Glebe U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 3

Match 108/23/2231 - Wednesday, 24th April 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Glebe U18 (0) 1
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 3 Waring 5 Etherington 50,69
Attendance: 39
Admission: £2
Mileage: 64/7,661

The Under-18’s ended their season with a comfortable win at Glebe whilst saying farewell to several of their second years that are no longer eligible for the competition.

With the result having no bearing on league positions for either side, Dom Welsh and his players indulged in a little bit of fun, choosing their positions from a hat. Amazingly, eight of the outfield players picked their own positions with Will Puffette (goodbye) playing as the central striker and Cameron Honarvar (goodbye) filling the centre back position.

Dom said: “We had a bit of fun with it tonight and even then looked comfortable.”

Free from any real worries, the Under-18’s played with a relaxed freedom that was actually quite eye-catching and they went ahead after five minutes when Sam Firman (goodbye) and Felix Waring (goodbye) before the latter drove the ball into the bottom corner.

Puffette was enjoying his role as striker but found both the target and the goalkeeper hard to beat as he had chances to increase the lead.

Glebe steadied the ship and tested Toby Edwards (goodbye) with a save, low to his left after 21 minutes.

The Angels dominated the half and the only surprise was that their lead was not added too and Edwards was needed to perform some of the heroics that he has produced this season to deny the home side with three close range saves in a matter of seconds prior to the break.

Five minutes into the second half, Waring set up Reuben Etherington (goodbye) to double the lead before Glebe pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after the referee deemed a hand ball in the box.

Tolu Fabimafobee, with his tricky feet, opened up the Glebe back line for Etherington to add a third and final goal of the season after 69 minutes.

Dom Welsh, upon whom the responsibility now falls to replace apart from those already mentioned, Sam Gerrard (goodbye) and Ben Martin-Coward (goodbye), said afterwards: “A group I will truly miss working with, been an absolute pleasure, on and off the pitch.”

There is a sense of frustration, finishing third only two points off the champions Cray Valley and, if we indulge in “if only”, no we are not going there.

On a personal basis, thank-you to all of the parents that thanked me

for reporting but in return you have been a great set of parents, ever-present, always supportive and never demanding. You’ve been fantastic.

Margate Women 1 Tonbridge Angels Women 2

Match 107/23/2230 - Sunday, 21st April 2024 - South East Counties Women's League Cup Final

Margate (1) 1 Speller 11
Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Sullivan (pen) 64 Beeput 96
After extra time
Played at Maidstone United
Est. Attendance: 350
Admission: £3
Mileage: 20/7,597

Tonbridge Angels Women have a trophy to put in the cabinet in their first season since reformation with a 2-1 extra-time win over Margate in the South East Counties Women's Football League Cup Final.

Goals from JJ Sullivan from the penalty spot and an extra time winner from Amanda Beeput won the day with Freya Jones being awarded the Player of the Match award.

Joe Rowe said in his after match interview with Matt Davison, “It was a stressful game, a very tight game, but overall I think we had the edge in terms of quality. I’m really pleased for the girls, the whole squad have worked really hard and deserved this.”

The Angels dominated the game for long periods, made countless chances but could not find the finishes that might have seen the game won before the need for extra-time.

From the very outset the Angels were on the front foot with a left sided corner headed onto the top of the crossbar by Beth Kemp after three minutes and two minutes later Grace Mayhead struck a post.

Margate settled into the game and Ashleigh Rhodes needed to make a good low save when Paige Godden met a cross with a header.

Margate took the lead on 11 minutes when a shot from Jessica-Joy Speller took a wicked deflection off Kemp to wrong foot Rhodes.

Tonbridge responded well but the game was end-to-end with efforts from Aimee Churchill and Charlotte Cresswell stretching the Margate goalkeeper, Abbey Duff whilst a shot from Speller brought a great save from Rhodes.

Kemp was causing all sorts of problems in the air from numerous corners for the Angels with one such header drifting narrowly wide after 24 minutes.

At the break, Margate held their slender lead despite the Angels having had the lion’s share of possession and the better chances.

The second half took on much the same pattern with Tonbridge making most of the forward play but Margate looking dangerous on the break. On 50 minutes, Duff made a point blank save as the ball dropped in the area following a corner but two minutes later, Margate had a golden opportunity when a cross from Rebecca Niblett found Godden but Rhodes denied her from close range.

Tonbridge’s pressure finally brought a reward on 64 minutes when following a good combination between Churchill and Faith Gilson, saw the latter tripped in the box with the referee immediately pointing to the spot. JJ Sullivan kept her nerve to convert from the spot.

The last 20 minutes was one-way traffic in the Angels favour, the chances continued to be created and not taken as the game edged its way towards extra time.

Extra time was punishing for both teams with players from both sides suffering from cramp. Early chances fell to Freya Jones and Gilson with shots that cleared the bar before in the sixth minute, Mandy Beeput dispossessed a Margate defender to run clear and fire into the bottom corner.

“I didn’t know which way to run,” said Mandy. “I was under pressure, I can’t lie, I’ve just got to kick this!”

Churchill brought a save from Duff and Gilson fired wide as the Angels looked to wrap the game up and there were nervous moments as Margate forced successive corners but the Angels saw the game out mostly in the opposition half.

Joe Rowe added: “We gave it everything right to the end, we showed that this week and we showed it at Cray Wanderers last week.”

When asked about playing higher league opposition, he commented: “This group alone, without adding players, have shown they can compete. It is a young team, there is no ceiling to what they can achieve.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 St Albans City 2

Match 106/23/2229 - Saturday, 20th April 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Velvick 61 Higgs 80
St Albans City (1) 2 Hutchinson 12 Jeffers 70
Attendance: 1,431
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/7,577

Tonbridge Angels and St Albans City served up an entertaining four goal draw on an emotional day in which the club bade farewell to the legend that is Jonny Henly.

Henly was named as captain for his 304th and final appearance in an Angels side that welcomed back Scott Wagstaff and Mo Dabre to the starting XI with Matty Macarthur and Josh Popoola dropping to the bench.

The nature of the game as a “dead rubber” was not reflected in the impressive attendance of 1,431 gathered in some spring sunshine.

Wagstaff entered the book of referee Lisa Benn within the first two minutes following a challenge that saw the visitors’ Gio Rasulo substituted.

Dabre brought the first save out of either goalkeeper with Michael Johnson saving at the expense of a corner but it was St Albans that opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Shaun Jeffers and Dominic Hutchinson combined on the left side of the box before the latter drove a fierce shot into the roof of the net from around 12 yards.

Johnson got himself into a spot of bother on the edge of the box before the ball was scrambled to safety and Henly saved well from Romeo Akinola and Jeffers in the space of a couple of minutes prior to the break.

Jay Saunders made an early second half substitution replacing Wagstaff with Hayden Velvick and the teenager had an early opportunity but his touch was slightly heavy and Johnson smothered and within a minute Johnson once again denied Velvick this time saving with his feet.

But Velvick’s first senior goal for the club was only minutes away as, just past the hour, Jamie Fielding met a Shields corner with a firm header that could only be parried at his near post by Johnson to the striker who poked the ball home.

Parity was only to last nine minutes as Jake Burger got behind the Tonbridge back line on the left and his cross to the far post was met with a close range touch home for Jeffers for his 27th goal of an ever-productive season.

The Angels were back on level terms on 80 minutes when Fielding’s cross was met with a powerful header from Jordan Higgs that brought about a final 10 minutes in which the Angels threw everything at the visitors with efforts from Velvick, Shields and Lewis Gard but St Albans clung on to return to Hertfordshire with a point which on the balance of play was fair.

Jay Saunders reflected following the game: "It was a decent point but definitely disappointed with the goals conceded, Jonny hasn't had a lot to do other than that. Recent weeks have been tough to get through without a centre forward, but you can't fault the players effort. We showed great character at 2-1, last game of the season, we could have given up, we didn't and even when we got the equaliser we still had a go for a winner, so credit to them for that."

Welling United U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 105/23/2228 - Tuesday, 16th April 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Welling United U18 (0) 1 Breece 68
Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 2 Fabimafobee 88 Mgbeze 90+4
Headcount: 60
Admission: Free
Mileage: 78/7,539

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s gatecrashed the party on a wet night at Holmesdale with two late goals to deny Welling United the league title on the night, leaving them sitting helplessly whilst Cray Valley complete their final two games with victory in both enough to snatch the title.

Manager Dom Welsh was justly proud of his team that had shown resilience, spirit and no small amount of skill in terms of the finishes that dampened the celebrations. “What a game to be involved in, 1-0 down with two minutes to play, to earn all three points epitomises the desire and determination this group showed tonight.”

The game was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Angels U18’s. Shorn of their commanding central defensive partnership of skipper Will Puffette and Ben Martin-Coward and the influential Sam Firman on a dreadful pitch that was not going to suit either side.

The storm clouds were gathering but at kick-off time the pitch was dry, the grass was long and the surface bumpy as the Angels fashioned the opening chance after two minutes when the ball fell to Cameron Honarvar in front of goal but there was too many bodies around him and his effort was blocked and eventually cleared to safety.

The game ebbed and flowed with both sides having spells in which the chances fell to them. After eight minutes a left-sided corner flashed across the face of the Angels goal with nobody to add the finishing touch and after 15 minutes a shot drifted narrowly wide.

The Angels, playing down the discernible hill, had their period from 20 minutes in when an Adam Larkin shot brought a save from the goalkeeper and successive shots from Felix Waring were not too far wide or high.

On 42 minutes, Welling were awarded a penalty when an attack saw a player brought down on the far right side of the box. But, Toby Edwards was equal to his penalty taker, diving low to his left to save.

The storm clouds had turned to heavy rain as the second half began and the bumpy surface now had an added slippery element. Tonbridge had to repel an almighty scramble in front of their own goal after 10 minutes and whilst Tolu Fabimafobee stretched the Welling goalkeeper, a goal had been coming when Welling took the lead on 68 minutes when Breece found himself as the man over on the left to drive home and spark ridiculously over-the-top celebrations, considering there were 20 minutes (that actually turned in 30 minutes) remaining.

Tonbridge dug deep as emotions ran high and weathered the storm, literally, and with just two minutes remaining Fabimafobee ran from deep through a stretched Welling defence before despatching his shot into the bottom corner.

With the title now out of their hands, Welling threw bodies forward in search of the winner but the Angels stood firm and when Honarvar cleared from defence, Ethan Mgbeze strode clear before striking his shot cleanly into the bottom corner.

The Angels had to survive a final free kick that eventually came back off the bar to preserve a memorable win.

There’s a famous old saying; “It ain’t over 'til the fat lady sings” and with 20 minutes to go she wasn’t even clearing her throat.

With one game remaining, at Glebe next Wednesday, a top three finish is secure for Dom Welsh’s lads and of that they can rightly celebrate.

Chelmsford City 3 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 104/23/2227 - Saturday, 13th April 2024 - National League South

Chelmsford City (0) 3 Francis 52,90+2 Ruff 88
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 1,163
Admission: £12
Mileage: 134/7,461

Two late goals gave promotion-chasing Chelmsford City a flattering scoreline, although nobody of an Angels persuasion could really argue that the hosts deserved the points.

Until the 88th minute Tonbridge remained in the game at a windy but warm Melbourne Park but a failure to clear their lines following a corner gave Chelmsford breathing space and, in added time, a calamitous mistake from Jonny Henly wrapped up the game at a venue where fortune rarely favours the Angels.

Jay Saunders, banished to the distant viewing point of the main stand due to suspension, alongside his assistant Lloyd Blackman, was once more left with a threadbare squad, which just the one change from the side that performed admirably at Bath City with Josh Popoola coming in for the unavailable Mo Dabre, whilst Scott Wagstaff returned to the bench.

Under-18’s manager, Dom Welsh stepped in to assistant Tommy Parkinson in the dug outs.

There was little to choose between the teams in the opening 20 minutes as the wind proved difficult with both sides struggling at times to just keep the ball on the pitch. The home side had an early opportunity as a cross from Jermaine Francis found Samir Carruthers in front of goal but a brilliant block denied the former Dartford man.

Henly had to be at his best to save from Callum Watts on 25 minutes with the follow-up being driven over the bar from Dave Winfield.

As half-time approached Tonbridge had a period when they created a couple of chances of their own after frustrating their hosts. Sean Shields twisted his way into space for a cross that was turned away for a corner and, in the last minute of the half, Shields brought a good save from Chelmsford’s goalkeeper, Jacob Marsden, at his near post and from the resultant corner, Jamie Fielding’s header was cleared away.

An early second half cross from Shields glanced off the head of Popoola before Chelmsford took a 52 minute lead. A cross into the box from Carruthers found Freddie Hockey, whose close range shot was parried by Henly but the rebound fell nicely for Francis to tuck home.

Tonbridge stayed in the game until its closing stages, limiting the home side to a couple of efforts, before a corner was only partially cleared falling at the feet of Charlie Ruff who scored from close range.

Sadly it was a calamitous moment that brought the curtain down on the game for the Angels when Henly was robbed on the edge of the box in the process of clearing allowing Francis to run the ball into an empty net.

Jay Saunders speaking to Matt Davison after the match reflected: "A bad day at the office ... We didn't work them enough in the final third, there is no denying that in the forward areas we are light. The likes of Ryan Hanson and Mo Dabre are big players for us and as a squad we can't afford to lose them. It is disappointing as management and players when we don't play as well as we are capable of knowing that supporters have spent hard-earned cash to come and watch us."

Staplehurst Monarchs 4 K Sports 1

Match 103/23/2226 - Wednesday, 10th April 2024 - SCEFL One

Staplehurst Monarchs (1) 4 Rosetti 33 Beech 48 Latunde 58 Gorse 71
K Sports (1) 1 Ajao 20
Attendance: 78
Admission: £4
Mileage: 1/7,327

Staplehurst Monarchs sealed their place in the playoffs, now the challenge is to retain their second place to ensure home advantage through the postseason stage.

After a one-sided game against K Sports, the Monarchs go into the weekend’s games with a three point lead over Rochester United and six over Larkfield, who have a game in hand, before next Wednesday’s rearranged encounter with Larkfield at the Jubilee.

On a miserable evening, weather-wise that restricted the attendance, the freshly mown pitch looked resplendent, belying the devil that has caused postponements during this exceptionally wet winter.

Staplehurst were dominant from minute one, creating all the chances, the best of which saw a shot from Harry Beech marginally clear the bar. So it was somewhat surprising, certainly against the run of play, when K Sports opened the scoring after 20 minutes when a cross from the right found David Ajao unmarked to score an easy finish.

The goal knocked the momentum out of Staplehurst for 10 minutes and they could have fell further behind barring a wasteful finish from Dylan Akue.

The home side drew level on 33 minutes when a huge crossfield pass from left to right saw Ted Rosetti beat the onrushing goalkeeper, Adam Lovell to touch the ball past him and run the ball into the net.

Staplehurst opened the second half with an early goal from Beech, who found himself with time and space to slip the ball past Lovell and the second half became a procession as the home side took total control.

On 58 minutes, David Latunde finished after good work from Beech and, on 71 minutes, Harley Gorse wrapped up the game meeting a James West free kick with a powerful header.

It will be strange next season, seeing K Sports operating out of Sheppey. For more years than I care to remember they have been synonymous with Cobdown, as Reeds, then APM Contrast before adopting the K Sports name and it is sad to see them leaving to make way for Welling Town who take over as the tenants at Cobdown. Let’s hope that all parties eventually benefit from the changes.

Sheppey United U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 3

Match 102/23/2225 - Monday, 8th April 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Sheppey United U18 (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 3 Pritchard 59 Waring 64 Puffette 70
Headcount: 38
Admission: £3
Mileage: 54/7,326

Tonbridge Angels U18’s recovered from a desperately poor first half performance at Holm Park to score three times in the second period and comfortably take home the points from Sheppey United.

“We were terrible first half and let them know that too during the break. Just so sloppy on the ball,” reflected Dom Welsh.

Whilst the Angels U18’s continue to harbour ambitions of a top three finish, their hosts sit stranded at the bottom with no hope of escaping the wooden spoon. But for 45 minutes they were more than a match for Tonbridge, who struggled, be it on a wet and windy evening, to gain any sort of momentum.

A Will Puffette header from a left-sided corner that was cleared from the line after 21 minutes and a Sheppey effort that was well saved by Toby Edwards, low to his left, were the best moments of an instantly forgettable first half.

The Angels brought on Fiachra Pritchard, fresh from the title-winning Under-16’s, for the second half and the extra width posed problems for the home side that hadn’t existed in the first period.

Welsh explained: “The changes we made to bring Fiachra on and move Noah [Millis] deeper to help with the build up worked with also moving Felix Waring wider. This gave us a wide threat which also created space centrally.”

Sheppey actually had an early chance when an unchallenged header from a corner was steered narrowly wide after just two minutes but from that scare, Tonbridge took control and eventually opened the scoring just shy of the hour when Sam Firman played in Pritchard to drive the ball into the bottom corner for his first U18’s goal.

Five minutes later, a splendid run, cutting in from the right and evading several challenges, from Waring before finishing past the advancing goalkeeper doubled the advantage and the Angels finally looked comfortable.

On 70 minutes, Puffette headed home a Waring free kick and the first half woes were sidelined.

The lead enabled Welsh to introduce Harry Barton, also from the U16’s, and he tested the keeper on a couple of occasions.

All’s well that ends well for the Angels and they move on to a sterner test against potential champions Welling United at Holmesdale next Tuesday.

Bath City 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 101/23/2224 - Saturday, 6th April 2024 - National League South

Bath City (1) 1 Cooke (pen) 10
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Sutcliffe 40
Attendance: 1,358
Admission: £13
Mileage: 256/7,272

A collective cheer, whether that be in relief or joy, came from the gathered Angels faithful as Bath City’s leading goalscorer, Cody Cooke dragged his spot kick wide of the left hand post with five minutes remaining to preserve a point that would have been unjustly stolen from the visitors.

Tonbridge Angels had produced an energetic performance against their play-off contending hosts with a team that saw Mo Dabre playing as the central striker in place of Nathan Odokonyero, whose season has been ended by a hand injury sustained against Hampton and Richmond that, this week, has required surgery. Club captain Scott Wagstaff also remained on the sidelines through illness.

The first half was played in the tail-end of Storm Kathleen that suited the Angels football played on the ground rather than the aerial route taken by the hosts. But it was the Angels that suffered an early set back when a free kick played into the box brought about a scramble that ultimately saw Jordan Dyer go down leading to referee, Tommy Breen, pointing immediately to the spot.

Cooke stroked the ball into the net sending Jonny Henly the wrong way to give the Romans a 10th minute lead.

Rather than being disheartened by the goal, the Angels took the game to their hosts with a cross from Matty Macarthur that narrowly eluded Jernade Meade and a 20th minute effort from Meade that brought a good, low save from Will Buse.

Dabre was running on the highest quality Duracells and running the home defence ragged that brought a succession of corners the seventh of which, on 40 minutes, saw Sean Shields cross met with a powerful header from Ethan Sutciffe.

Tonbridge continued to dominate the possession and might have gone into the break in front when Jamie Fielding’s cross was plucked out of the air by Buse.

The second half saw Bath, having rang the changes (a luxury that the Angels could barely afford with a threadbare bench in terms of senior players), pose more of a threat but efforts from Dan Hayfield and Scott Wilson brought routine saves from Henly.

On 67 minutes a cross from Tariq Hinds narrowly eluded by Dabre and Lewis Gard followed by efforts from Shields and Dabre that cleared the bar.

Five minutes remained when heartbreak stared Tonbridge in the face as Fielding was harshly judged to have handled the ball as a shot was struck goalwards. But justice was served as Cooke struck his penalty well wide.

In a message to the travelling support, Jay Saunders said: “Thank you all for your amazing support this afternoon. The players really appreciated your singing and noise which no doubt motivated them to run that extra yard. The result was the least we felt we deserved and we’ll continue to work hard for these last 2 games.”

Tonbridge Angels 1 Farnborough 2

Match 100/23/2223 - Monday, 1st April 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Odokonyero 18
Farnborough (0) 2 Haigh 51 Pendlebury 68
Attendance: 1,255
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/7,016

A game of the proverbial two halves saw Farnborough extend their winning run to seven straight games at the Angels expense.

After a first half in which Jay Saunders’ team dominated and led through a Nathan Odokonyero goal, the visitors emerged from the dressing room a different team to score twice to take maximum points back to Hampshire.

Shorn of an almost entire midfield with Scott Wagstaff, Ryan Hanson and Jordan Higgs all missing out through injury, Jay’s squad looked threadbare with Josh Popoola and Lewis Gard returning to the starting XI with three Academy/Under-18’s on the bench.

After a relatively quiet opening quarter hour the game sprang to life when Odokonyero wriggled his way into the box before seeing his shot deflected for a corner from which Jamie Fielding’s header was cleared from the line for another corner.

This time Sean Shields corner was headed back across the face of goal by Fielding to Odokonyero who deftly turned and fired home past a helpless goalkeeper.

Tails up, Tonbridge were creating good chances with Shields only managing to stab a shot wide and Liam Vincent forcing Jack Turner into a good low save and, after 38 minutes, a Shields cross was headed against his own crossbar by Guy Hollis.

Jonny Henly brought rapturous applause from the home support but not in the normal manner after making a double tackle some 35 yards from his goal out on the right touchline.

In a moment, early in the second half, the game turned in the visitors favour as referee Matthew Norton waved away strong claims for a penalty after Odokonyero was brought down and as the ball was swept to the other end, Joe Haigh cut in from the right to bury a shot into the far bottom corner to equalise for the visitors after 51 minutes.

The momentum had swung in favour of Farnborough and Tonbridge had to withstand heavy pressure conceding several corners before a free kick conceded on the edge of the box was well struck by Olly Pendlebury could only be helped into the roof of the net by Henly.

The Angels mounted a spirited last 20 minutes that saw Fielding stretch Turner and an Odokonyero header that drifted narrowly wide. And then, in the final minute of regular time, a cross from Shields saw Turner save from Gard with the follow-up being cleared from the line by Ricky Holmes.

Five minutes of time added brought shots at goal from Vincent and Tariq Hinds but Farnborough stood firm to take the points.

A frustrating afternoon for Jay Saunders who commented after the game: “We had a lot of players missing today, we put a lot of effort in and they key moments leading up to their first goal the officials have had a big part to play in the way the game altered. For all the long balls they throw in I thought we dealt with it well, but key moments in games change things and we’ve had our chances.”

Picture: Dave Couldridge

Larkfield & New Hythe 3 Staplehurst Monarchs 1

Match 99/23/2222 - Saturday, 30th March 2024 - SCEFL Division One

Larkfield & New Hythe (2) 3 Walker 33 Day 39 Babington 62
Staplehurst Monarchs (0) 1 Watson (pen) 49
Attendance: 201
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 22/6,978

Staplehurst Monarchs suffered a set back in their march to the SCEFL Division One play-offs but whilst it should not prove fatal in that quest, it might prove a pivotal defeat in the all-important battle for a top three place and a home tie in the post-season finale.

Larkfield and New Hythe, with this win, now stand four points adrift of the Monarchs but with two games in hand.

A bumper Easter Saturday crowd were treated to a feisty encounter that saw the home side, with perhaps the most to lose, play with an aggression that sailed pretty close to the wind at times but without doubt brought a deserved three points.

From the first minute when a great block from a Staplehurst defender denied an early goal, it was obvious that the home side were “up for it” with as much noise coming from the pitch as from the assembled crowd.

Staplehurst had decent chances on six minutes when the eccentric Larkfield goalkeeper, Jordan Carey, saved from Omar El Mantaway with the follow-up turned wide and on nine minutes when Harley Gorse headed over but after the visiting goalkeeper, Steve Lawrence, had made a brilliant reaction save to turn over a header from Tyrell Richardson, the resultant corner found its way to the left side of the box from where Fraser Walker drove low and cleanly into the bottom corner.

Larkfield doubled their advantage on 39 minutes when Matt Day beautifully flighted a free kick over the Staplehurst wall leaving Lawrence helpless.

Staplehurst were given a helping hand back into the game early in the second half when the referee awarded them a hotly disputed penalty which was converted by Connor Watson which brought a spell in which they threatened to pull the game level but Larkfield regained their momentum and regained their two goal advantage just past the hour with a close range header from Timmy Babington.

The final half-hour was one of attrition and not very easy on the eye but Larkfield saw the game out with relative ease to gain the vital three points.

Hampton & Richmond Borough 0 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 98/23/2221 - Friday, 29th March 2024 - National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 2,031
Admission: £15 Senior
Mileage: 104/6,956

This stage of the season for a club marooned in mid-table has the feel of the last couple of games of pre-season, just want them done and onto the real thing.

Make no mistake, another time and this would have been deemed a great result against a team, fourth in the table and with a place in the playoffs within their grasp. Tonbridge were the better side and had the better chances but despite the contrasting styles, ultimately the two teams cancelled each other out.

It was a strange day at Hampton and Richmond Borough’s Beveree Stadium. Previous visits have seen Tuesday night attendances of 400-odd and an atmosphere as dull as dishwater. But a Good Friday Easter egg hunt brought out the kids and their parents resulting in an unbelievable attendance of over 2,000 but an atmosphere, Angels supporters excepted, still as dull as dishwater.

Jay Saunders welcomed back Nathan Odokonyero, Sean Shields and Jernade Meade with Matty Macarthur and Lewis Gard dropping to the bench with Scott Wagstaff also unfit.

Neither team made much impression in the opening quarter hour until Shields floated an exquisite ball from the left to the right side of the box where Tariq Hinds didn’t quite make a full connection allowing his volley to be pushed to safety by the Hampton goalkeeper, Adam Desbois.

The stalemate in terms of real chances continued until the 38th minute when Shields effort was touch over the bar.

Jonny Henly, on his 300th appearance, made his first real save, and a very good one, diving low to his left to save a Tope Fadahunsi header.

For a large part of the second half, the game looked to have a goalless draw written all over it. Hampton’s style is not easy on the eye with long balls launched into the south-west London sky, many of which were overhit by the proverbial mile. All of which required the concentration of the Tonbridge back line to which they dealt with competently leaving Henly without a save to make in the entire half.

The Angels best chance came in the 81st minute when Odokonyero was denied as Desbois saved.

My own record of never having seen more than one goal in a game at the Beveree remains and never seemed threatened.

Tonbridge Angels Women 2 Tunbridge Wells Foresters Women 4

Match 97/23/2220 - Sunday, 24th March 2024 - KCFA Women's Plate SF

Tonbridge Angels Women (1) 2 Mayhead 16 Kemp 79
Tunbridge Wells Foresters Women (1) 4 Stokes 9,73,90+3 Wignall 58
Attendance: 136
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/6,852

Tonbridge Angels Women departed the KCFA Women’s Plate at the semi-final stage with their heads held high having stretched their Kent Premier Division opponents, Tunbridge Wells Foresters, all the way until an added time goal made the game safe for the visitors.

Whilst congratulating and wishing his opponents good luck in the final, manager Joe Rowe was proud of his team’s performance: “I think all of us come away from today disappointed in the result but proud of our efforts and to get to the semi final. The team gave everything and on another day we may have got the result we wanted but today Foresters were the deserved winners. Our challenge now is to use this feeling as a catalyst to ensure we finish the season strong and have something to show for what has been a very positive opening season for the team.”

An impressive attendance of 136 that had assembled in bright late afternoon sunshine to see these local rivals go head-to-head and they would have left Longmead Stadium having seen a competitive match of great quality.

The Angels enjoyed the better of the opening moments with a Charlotte Cresswell effort clearing the bar before Foresters went ahead after nine minutes when a cross from Adi Stapleton-Berry found its way to the far post from where Annabel Stokes swept the ball home.

Tonbridge responded positively and were level on 16 minutes when a cross from Jade Folkard was fired home by Grace Mayhead.

As the half unfolded, Tonbridge were the equals of their opponents with chances for Cresswell and Mayhead, although the Angels goalkeeper, Ashleigh Rhodes needed to be at her best saving well following a Foresters corner and earlier Stapleton-Berry had an opportunity cleared from the line.

Tunbridge Wells Foresters dominated the opening quarter-hour of the second half and eventually got their reward on 58 minutes when Rona Wignall was sent clear to finish well past Rhodes.

When Stokes added a third on 73 minutes the tie looked all but done but the Angels staged a spirited recovery that saw a free kick from Amanda Beeput recycled from the right into the box for Beth Kemp to volley past the Wells goalkeeper.

The goal set up a grandstand finish that saw chances fall to Aimee Churchill before in the third of five added minutes, a fortunate rebound saw Stokes stride clear to finish clinically and complete her hat trick.

Tonbridge Angels 2 Truro City 1

Match 96/23/2219 - Saturday, 23rd March 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Higgs 84 Fielding 90+3
Truro City (0) 1 Josh Hinds 65
Attendance: 1,033
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,814

Jordan Higgs had one of those days! At fault for the goal that saw the Angels slip behind, his shot from the left side of the penalty area brought his side level before a last gasp winner from Jamie Fielding sealed the points with Higgs taking home the Man of the Match award.

On a day at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium when early arrivals were greeted with a hailstorm but the afternoon turned to bright sunshine, Jay Saunders’ hand was forced with illness and injury hitting the squad. Sean Shields (illness), Nathan Odokonyero and Kodi Lyons-Foster (injuries) dropped out of the squad with Matty Mcarthur making his first start whilst Lewis Gard and Scott Wagstaff returned to the starting XI.

The first half was largely dominated by the Angels, who employed Gard as their furthest forward, but it was little more than gentle probing and the visiting Cornishmen packed their rearguard limiting the home side to precious few openings, the best of which fell to Wagstaff who shot over after two minutes and a free kick from Liam Vincent that similarly cleared the bar.

At the other end, Jonny Henly was largely unemployed, fielding with ease an effort from Connor Riley-Lowe, under a challenge from Mo Dabre.

The second half started and continued in much the same vein. An early chance for Macarthur was too high and, on 58 minutes, Higgs danced his way into the box but found himself crowded out by the massed ranks of red and black striped shirts.

Skipper Scott Wagstaff, who had taken a ball in the face in the first half, was substituted for Josh Popoola.

It was almost unthinkable that, on 65 minutes, Truro took the lead when Higgs stumbled on the ball on the edge of his box to be robbed by Josh Hinds (Tariq’s brother) who had an open goal to roll the ball into.

Tonbridge continued to push forward in search of something out of the game with Academy striker Hayden Velvick now on the pitch and finally, with six minutes remaining, Truro’s resistance was broken when a corner was only partially cleared to Higgs whose cleanly hit shot nestled into the bottom corner.

Now searching a winner, Jamie Fielding was pressed forward and the chances began to open up for the Angels with Gard firing over; Higgs steering a header wide from Liam Vincent’s cross before, in the third of five added minutes, Popoola wriggled his way to the byline to despatch a low cross that evaded bodies to find Fielding at the back post to touch home.

Artois 3 Welling Town 3

Match 95/23/2218 - Friday, 22nd March 2024 - Maidstone & Mid Kent Sunday League Challenge Cup Final

Artois (2) 3
Welling Town (1) 3
Artois won 4-3 on penalties
Attendance: 461
Played at Gallagher Stadium
Admission: £5
Mileage: 20/6,776

Chatham Town U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 5

Match 94/23/2217 - Monday, 18th March 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Chatham Town U18 (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels U18 (3) 5 Puffette 3 Honarvar 24,85 Aberdeen 32 McLeod 90
Attendance: 50
Admission: £1 Senior
Mileage: 32/6,756

Four games, all away from home, will draw down the curtain on the season. Mathematically the league can still be won, but realistically as high position as can be attained would be a fitting conclusion to a season which has already seen the highest points total gained since reformation of the Under-18’s. And for those now over-18’s who depart for universities, home and abroad or futures of their choice, leaving clutching a runners-up medal would be just reward.

The first step towards this objective was taken with a comfortable 5-0 win at Chatham Town on Monday evening. Dom Welsh said after the game: “Strong performance, five goals away and a clean sheet. We were ruthless in the first half followed by a slightly wasteful second but dominant throughout and some outstanding displays in the final third.”

The scene was set for the evening as early as the third minute when Will Puffette was allowed to touch home at the near post following a corner.

Chatham had a decent chance after 20 minutes pressing Toby Edwards into action with a low save but chances for the Angels to extend their lead had already fallen before the second goal, in rather bizarre fashion, on 24 minutes. Sam Firman danced his way through a couple of chances before his shot was saved, but then dropped by the Chats goalkeeper for Cameron Honarvar to stab home.

After 32 minutes, the Angels went three clear when a long ball forward was collected by Honarvar who rolled it into the path of Nijae Aberdeen to score his first goal for the club.

The second half was largely one-way traffic and it was both surprising, and wasteful, that it took until the 85th minute for a fourth to be scored when Puffette picked out Honarvar to run clear and score past the advancing goalkeeper.

The game was wrapped up in the final minute of regular time when Honarvar, turned provider for Fin McLeod to score into the bottom corner.

Tonbridge Angels 4 Torquay United 1

Match 93/23/2216 - Saturday, 16th March 2024 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 4 Hinds 22 Odokonyero 71,76 Shields 72
Torquay United (0) 1 Ash 79
Attendance: 1,308
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/6,724

Tonbridge Angels supporters departed the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium full of the joys of spring after watching their favourites demolish Torquay United with three second half goals in a five minute spell. For the visitors, it was the end of a terrible week that had seen a 10 point deduction following their intention to go into receivership.

After a morning of sunshine, cloud cover was hardly spring-like as Jay Saunders made two changes from the side beaten at Aveley on Monday. Kodi Lyons-Foster and Ryan Hanson returned following injury with Jernade Meade and club captain Scott Wagstaff, who had been ill this week, dropping to the bench.

A healthy contingent of Torquay supporters had defied the M25 closure to take their places in an attendance of 1,308.

After a quiet opening 10 minutes the game sprang to life with Torquay’s goalkeeper, Mark Halstead, making a superb save to deny Hanson’s header at the near post from a Sean Shields corner.

Within a minute, the visitors had a great chance when a cross into the box from Bradley Ash found Aaron Jarvis who dwelt too long allowing Jonny Henly to smother at his feet.

Tonbridge took a 22nd minute lead when Shields released Liam Vincent down the left and from his low cross, Tariq Hinds scored from close range at the far post.

The game was delayed when referee Dan England was struck on the head with the ball and within a minute of the official recovering after treatment, Jordan Higgs was similarly struck.

Six minutes before the break, Torquay went close when a cross from Jack Stobbs was back headed by Tom Lapslie but his effort nestled on the roof of the net.

On the cusp of half-time, Nathan Odokonyero saw his effort deflected narrowly wide.

The early part of the second half saw an Odokonyero shot saved by Halstead and after a fine interchange between Hinds and Odokonyero, Shields saw his space denied and the ball was scrambled to safety.

Torquay had a spell in which they dominated the possession before a five minute spell from the Angels saw them surge into an unassailable four goal lead. On 71 minutes Shields sent Odokonyero clear to cooly convert one-on-one with the goalkeeper and a minute later an audacious lob from the right side of the penalty area from Shields left Halstead helpless.

On 76 minutes, brilliant footwork from Odokonyero made space for a shot into the bottom corner and despite Bradley Ash scoring a 79th minute consolation goal for the Gulls the game was as good as done.

The announcement of Ryan Hanson as the Man of the Match brought a complimentary chant from the supporters of his ex-club before the final whistle brought disgruntled boos from same fans whilst the Angels supporters celebrated joyously at the other end.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 7 Maidstone United Academy 2

Match 92/23/2215 - Wednesday, 13th March 2024 - National League U19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (0) 7 Velvick 47,83,86 Shave 65,71, C.Dudley 75, F.Dudley 81
Maidstone United Academy (2) 2 Kiel 30,37
Headcount: 15
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/6,686

Aveley 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 91/23/2214 - Monday, 11th March 2024 - National League South

Aveley (1) 2 De-Graft 35 Ogunrinde 52
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Odokonyero 47 (pen)
Attendance: 337
Admission: £10 Senior
Mileage: 92/6,648

Tonbridge Angels slipped to a narrow defeat on a chilly evening at Aveley’s Parkside Stadium.

Promotion, through the play-off route, chasing Aveley scored a goal in each half to further their credentials for the post-season finale.

Jay Saunders made two changes from Saturday’s drawn game at Havant with Scott Wagstaff returning from suspension for Ryan Hanson (injured) and Jernade Meade for Kodi Lyons-Foster, who was withdrawn injured at half-time on Saturday.

Tonbridge made the early running in the first half, forcing early corners and, in the 11th minute, Liam Vincent playing further forward than his normal full back position, was denied by Aveley goalkeeper Jonathan North’s feet that deflected the ball away for a corner.

Vincent was very much to the fore seeing a shot blocked and on 32 minutes, a header from a Sean Shields cross that cleared the bar was a great chance.

Three minutes later the Angels were behind when the home side broke away down the left that ended with Razzaq Coleman De-Graft shooting across the goal to find the bottom right hand corner.

Tonbridge had mainly been the equals of their hosts but nonetheless went into the break with that one goal deficit. This was quickly equalised in the second half when following an effort from Nathan Odokonyero that was turned away for a corner from which Ethan Sutcliffe was bundled to the ground with the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Odokonyero sent North the wrong way as he converted the penalty.

Unfortunately parity lasted a matter of moments as Jason Ring sent a cross into the box, that one being half-cleared back to Ring who recrossed this time for Manny Ogunrinde to fire into the bottom corner.

The hosts largely took control of the game following the goal. Odokonyero’s snap shot on 62 minutes cleared the bar whilst, at the other end, Ogunrinde fired over and shot into the side netting.

Jay Saunders shuffled his team bringing on Josh Popoola and Francis Mampolo but solid defending from the home side offered very little in the way of opportunities, apart from an almighty scramble in the six yard box that saw a couple of scuffed hits before North fell on the ball.

One last chance fell Odokonyero’s way but this drifted wide of the right hand post before the referee’s whistle saw the reasonably sized Angels contingent heading, disappointed, towards the QE2 bridge.

Havant & Waterlooville 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 90/23/2213 - Saturday, 9th March 2024 - National League South

Havant & Waterlooville (2) 2 McCarthy 14 Seager 25
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Hinds 6 Dabre 47
Attendance: 975
Admission: £10 Senior
Mileage: 204/6,556

Motivation might well be the watchword for the last six weeks of the season.

For Tonbridge Angels, the season is done. The last eight games will designate whether a finish is top half or not and the manager will shape his squad for another tilt in August.

Off the pitch, thankfully the long journeys are done and so the lack of motivation to get up on a Saturday morning and hack 150 miles or more west is no longer an issue.

The last of the long car journeys took us on a 200 mile round trip to Hampshire and a game that felt like an end of season affair but really should not have done with Havant and Waterlooville fighting for points to avoid relegation. It was a game of missed chances, four goals but there was something lacking in its intensity and on the terraces there almost seemed an air of disinterest.

Who knows what has gone wrong at Havant? There are players there that other clubs would covet, there are players such as Jack Jebb, that are sitting on their bench that I would covet.

Jay Saunders, without Scott Wagstaff serving the second of his two match suspension, fielded the same side as against Eastbourne last time out, with the only changes, significant ones, on the bench where Jordan Greenidge will no longer sit following his departure to Dartford and the arrival of Josh Popoola.

The Angels gave their slightly smaller than usual away following early cheer with a sixth minute lead from Tariq Hinds, who fired in from 12 yards following an excellent run into the box from Nathan Odokonyero.

The lead wasn’t to last when a pass from the left from James Roberts was laid across the edge of the box from where Jake McCarthy was afforded time and space to pick out the top corner.

Odokonyero was leading the Havant defence a dance and once more jinked his way into space but lifted his shot over the bar before, on 25 minutes, the home side went ahead with a well-taken header from Ryan Seager from a right wing cross by Callum Kealy.

Havant had two headed chances to extend their lead before, on 35 minutes, goalkeeper Ross Worner was forced to make a good reaction save to deny Joe McNerney turning Odokonyero’s cross into his own goal.

The Angels came out for the second half positively with Sean Shields testing Worner early before a short corner routine from Shields and Lewis Gard fed the ball to the edge of the box from where Mo Dabre curled a shot into the bottom corner.

A home point was of little value to Havant and Waterlooville and they pressed hard for an winner but their shooting was wayward on several occasions.

A draw was probably a fair result and for a fourth time in four visits to Westleigh Park there was no winner but at least the goalscoring was doubled on this occasion.