his left foot to consummately curl a low shot into the bottom corner.

As the heaven’s opened and the referee taking a long look at his watch with 20 minutes to go, Fumnaya Shomotun’s cross-cum-shot found the net with the wind taking the assist.

Corinthian made the scoreline respectable with two goals to take the score to 6-3 before Trialist18 capitalised on a poor back pass to add the Angels’ seventh.

Jay Saunders commented after the game: "It’s always difficult with the first one, blowing a few cobwebs off, people getting a different run-in to what we do in training with loads of positives, load of negatives and what you would expect from the first one.”