Farnborough 0 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 18/24/2257 - Monday, 26th August 2024 - National League South

Farnborough (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Shields 11,65
Attendance: 1,007
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 154/836

Jay Saunders’ troops put on a near perfect away performance to bring maximum points home from Hampshire with two goals from Sean Shields and a resolute defensive performance.

There’s barely a National League South supporter, let alone a manager, that doesn’t know what to expect from a trip to Farnborough. From the moment the first cross or long throw is hurled into the box, you know that another 89 are going to follow. Defenders need to be brave and be concentrated and when that defence is breached, as inevitably it will, your goalkeeper is needed to be at the top of his game.

Jay reflected at the final whistle: ““What really pleased me was you have to stand up to Farnborough and we did that. First 15 minutes we were a bit slow, but once we got our goal it was a real solid away performance”

A warm afternoon, and to be fair a warm welcome, welcomed a strong Bank Holiday following from Tonbridge to Cherrywood Road with Jay making two changes to the side held at a home by Bath City on Saturday. Jeremy Santos and Taylor Maloney came in for Mo Dabre and Scott Wagstaff, who both took places on the bench.

Farnborough, who suffered their first defeat on Saturday after three straight wins, were quickly on the front foot and Angels’ goalkeeper, Toby Steward, was called in action twice in the opening five minutes. A free kick lofted into the box found the head of Ollie Robinson, but Steward dived low to comfortably gather. But there was nothing comfortable about his save on nine minutes when he denied Robinson with a superb reaction save from close range and followed this with another great save from the resultant corner.

A succession of corners were defended before, on the counter attack, the Angels were in front. Trevan Robinson won the ball on the right hand side, outpaced his marker pulling a cross into the box for Shields to collect, turn and fire past Farnborough goalkeeper, Jack Turner,

Tonbridge might well have doubled their lead on 21 minutes when Trevan Robinson’s pace, to which the home defence had no answer, took him clear but Turner made a good save.

Despite the continued aerial assault, the Angels defence were reasonably comfortable and, on the break, they were causing greater concern to the hosts with half chances falling to Robinson and Fielding.

Farnborough’s Sam Smart brought an early save out of Steward and Ollie Robinson blasted a shot high, wide and not too handsome from a handy position.

Worse was to follow for Farnborough’s Robinson when he was robbed by his Tonbridge namesake on 65 minutes for Trevan to surge into the box before unselfishly laying the ball off for Shields to fire through the legs of the advancing Turner.

A goal line clearance from Liam Vincent was needed on 67 minutes but Tonbridge were now controlling the tempo of the game. Ten minutes remained when Shields turned provider for Trevan but the striker’s effort was saved by Turner.

The home side’s misery was compounded with three minutes remaining when Millar Matthews-Lewis saw red, following a second caution.

Jay Saunders added after the game: “The energy and fitness levels on a Monday after a Saturday were really impressive. Trevan was outstanding today, his work rate, his pace, he caused them all sorts of problems and they are two good centre halves at this level. I’m gutted for him that he didn’t get his goal.”

Tonbridge Angels 0 Bath City 0

Match 17/24/2256 - Saturday, 24th August 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Bath City (0) 0
Attendance: 791
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/682

Manager Jay Saunders drew the positive of a season’s first clean sheet from a frustrating afternoon in which neither side could find the one piece of quality that would unlock two resolute defences. “There are always positives in every game, our first clean sheet is good. First half there was some sloppy mistakes defensively but in general we were solid and Toby’s now really had a save to make in the second half. I was disappointed with us in possession, normally we can move the ball quite well but I thought today we were a little bit sloppy and need to improve on that.”

On a wet afternoon, that until the closing stages of the game, got progressively heavier, Saunders made one change from the side that took a hard-earned point from Monday’s visit to Chelmsford with skipper Scott Wagstaff returning for Taylor Maloney, who retired to the bench.

A sterile first half saw neither goalkeeper tested with anything other than routine saves. Bath’s Jordan Alves flashed a ball across the face of the goal that was turned to safety by a Tonbridge defender and an opportunity for Mo Dabre to cross when the visitors was outnumbered were the only chances of the stalemate being broken.

The second half produced better fare for an attendance of 791, but the chances for both sides remained few and far between.

Saunders rang the changes early in the second period with Jeremy Santos replacing Dabre after 56 minutes and Maloney coming on for Wagstaff on 63 minutes.

Bath’s best chance of the game came on 65 minutes when Toby Steward, racing from his goal to close down Reuben Davies made an uncertain clearance under pressure with the ball falling Davies, but his attempt at the unguarded goal was well wide.

Tonbridge had the better of the chances in the final 20 minutes with substitute Rayan Clarke’s shot saved by Harvey Wiles-Richards and a superb tackle from Kieran Parselle stopped Jeremy Santos in his tracks.

Three minutes before the end an Angels’ corner saw Nazir Bakrin’s goalbound header cleared away but ultimately neither side was destined to find the net and a point apiece was probably a fair reflection of the game.

Aveley 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 16/24/2255 - Saturday, 17th August 2024 - National League South

Aveley (1) 2 Anifowose 20 Kelly 65
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Vincent (pen) 45 Shields 72
Attendance: 513
Admission: £10
Mileage: 70/644

Tonbridge Angels headed back over a congested Dartford Crossing with a hard-earned point following the first of their Essex double-header against Aveley.

A respectable following of Angels supporters battled their way through the tunnel traffic to take their places at Aveley’s Parkside on a very warm afternoon. Jay Saunders made no changes to last week’s starting XI with new signing Timmy Abraham taking a place on the bench.

Overall, a draw was probably a fair result as Jay reflected in his post-match interview: “I thought it was quite an even game, I think Scopesy (Aveley manager) will be the same as me, disappointed with the goals we conceded, especially when we got ourselves back into the game at 1-1. But we showed good character, got the equaliser and then you thought is it going to be a draw. Both sides had a go on a hot day.”

Aveley, who had their mayor cutting the ribbons on a new 3G pitch laid during the close season, started the brighter with Toby Steward the first to make a save from Charlee Hughes.

The Angels first chance of the game came on 14 minutes when a ball over the top was seized on by Trevan Robinson after a defender misjudged its flight, but the Angels’ forward’s effort was denied by the trailing legs of the home goalkeeper, Carey Bloedorn.

The home side took a deserved lead on 20 minutes when a shot from Hughes was palmed away by Steward but only into the path of Josh Anifowose who bundled the ball home from close range.

Tonbridge’s response was positive with Liam Vincent, in particular, sending in a string of crosses that brought pressure on the Millers’ back line.

One such cross, on the half-hour, was scrambled clear but only to Sean Shields whose first time effort from around 12 yards was spectacularly turned onto the crossbar by Bloedorn, a truly great save.

The. Vincent supply of crosses continued; Shields was once again denied by Bloedorn before on the cusp of half-time a long ball forward from the excellent Ryan Hanson saw Robinson clear before being poleaxed by the advancing goalkeeper leaving the referee to point to the spot and issue Bloedorn with a yellow card. Vincent stepped up to convert from the spot to give the Angels deserved parity at the break.

After a relatively quiet opening to the second period, Shields brought a good save out of the goalkeeper just before the hour with Crossley Lema’s effort from the rebound going wide.

But it was the home side that regained the lead on 65 minutes when an almost aimless cross into the box was only partially cleared to the left hand corner of the box from where Garrett Kelly drove his shot into the far, bottom corner.

As with the setback of the opening goal, the Angels responded on the front foot and were level seven minutes later. A long throw from Vincent into the box sparked confusion, the ball dropped to Shields around the penalty spot and his driven shot gave Bloedorn no chance.

An unseemly skirmish broke out after a challenge by Robinson which led to bookings for the Angels player and the Aveley’s Gibbs with the home kit man being shown a red card some 50 yards from the event!

Credit to both sides who both searched for a winner despite the unrelenting heat of the afternoon but both had to accept a share of the spoils leaving the Angels supporters with a 30 minute wait to return across the bridge into Kent.

Tunbridge Wells 2 Holmesdale 1

Match 15/24/2254 - Tuesday, 13th August 2024 - SCEFL Premier

Tunbridge Wells Corke 57 (pen) Ward 58
Holmesdale (0) 1 Osel 74
Attendance: 157
Admission: £6
Mileage: 38/574

Tonbridge Angels U18 3 Metropolitan Police U18 2

Match 14/24/2253 - Monday, 12th August 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 3 Lucas 74 Penman 84,90
Metropolitan Police U18 (1) 2
Headcount: 35
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/536

Tonbridge Angels U18’s came from behind with a three goals in the final half-hour to record a good win against Metropolitan Police, who last season won the Isthmian Youth League Central Division at a canter and also added the Surrey FA Youth Cup.

After a blistering day, the hottest of the year so far, the evening only cooled to the mid-20’s and the heat took its toll as both sides made a cautious start.

The first period in which very few chances were created was dominated by the Met with Angels’ goalkeeper, Josh Hanson, making a couple of fairly routine saves but could only look on helplessly on 16 minutes as a shot from outside of the box rattled the underside of the crossbar.

The early part of the second half saw an early breakthrough for the visitors when a raking pass from midfield found a Met player on the left to cut in and produce a very accomplished finish into the far bottom corner past Hanson.

Hanson saved well again on 51 minutes before the Angels youngsters came to life in the final half-hour. Efforts on goal came from Harry Barton, Callum Fincham and Rob Penman before Ashton Lucas drove home an equaliser from 20 yards on 74 minutes.

Tonbridge were now the dominant side and after Adam Larkin and Ethan Sargent saw efforts denied, Penman produced a bit of magic to curl a shot into the top corner.

A last minute goal from Penman, after Fiachra Pritchard had a shot block sealed the win, but the referee who was obviously enjoying himself far too much, allowed eight minutes of time added in which the Met pulled a goal back from a free kick.

Dom Welsh said afterwards: “I think the first half was okay, even enough. Neither side really threatened, but they certainly enjoyed more success. Second half, we were good for the duration of it, dominated the ball and created loads.”

Tonbridge Angels 3 Weymouth 2

Match 13/24/2252 - Saturday, 10th August 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 Vincent 17 Robinson 21 Shields 72
Weymouth (1) 2 Linton 18 York 88
Attendance: 945
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/498

Finally, preseason takes its leave of us for another year and Saturday mornings have a meaning with a few butterflies whilst clock watching for the right time to make your departure. Everyone starts from scratch with hope in their heart but the voice in your head is warning that another season of misery could well beckon. But as the curtain comes down on the Paris Olympics, let the games begin.

Tonbridge Angels enjoyed an opening day success over visitors Weymouth with a performance that should have been more comfortable than the 3-2 scoreline suggests.

Jay Saunders reflected after the game: “We scored three really good goals, well worked goals. So it's three points but really disappointed with the goals we conceded because I felt that we let them into a game that maybe they shouldn’t have been but it's a good three points. We allowed them back into the game with a couple of mistakes but they are things we can work on and put right.”

On a traditionally hot opening day, the manager had to shuffle his squad following a training ground injury to Tariq Hinds which opened the door for Crossley Lema to step in for his Angels’ competitive debut. Debuts were also given to Toby Steward, Ronny Nelson and Trevan Robinson in the starting line-up.

Both sides took a while to settle into the game with the only chance in the first quarter hour falling to Weymouth’s central defender Jordan Thompson who steered a header from a corner wide.

But the game exploded into life with three goals in four minutes. On 17 minutes, a Sean Shields cross from the right found its way through a lot of bodies for Liam Vincent to squeeze home from beyond the far post. The lead was to last barely a minute as a long ball forward from Brooklyn Genesini split the Angels defence for Malachy Linton to slot past an advancing Steward. The home side regained the lead on 23 minutes when a low cross from Sean Shields was met by Trevan Robinson sliding in at the near post to convert.

The closest either side came to adding to the scoreline in the opening half came on 35 minutes when a well struck shot from 30 yards from the Angels’ Ryan Hanson was narrowly wide.

The second half saw defences become tighter limiting chances with the home side relieved as Thompson’s 54 minute header came back off a post.

Tonbridge gave themselves some breathing space with 18 minutes remaining as Scott Wagstaff won the ball in midfield, passed to Shields who cut in from the left before curling a right foot shot beyond Billy Terrell. We’ve seen it before and we will see it again!

Vincent’s persistence down the left side opened up another opportunity for Shields but his on target effort was turned to safety by Terrell at his near post.

Two minutes remained when Ezio Touray latched onto a ball forward from Evan Pollock, who had won a midfield challenge, to convert and give the home fans a few closing moment jitters, but the Angels held on comfortably during seven minutes of added time.

Picture: Wes Filtness

Forever Finley 2 Tonbridge Angels Legends 3

Match 12/24/2251 - Friday, 9th August 2024 - Charity Match

Forever Finley (0) 2 (pen) 84, 87
Tonbridge Angels Legends (2) 3 Kinch 11 May 15 Collin 83
Headcount: 54
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/460

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Horsham U18 1

Match 11/24/2250 - Monday, 5th August 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Fabimafobee 77
Horsham U18 (1) 1 York 20
Headcount: 54
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/422

Pre-season is about gaining fitness, making mistakes and learning from them and, for 45 minutes at Longmead, Tonbridge Angels U18’s were being dealt a lesson by their Horsham counterparts. The visitors kept the ball, passed the ball and showed a greater intensity than their hosts and were well worth their lead at the break.

Dom Welsh, U18’s manager, admitted a few harsh words were spoken during the break and his charges took his words onboard and produced a second half polar opposite to the first.

A very quiet opening 20 minutes ended with Horsham taking the lead when Scott Smith brought the ball out of defence into the centre circle before releasing a great pass into the inside right channel for Jack York to run clear before despatching a good finish into the bottom corner.

Gaining confidence from the goal, Horsham took control of the game and thoroughly dominated their hosts. Several chances fell to the visitors including an effort from the centre forward that struck a post.

The half-time talking-to had the desired effect and the home side emerged a more positive side on the front foot. A lovely flighted free kick to the far post from Teddy Cooney begged a touch and Tolu Fabimafobee brought a save from the Horsham goalkeeper.

On 74 minutes Ashton Lucas saw his shot turned over the bar and from the resultant corner, Ash Banwait was denied by a superb save.

But the pressure finally told as a long ball forward from Ed Dyer sent Fabimafobee clear into the box from where he coolly finished.

Tonbridge pressed hard for a winner with a corner that saw the goalkeeper making a double save and a shot from Adam Larkin stretching to goalkeeper to a low save. Harry Barton had his shot saved with four minutes remaining before just failing to turn home a cross in the final minute.

Dom Welsh was pleased with his side’s second half reaction in a very competitive friendly and as with any preseason knows there is plenty of work still to be done.

Tonbridge Angels 0 Folkestone Invicta 0

Match 10/24/2249 - Saturday, 3rd August 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Folkestone Invicta (0) 0
Attendance: 367
Admission: £8
Mileage: 38/384

Jonny Henly returned to Longmead with his new club, Folkestone Invicta, saved a penalty and kept a clean sheet as the Angels final preseason game ended in a goalless stalemate.

Henly was, of course, afforded a warm welcome from the Tonbridge faithful, on a muggy afternoon in which Jay Saunders selected a team that many of those fans would feel closely resembles the side that will start the new season next Saturday against Weymouth.

Saunders was able to welcome back Tariq Hinds into the squad and, the wing back saw early action as a cross needed to be clawed away by Henly.

The home side made the early running, Trevan Robinson fired over; Ronnie Nelson saw a header from a corner deflected to safety and, after 23 minutes, from a Sean Shields corner, Joe Tyrie headed agonisingly wide.

Folkestone were not without their chances, one-time Angel Ellis Brown driving into the side netting when well positioned inside the right side of the box and, just past the half-hour, Dan Smith was well wide following an audacious overhead kick.

There was, with what can only be described as a friendly match piece of refereeing, a humorous moment on 34 minutes when Henly found himself on the left hand touchline about 40 yards from his goal and was left with no option but to rugby tackle Mo Dabre as he attempted to wriggle clear and towards the unguarded goal.

Tonbridge were awarded a penalty on 38 minutes when Shields was felled just inside the box. Robinson stepped up for the kick, but his shot was too close to Henly and the ex-Angels stopper saved with relative comfort.

Five minutes before the break, Toby Steward was forced into his first real save, low to his left to deny Smith and the final action of the half saw a Ryan Hanson effort drift wide.

Steward was the first keeper tested in the second period turning over an effort from Ellis before Jay Saunders rang the changes on the hour introducing Taylor Maloney with new signing Naz Bakrin and Jeremy Santos following a few minutes later.

Chances were few and far between in the second period. Liam Vincent flashed a pass across the face of goal that was deflected away for a corner and, with 11 minutes remaining, Henly made a good save as Shields attempted to curl a shot beyond him.

Ultimately, the final minutes of preseason drifted away, with supporters of both sides now looking forward to entering into the serious business of league action with the Angels fans eagerly awaiting the visit of Weymouth to the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium next Saturday.