Tonbridge Angels 0 Truro City 1

Match 74/24/2313 - Tuesday, 15th February 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Truro City (1) 1 Dean 15
Attendance: 1,085
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,237

On an emotional day, Tonbridge Angels fell to a single goal defeat to visitors Truro City, who maintained their position in the play-off places, moving up a place to sixth.

The pre-match tribute to Devonte Aransibia began with the laying of a wreath on the centre circle, performed by Devonte’s parents, who were accompanied by his partner along with Tonbridge Angels’ chair, Sophie Purves and club chaplain, Neil Durling, who led the prayers. This was followed by a perfectly observed minute’s silence.

A cold, grey afternoon that matched the solemnity of the moment, Jay Saunders had a further depleted squad from which to make his selection. Jack Wood (ankle), Liam Vincent (achilles), Brody Peart (back) added to those of longer term absence with Sean Shields and Harry Ottaway returning, who, along with a couple of others, were “probably not 100% and maybe you could see that at times.”

After a good opening period in which Ottaway’s effort cleared the bar after two minutes and Trevan Robinson’s cross flashed across the face of goal after nine, it was the well-travelled Cornish side that opened the scoring after 15 minutes when a clearance from a long throw into the box, fell to Will Dean on the edge of the penalty area from where a well struck shot into the bottom corner found its way through a crowded area.

A Shields cross that saw Robinson struggling to get the ball out from under his feet on the edge of the six yard box was the best chance in the remainder of the half whilst Truro, who had the better of the half, had opportunities through Tom Harrison, who shot wide and a cross from Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain that landed on the top of the bar.

The Angels in the second half, encouraged by their supporters in the North Stand, who had raised a banner for Devonte and had a new song in his honour, had the vast majority of the possession, and forward momentum, but stumbled on a stubborn visiting defence that didn’t allow the goalkeeper, Dan Lavercombe, to be tested on too many occasions.

A corner, after 51 minutes, saw a header from Jamie Fielding go over and when, on the hour, Shields cut in from the left and set for his shot, hopes rose of the net rippling, but it was straight at Lavercombe, who comfortably collected.

Truro went straight to the other end and when Jaze Kabia was sent clear it took the legs of the advancing Matt Rowley to save.

Following substitutions of Ottaway and Taylor Maloney by Nazir Bakrin and Crossley Lema, Fielding was pushed forward as the central forward. Lema had a header that drifted wide; Shields a shot that was over and Robinson a header that went wide after a corner head been headed on as the Angels desperately searched for a goal that would give them at least a point that could, arguably, have been deserved.

But Truro managed the game to its conclusion and took the three points back to Cornwall.

Jay said after the game: “The game wasn’t, I would imagine, great to watch. Truro are very good at what they do, they man mark all over the pitch. Long throws and set pieces and, unfortunately, we’ve lost it on a long throw which is the biggest disappointment. It was a patched-up side but we’re just disappointed with the goal conceded.”

Dorking Wanderers 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 73/24/2312 - Tuesday, 11th February 2025 - National League South

Dorking Wanderers (0) 1 Murphy 90+3
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance:
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 111/5,199

On 26 minutes, applause rang out from the Tonbridge Angels supporters in recognition of Devonte Aransibia, a young man who said he was never happier than when playing for Tonbridge Angels. As the referee, Adam Marchant, leant over an injured Taylor Maloney, the Dorking Wanderers captain, Charlie Carter, drew his attention to the applause. The game stopped, players joined with both sets of supporters in a show of respect for a young family man we have lost. In that minute, the ultimate result was immaterial, football had shown its soul.

On another evening, a 93rd minute defeat would have been devastating but tonight was about that 26th minute and we, as in the football family, had won.

Tonbridge Angels would like to thank Marc White, his players and their supporters for their part in this emotional moment. Rest in Peace with the Angels, Devonte.

On a cold Surrey evening, a sizeable contingent from Tonbridge had made their way to Meadowbank and occupied their corner in fine voice. Jay Saunders’ injury woes continued with Gianluca Botti pulling out through a knock sustained on Saturday alongside Scott Wagstaff. Crossley Lema, also substituted on Saturday, took a place on the bench.

As might be expected from a side at the top of the league, the Angels were forced to defend for long periods but the back three of Ethan Sutcliffe, Jamie Fielding and Ronny Nelson were truly heroic and, when they were breached, Matt Rowley was a safe pair of hands.

Dorking had a very early chance as Jordan Norville-Williams dragged a shot wide and, on 11 minutes, Carter was denied by the legs of Rowley.

But, the first half ended goalless and, in truth, Rowley had not been overworked.

Wycombe Wanderers loanee, Brody Peart, making his first start, needed to be substituted during the break for Trevan Robinson, whose pace started to give the home defence a problem and, on 55 minutes, the Angels were only denied the opening goal by a superb save from the Dorking goalkeeper, Harrison Foulkes. Liam Vincent crossed from the left to the head of Harry Ottaway who saw his effort turned onto the crossbar with the rebound just evading Robinson.

Dorking regained the initiative and, on the hour, Rowley made a good save from Rhys Murphy but, in the main, the Angels rearguard stood firm.

Bailey Akehurst had a half-chance on 75 minutes but his effort was wide and as five minutes of added time were entered, and Jason Prior shot high into the Dorking night sky, the Angels support hoped.

But, in the third minute, a free kick was lofted into the box, the ball fell to Prior, whose shot was parried by Rowley but the rebound fell into the path of Murphy and Angels’ hearts were broken.

Of the game, Jay said: “I’m gutted, genuinely gutted for the boys, the supporters, because I thought we deserved something out of it. To get done by a set piece right at the end is disappointing because the effort the boys put in was outstanding, our shape was very good and we limited them to half-chances. To concede the way we did was a kick in the teeth and hard to take.”

And, reflecting on Devonte: “Dev was a quiet lad, a good lad that always had a smile on his face and that first year he was with us he was unbelievable as a player and as a lad. It’s horrendous what has happened, as bad as it is for everyone involved in football that knew him, for his family, for his Dad, he has a young child. It shows you, that you get to know these lads really well but you don’t know what is going on away from football and you hope that people talk and reach out. I am devastated for him, for his family because he was a good lad that loved his football.”

Tonbridge Angels U18 3 Sheppey United U18 5

Match 72/24/2311 - Monday, 10th February 2025 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 3
Sheppey United U18 (4) 5 Fabimafobee 17, Fincham 74 Larkin 88
Attendance: 35
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,088

In the last week Sheppey United have turned the table on its head and blown open the entire title race with last week’s stunning win against Sutton Common Rovers backed-up with another eye-catching win at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium against our own Under-18’s.

When asked about Sheppey’s week, Dom Welsh commented: “They have massively blown the title race apart. Fair play to them, they came with a plan and executed well, but having said that, we had enough chances to win two or three games. There are five big games ahead of us now.”

Anybody that was disregarding the visitors last week was given an early wake-up call as Sheppey swept into the lead with just 35 seconds on the clock when a strapping Sheppey forward collected a pass, cut in from the right to powerfully strike at the near post.

A positive response to the setback was needed and got as Ashton Lucas saw his effort well saved and from a short corner routine the goalkeeper was once again equal to an effort from Callum Fincham but the Angels found an equaliser, after 17 minutes, when Tolu Fabimafobee capitalised on the poor clearance to race clear, fire in a shot that was helped into the net by a Sheppey defender.

The next 20 minutes saw the Angels with all the momentum but finding a goalkeeper enjoying his evening with good saves from Harry Barton, Rush Broderick and Lucas before two goals in three minutes from the visitors stunned the home side. Both came from wickedly in-swinging corners from the left by J. Lacko, the first met with a header at the near post after 35 minutes and, three minutes later, the more of the same, with this time the ball appearing to go straight in.

Three minutes before the break, Sheppey added a fourth when Lacko found a team mate with time and space to score from around 10 yards.

Despite a positive response in the second half, the Angels fell further behind on 73 minutes when a free kick was headed on for an easy finish at the far post.

A spirited finish to the game saw the Angels pull two goals back, goals that who knows might prove vital at the end of the season. On 74 minutes a shot from Ashvir Banwait was deflected into the path of Fincham and after the goalkeeper thwarted efforts from Adam Larkin, Fabimafobee and Fincham, Larkin added a third from close range with a couple of minutes to go.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Worthing 2

Match 71/24/2310 - Saturday, 8th February 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Wood 72
Worthing (0) 2 Willard 69 Nash 83
Attendance: 1,109
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,050

Any neutrals walking away from the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium would surely have considered their afternoon well spent having been given a highly entertaining game for their admission fee.

Tonbridge Angels supporters might have returned home with the very slightest sense of injustice as their team ran Worthing, a team in the thick of title contention, very close.

Jay Saunders said of the visitors: “Worthing are a very good side, you can see why they are going for the title when you look at their squad, the quality they have going forward, they cause you a lot of problems. I thought we showed them a bit too much respect in the first half, which wasn’t the instruction, but towards the end of the half we were a bit more aggressive and in the second half better, without being at our best. But, you can see why Worthing are up there.”

On a damp, grey afternoon, Jay was able to call on the returning services of Ronny Nelson and Harry Ottaway while adding new recruit Christie Ward to the starting XI. Missing out from the side that took a point from Tuesday’s visit to Hornchurch were Ryan Hanson (concussion), Nazir Bakrin (suspension) and Gianluca Botti, who dropped to the bench alongside Brody Peart, the second of the Wycombe Wanderers loanees.

The opening half-hour saw the visitors look every inch the title contenders they undoubtedly are and only fine saves from the Angels goalkeeper, Matt Rowley, denied Danny Cashman, Jack Spong and Mo Faal from giving Worthing the lead.

Tonbridge were forced into two early substitutions with captain Scott Wagstaff being replaced by Trevan Robinson following a calf injury after 25 minutes and, nine minutes later, Crossley Lema limped out of the game to be replaced by Bailey Akehurst.

The introduction of Robinson added a different dynamic to the game with his pace troubling the Worthing defence and, as the first half progressed, the Angels grew into the game and ended the first half with half chances for Robinson and a strong penalty appeal that was turned away.

The second period was hugely competitive with neither side laying claim to being on top. Rowley was needed again to make a great save, after five minutes, turning a shot from Liam Nash over the bar.

Worthing took a 69th minute lead when the introduction of Tommy Willard brought an instant dividend cutting in from the left to curl a shot into the top corner.

Parity was restored for the home side within three minutes when Jack Wood produced an effort of equal quality to the opening goal to find the far corner from around 18 yards.

With both sides sensing that a draw was of little benefit to their league position, each sought a winner in a tense finale, but it was Worthing that found the net when, on 83 minutes, a blocked shot fell kindly to Nash, whose snap shot from 12 yards produced the ultimate winner.

Tonbridge had one final chance to rescue what might have been considered a deserved point but Botti steered his shot wide.

Jay added after the game: “The disappointing thing for me was the second goal, the referee has pulled Taylor Maloney up for clipping a boy’s ankle 15 minutes earlier, and then when exactly the same thing has happened, the fourth official has agreed, but at the moment, we seem to have every official without comms that works, so they can’t tell them what they’ve seen, so it doesn’t help. But our quality on the ball wasn’t good enough, we can normally handle the ball well, whether that was the changes, but we were not good enough in possession to have sustained spells where we could cause them problems.”

Hornchurch 2 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 70/24/2309 - Tuesday, 4th February 2025 - National League South

Hornchurch (1) 2 Greenidge 45+3 Balenta 83
Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Botti 43 Greenidge (o.g.) 45+1
Attendance: 374
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 92/5,012

On a dreadful pitch that was only ever going to produce a game of very little quality with both sides reduced to heaving the ball into the night Upminster sky to negate the jeopardy that the surface posed, Jay Saunders and his management team left satisfied with a point despite holding a two goal lead a couple of minutes from the break.

Assistant manager Tom Parkinson referenced the pitch after the game: “From the sidelines, supporters might not have realised how tough that pitch was, how soft it is and how much it cuts up. It’s the same for both sides but to play any sort of football on it was extremely difficult.”

Another miserable evening at The Bridge, weather-wise saw Bailey Akehurst, Mo Dabre (injuries) and Scott Wagstaff dropping out of the starting XI to be replaced by Liam Vincent, Ryan Hanson and Gialuca Botti.

So it was for 40 minutes in which neither team came to terms with the pitch and an absolute slog ensued. The best chance fell to the home side on 28 minutes when a well worked move between Will Greenidge and Darren McQueen opened up a shooting opportunity for Tom Wraight who pulled his shot narrowly wide of the post.

The game, from nowhere, exploded into life in the final five minutes of the half. On 43 minutes, Taylor Maloney’s in-swinging corner from the left got the deftest of headers from Botti to record his first goal for the club.

Three minutes later the Angels doubled their advantage when a free kick from Maloney was headed towards the post by Jamie Fielding from where a combination of deflections from the goalkeeper and Greenidge saw the ball dribble over the line.

The mad five minutes was completed when Greenidge unleashed a rocket into the top corner from 25 yards to reduce the deficit on the cusp of the break.

As the pitch deteriorated, the game further suffered and, after six minutes of the second half, Jack Wood was sent clear but as he took aim, the ball bobbled up and he lifted his shot over the bar.

Tonbridge needed a goal line clearance to deny Wraight on 56 minutes but the momentum was clearly with the home side as the Angels struggled to retain any sort of possession.

On 83 minutes, Hornchurch got the equaliser they deserved when a cross from Bailey Clements was met with a powerful header from fellow substitute Angelo Balenta.

The Angels endured an extended period of added time including a set piece defended with 10 men as Sutcliffe needed to leave the field for a bloodied nose and shirt.

Parky added: “It was disappointing that we’ve been two-nil up but the amount of games that we’ve had and the bodies we have the moment, we can’t complain, a point was probably fair overall.”

Chatham Town U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 4

Match 69/24/2308 - Monday, 3rd February 2025 - Isthmian Youth League

Chatham Town U18 (0) 1
Tonbridge Angels U18 (3) 4 Penman 32 Larkin 39 (pen) Lucas 42 Fabimafobee 72
Attendance: 55
Admission: £1
Mileage: 38/4,920

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s eased to a comfortable victory at Chatham Town on Monday evening and then saw their lead at the top of the Isthmian Youth League extended as title favourites, Sutton Common Rovers, were surprisingly beaten at previously bottom club, Sheppey United.

Chatham had, themselves, opened up the title chase last week when they won with a single goal at Sutton Common.

The U18’s were, for the most part, in control of the game at The Bauvill without quite reaching the level of quality that we know they have. Dom Welsh commented after the game: “We were efficient, but for the first 20 minutes we were well off it, but we have a good recent habit of putting our foot on the pedal once we have scored.”

Nonetheless, Tonbridge did make chances in the opening half hour, in particular, a header from Jack Gallacher that was steered narrowly wide of the post and, an effort from Ashton Lucas that struck a post.

The lead was finally gained on 32 minutes when a through ball saw Lucas brought down on the edge of the box by the advancing goalkeeper, but the ball rolled into the path of Robert Penman who stroked it into the unguarded goal.

The Angels advantage was stretched on 39 minutes when Tolu Fabimafobee was fouled in the box which allowed Adam Larkin to send the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.

The lead as extended to three a couple of minutes before the break when Penman did remarkably well to squeeze a pass back from the bye-line for Lucas to score.

The foot did come off the pedal in the opening 20 minutes of the second period and a magnificent strike from the Chatham right back into the top corner from 25 yards served as a wake-up call to which they responded within a minute. Fabimafobee collected an infield pass from Ishe Hunidzarira to waltz through the centre of the home defence to restore the three goal advantage.

Dom Welsh played down the title talk: “We are in a strong position, but we have to tick each game off, one at the time, starting next Monday at home to Sheppey United.”

Eastbourne Borough 2 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 68/24/2307 - Saturday, 1st February 2025 - National League South

Eastbourne Borough (1) 2 Clarke 3 Alexander 71
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Akehurst 9
Attendance: 948
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 92/4,882

Tonbridge Angels returned pointless from a difficult afternoon in Sussex.

The pivotal minute in the game arrived on 70 minutes when Nazir Bakrin was shown a second yellow and subsequent red card and, within a minute, Eastbourne Borough were in front with a somewhat controversial goal after appeals for a foul on goalkeeper Matt Rowley were turned away.

Jay Saunders reflected after the game: “It wasn’t the greatest of games. I’m disappointed with the two set pieces we’ve conceded from. We were not great today.”

A noisy, healthy contingent of Angels fans had made their way to Priory Lane on a cold afternoon which saw Jay Saunders, who was serving a one match touchline suspension, introduce Jack Wood straight into the starting XI in place of an injured Sean Shields.

The Angels couldn’t have got off to a worse start falling behind with less than three minutes on the clock. Jack Clarke’s free kick was met at the far post with a Freddie Carter header that was steered in the bottom corner.

Due credit to visitors who, with the pace of Trevan Robinson and Wood giving the giant-sized Borough back line problems, were back level on nine minutes with Wood involved as the ball found its way via Mo Dabre to the left side of the box from where Bailey Akehurst’s cleanly struck shot found the net.

Tonbridge were dealt a blow when, after just 24 minutes, Dabre had to give way after hobbling out of a previous challenge, to be replaced by Mikey Berry.

Certainly, the rest of the first half saw neither side gain any semblance of control and nothing significant in the way of chances.

The home side were in the ascendancy in the early stages of the second period but without causing any alarm at the back until Bakrin saw red for a challenge to the left of the centre circle.

Berry needed to be sacrificed for defender Liam Vincent but, on 71 minutes, Eastbourne took the lead when a right-sided corner was headed on and as Rowley attempted to claim the ball it was bundled from his grasp to be forced home by George Alexander. Protests to referee Daniel Baines fell on deaf ears, given the protection normally given to goalkeepers, there was a case to be made.

Jay’s opinion differs: “Matt’s got to do better with it, he’s got to be stronger and I’ve made him aware of that.”

A goal and a man down, Tonbridge withstood some pressure from the home side before mounting an added time effort to rescue something from the game and when Robinson was bundled to the ground in the final minute for a moment it seemed that opportunity was to be had before the referee’s outstretched arms signalled nothing doing and moments later the final whistle was blown with Robinson shown a yellow for his continued protestations.

Jay: “There were some weird decisions. The boys feel strongly there was a penalty at the end. I was a long way from it, you can normally go on player reactions and they feel it was a definite penalty but I don’t think the referee is going to be brave enough to give that, last kick of the game here, maybe at our place we get it.”

St Albans City 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 67/24/2306 - Tuesday, 28th January 2025 - National League South

St Albans City (0) 1 Banton 86
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Bendle (o.g.) 43
Attendance: 948
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 170/4,790

The Tonbridge Angels squad left Clarence Park on Tuesday evening disappointed to have only collected a point after conceding a late goal, but with praise ringing in their ears from a “proud” manager.

Jay Saunders said of his depleted troops: “It’s disappointing not to come away with the three points but, I’ve got to be really honest, I’m really proud of the boys tonight. With everything that keeps getting thrown at us, losing players again today, it’s been a week I’m looking forward to just getting through. There were boys out there, if all were available, who wouldn’t have played because of how they were injury-wise. All-in-all, I’ll take the point and am immensely proud of the effort the boys have put in.”

On a wet night, and with due credit to the St Albans’ ground staff who managed to get the pitch playable when many other fixtures fell foul of the weather, Jay’s team selection was further hindered by the absence of Jamie Fielding and Harry Ottaway to injury. Into the starting XI came Scott Wagstaff and Trevan Robinson, with new signing Mikey Berry added to the bench.

In a game very much the proverbial one of two halves, with the direction of play on the heavy pitch influenced by the slope, Tonbridge dominated the first half to lead at the break but were under relentless pressure in the second before conceding the 86th minute equaliser.

An impressive contingent of Angels fans were in an attendance of 948 and were in fine voice from the outset as the opening opportunity fell to Jeremy Santos, whose 20-yard shot whistled narrowly past the right hand post.

Those fans thought their favourites had taken a 20th minute lead before the intervention of the St Albans’ goalkeeper, Michael Johnson, who brilliantly turned over the bar a close-range effort from Robinson.

The Angels continued to dominate with Taylor Maloney firing over from distance and, on 36 minutes, Sean Shields had a cross swept away from the goal line.

The breakthrough finally came on 43 minutes when Tonbridge were awarded a free-kick on the right, after a challenge that brought a yellow card. Bailey Akehurst’s in-swinging left-footed delivery found the diving head of St Albans’ Alfie Bendle and, once committed in front of goal, there was only one place the ball was going to end up to his despair.

The second half, with the home side now attacking down the slope, was a totally different affair, although had a Santos effort not been blocked by a last-ditch challenge four minutes into the half, the ensuing 40-odd minutes might have taken a different course.

But, as it was, the home side were in the ascendancy with the Angels back line manfully standing their ground and, when asked, goalkeeper Matt Rowley confidently collecting everything that came his way.

Chances came the way of Harrison Smith whose header was scrambled to safety and Gio Rasulo saw a well-struck free-kick saved by Rowley.

Eventually the pressure told on tired limbs with a left-wing corner, delivered into the six-yard box by Zane Banton to the head of Smith who steered it into the bottom corner.

On the balance of play, a fair result, but to have come so close was disappointing, as Jay reflected: “People look at St Albans City and see they are in the bottom four, but trust me, this is not an easy place to come. All the games they are in are very close, so it’s not a bad point. I'm not taking any negatives from tonight, there are only positives."

Tonbridge Angels 3 Slough Town 1

Match 66/24/2305 - Saturday, 25th January 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 3 Maloney 40 Ottaway 86 Robinson 90+6
Slough Town (1) 1 Amartey 69
Attendance: 960
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,620

The Angels returned to winning ways with a hard fought win against Slough Town, with first goals for the club from Taylor Maloney and Harry Ottaway, in a game much tighter than the 3-1 scoreline might suggest.

Jay Saunders not only had to overcome tricky National League South opposition but a selection dilemma that saw six players unavailable through either injury or suspension. Taylor Maloney was recalled after nearly two months out, whilst Mo Dabre also returned following injury.

On a crisp day that produced a vivid red sunset behind the West Stand, Jay made three changes from the starting XI beaten at Hampton last Saturday. Ronny Nelson, who limped out of that game at half-time was replaced by Nazir Bakrin and Maloney and Dabre took the places of the suspended Garrett Kelly and Ryan Hanson.

Jay praised the returning Maloney: “I’ve got to give a shout to Taylor, he’s been out for the best part of two months, he has done three training sessions and scored a great goal. I wouldn’t normally have asked him to play in those circumstances but, given the way the squad was, I’ve said to him, get through as much as you can and I thought he was excellent.”

The opening half-hour was cagey with no clear opportunities for either side. An early effort from Slough’s Dan Roth brought a comfortable save from Matt Rowley and, at the other end, Jamie Fielding just failed to get onto the end of a cross from Sean Shields.

The breakthrough for the home side came on 40 minutes when a well worked move between Shields and Bailey Akehurst saw the ball cleared to the edge of the box from where Taylor Maloney curled a terrific strike into the top corner.

Slough made most of the early running in the second half but it was the Angels that came closest to increasing their lead as goalkeeper Charlie Horlock made a brilliant save to turn a shot from Harry Ottaway onto the top of the bar.

On 69 minutes, good refereeing allowed Slough an advantage and substitute Francis Amartey ran clear down the right to fire across the face of goal into the far corner.

The game looked to be heading for honours even when the Angels restored their lead with four minutes remaining. Ethan Sutcliffe made a surging run down the right to loft a cross to the far post where Ottaway was on hand to slide in and steer the ball over the line.

After breathing a sigh of relief as Slough’s Spicer and Goddard saw shots blocked or miss the target, the game was given a final goal, six minutes into added time, when substitute Trevan Robinson robbed a defender on the edge of the box and despite the best efforts of Horlock, diving at his feet to smother, the ball rebounded to roll over the line.

Jay added: “The last couple of games we have been hindered by different reasons that there is no point in going back over but we wanted a response today. Were we at our free-flowing best, probably not but with the circumstances around the squad it’s a great three points for us. The lads have given everything, there were some out there out on their legs but they’ve battled to the end and managed to get a win.”

Tonbridge Angels Academy 1 Wealdstone Academy 4

Match 65/24/2304 - Wednesday, 22nd January 2025 - National League U19 Alliance League Cup

Tonbridge Angels Academy (0) 1 Velvick 46
Wealdstone Academy (1) 4 27,39,56,90+2
Attendance: 15
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/4,582

Tonbridge Angels U18 5 Welling United U18 3

Match 64/24/2303 - Monday, 20th January 2025 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 5 Larkin 16 Fabimafobee 47,63,69 Hunidzarira 71
Welling United U18 (1) 3 Cragg 9,74,77
Attendance: 35
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 38/4,544

Tonbridge Angels Under-18s stretched their lead at the top of the Isthmian Youth League to five points on Monday evening with a 5-3 win over a Welling United side that will be similarly challenging for the title come April. Sutton Common Rovers reduced the lead the following evening with a 2-1 win at Maidstone United and remain the favourites with their couple of games in hand.

To round up a couple of games that went unreported, on 6th January, the Angels and Maidstone fought out an uninspiring 1-1 draw at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium. A dour game that was out of character for these two sides saw Maidstone hold a lead at half-time with Adam Larkin rescuing a point from the penalty spot with 10 minutes remaining.

On 15th January the top two went head to head in an epic encounter at Whyteleafe that saw 11 goals from a first half that produced eight of them! Tonbridge raced into a 3-0 and 4-2 lead before the half-time whistle saw the game at 5-3 to the Angels. The second half was a bit tighter but Sutton Common pulled the game back to 5-5 before our U18s found the winner. Our goals came from Callum Fincham (2), Robert Penman (2), Tolu Fabimafobee (2). If the season is kept alive until the final games, the encounter back at Whyteleafe on 19th March could be monumental!

Monday evening’s game was an entertaining encounter, as is always the case with fixtures against Welling, with Dom Welsh having to shuffle his squad with 15 year-old goalkeeper Jacob Hunt making his debut.

Tonbridge opened the game brightly but fell behind against the run of play on nine minutes when Alfie Cragg took advantage of a defensive mix-up to pass the ball into an unguarded goal.

The Angels responded well to the set back with the goalkeeper turning over a good effort from Larkin but on 16 minutes, following good work from Noah Millis, Larkin cracked home a good finish to level the score.

The game became very end-to-end with chances falling the way of Fabimafobee and Penman whilst at the other end, Hunt made three good saves.

Only two second half minutes had elapsed when the Angels took the lead when River Ballach’s cross was fired into the bottom corner from Fabimafobee.

Tonbridge took control of the game with Fabimafobee causing the Welling backline all sorts of problems with his direct runs on goal, culminating just past the hour, when a run from deep saw him dribble the ball through the defence before finishing well.

Two goals in two minutes appeared to have put the game well beyond the visitors with Fabimafobee completing his hat-trick as he benefited from a rebound after the goalkeeper had saved a Penman shot and when, on 71 minutes, substitute Ishe Hunidzarira curled a 20 yard free kick into the top corner, the game looked safe.

But within three minutes, one goal had been pulled back when Cragg beat the advancing Hunt to stroke the ball into the empty net and when Cragg scrambled the ball home for his hat-trick on 77 minutes, nerves jangled.

The game was managed to the final whistle for three important points that was hailed by Dom Welsh: “An outstanding performance, with four key players missing through injury and to be 5-1 up against a strong side is a credit to the boys. A few individual errors made the game tighter than it need.”

Picture: Emma Louise Wheeler

Hampton & Richmond Borough 2 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 63/24/2302 - Saturday, 18th January 2025 - National League South

Hampton & Richmond Borough (1) 2 Wiltshire 38 Vilhete 78
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 694
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 122/4,506

A goal in each half was enough for a threadbare Tonbridge Angels to lose on the road at Hampton and Richmond Borough and in the process the squad became further depleted with the sending off of Ryan Hanson and an injury to Ronny Nelson.

The win saw the home side stretch their unbeaten record to seven games and move to within a place of the Angels who remain in ninth.

A good contingent of Angels supporters made the journey with rail travellers hampered by the weekend closure of Waterloo East. They arrived at the Beveree on a cold afternoon to the news that Charlie Pegrum had been recalled by Leyton Orient with Harry Ottaway taking his place in the starting XI. Only four substitutes could be named including assistant manager Tommy Parkinson.

Jay Saunders reflected after the game: “I thought we looked leggy after Tuesday. I’m disappointed at the goals we conceded, they were avoidable, and I thought we lost the midfield today.”

Tonbridge were on the back foot from the outset and might have gone behind after four minutes when a through ball from Mauro Vilhete sent Ibrahim Jalloh clear only to be denied by a smothering save from the advancing Matt Rowley. After the ball looped into the air and was recycled, Jalloh put it into the net only to be given offside.

The visitors came close to opening the scoring on eight minutes when Gianluca Botti’s effort from the bye-line rolled along the goal line before being turned away for a corner, from which Crossley Lema headed over.

Hampton took control of the game and Rowley was kept busy before they were awarded a penalty on 20 minutes as Lema hung out a leg to upend Bunmi Babajide. Fortunately for the Angels, Archie Taylor’s spot kick struck the crossbar and was shepherded to safety.

The momentum, nonetheless, stayed with the home side and they eventually broke through on 38 minutes when a corner fell kindly to Jerry Wiltshire who lashed the ball home off the underside of the bar.

Jeremy Santos put a shot wide as Hampton entered the break deserving of their lead.

An injury sustained by Nelson necessitated his half-time substitution with Hanson taking his place.

The Angels started the second period positively with Bailey Akehurst bringing a save out of Max Merrick and just past the hour the Chelsea loanee goalkeeper made a really good stop to deny Sean Shields.

On 77 minutes, Rowley did brilliantly to claw a shot from Jalloh out of the top corner but was helpless a minute later when a cross from the right found Vilhete, unmarked, to bury a header.

Botti brought another save from Merrick but the red card for Hanson for a challenge on Hampton substitute George Hunt killed any hope of a comeback despite the added time board showing 10 minutes.

Trevan Robinson saw an effort cleared from the line and a Shields shot cleared the bar as the Angels valiantly sought a consolation goal.

After what can only be described as a difficult week for the Angels, Jay added: “The boys put in a hell of a shift on Tuesday night and the squad is very thin and it is hard for us to make changes because we’ve ended up today with four on the bench including Parky. We are very thin on the ground. In an ideal world, if you had everyone available, you make changes from the other night but we are not in a position to do that. I’m not going to be too harsh on the boys, I’m a big believer that it evens itself out, but certainly at the moment, we are getting a bad run of luck.”

Tonbridge Angels 0 Eastbourne Borough 2

Match 62/24/2301 - Tuesday, 14th January 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Eastbourne Borough (1) 2 Innocent 38 Shamalo 67
Attendance: 800
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,384

A game that is best filed in the soonest forgotten and move on drawer.

There are strict guidelines regarding opinion of refereeing performances on National League club’s websites, but thankfully they have no control over a humble blog so I can say my piece. I'm not anti women in football and we've had referees that have been good one match and then not so good the next time they officate, much the same as any male. My gripe is not actually with Emily Heaslip but with the powers that be that have promoted an inexperienced referee far too quickly and left her out of her depth. .

On a thankfully milder evening than of late, Jay Saunders made three changes from Saturday’s side with Bailey Akehurst, Jeremy Santos and Gianluca Botti coming in for Scott Wagstaff (injured), Nazir Bakrin and Trevan Robinson who took places on the bench.

An eagerly awaited contest, for a decent Tuesday night attendance of 800, between an Eastbourne Borough team, for whom a win would see them climb into third place whilst for the home side would place them in touching distance of the players-off positions. But, within the opening five minutes, the game was set on an entirely different course.

The Angels had started the game brightly, forcing an early free kick and from that a third minute corner that brought the usual jostling for position in the six yard box as Sean Shields prepared to deliver. The jostling developed into something a little more which ended with Eastbourne’s Brayden Johnson going to ground and with that Ms Heaslip produced a red card and Garrett Kelly’s involvement was at an end.

The game plan was ripped up in a moment and Tonbridge needed to find a level of commitment that impressed their manager greatly: “I’m proud of the boys’ effort, to play 90-odd minutes with, at first, 10 men against a full-time team. I’m frustrated we had an opportunity to show what we’re capable of and close the gap. A lot’s happened out there but I don’t think there was a bad tackle and there’s been God knows how many yellow cards and red cards.”

When the corner did eventually get taken, Ronny Nelson headed marginally over.

As Tonbridge adjusted to the man disadvantage, Eastbourne pressed forward with Pierce Bird bringing a low save from Matt Rowley and a header from John Shamalo that was narrowly wide.

After surviving the opening half-hour, the Angels became to pose a threat of their own with successive corners but, on 36 minutes, the visitors took the lead when a right sided cross found its way to the left side of the box from where Kai Innocent drove his shot into the bottom corner.

The second half opened with then 10 men of Tonbridge containing their opponents relatively comfortably whilst looking to counter on the break. On 65 minutes, an innoculous booking for tossing the ball away a few inches for Botti was to have greater consequences soon after.

Eastbourne doubled their advantage on 67 minutes when Shamalo headed in from close range following a corner and with frustration playing its part, Botti challenged the Eastbourne goalkeeper, Joe Wright as he cleared the ball to bring a second yellow and subsequent red.

The visitors, strangely with a two man advantage, called time on their evening and played out the remaining quarter-hour with possession mainly played out in their half before the referee’s final whistle brought a chorus of irate boos from the home support.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Chippenham Town 1

Match 61/24/2300 - Saturday, 4th January 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Lema 58
Chippenham Town (1) 1 Mehew 42
Attendance: 935
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,346

The Angels had to be content with a point, despite enjoying the lion’s share of possession as the happy travellers of National League South, Chippenham Town, showed their resilient selves.

Jay Saunders reflected: “First half we were dominant in possession, we had a perfectly good goal disallowed. We showed a good response to come back into the game but if you go a goal down I suppose you take it as a point gained.”

As fixtures fell to the weather by the dozen, the functionality of a 3G pitch ensured that the game went ahead, despite temperatures that fell five degrees below zero overnight and were not hovering much into positive territory at kick off.

Jay’s team selection saw three changes with Trevan Robinson, Nazir Bakrin and Scott Wagstaff coming into the starting XI for Ryan Hanson (injured), Harry Ottaway (illness) and Mo Dabre, who took a place on the bench but wasn’t fully fit.

In the sixth minute, a left-sided cross from Sean Shields appeared to be spilt by the Chippenham goalkeeper, Will Henry, allowing Charlie Pegrum to pass the ball into an unguarded net but the referee decided that Henry had been impeded under a challenge from Robinson and disallowed the goal.

In a first half, dominated by the Angels, Shields saw an effort turned over the crossbar by Henry and Robinson hooked the ball over the bar from six yards before Tom Mehew had a great chance to open the scoring for the visitors, against the run of play, dragging his shot wide on 39 minutes.

But, three minutes later, a cross from the right was only partially cleared to the edge of the box from where Mehew struck a cleanly hit shot that Matt Rowley got his hands to but couldn’t prevent the ball finding the bottom corner.

Worse might have followed when Mehew then somehow managed to shoot wide from close range, unmarked, in front of goal in first half added time.

The passage of play continued to be hugely in Tonbridge’s favour into the second half with Henry saving from Shields before substitute Akehurst played in Wagstaff to stand up a cross that was headed into the bottom corner by Crossley Lema, who arched his body backwards to make contact with the cross.

Tonbridge had their chances to win the game through Gianluca Botti, Pegrum and Jeremy Santos but the Chippenham defence stayed strong and created a couple of chances of their own on the break, one of which required a low save from Rowley.

Jay added on missed chances: “You have to be clinical. We were in control of the first half, but looking at it, they’ve had two good chances, they’ve scored and then, right after that, we’ve given the ball away and they nearly score again. They could go in 2-0 up when, for the first half-hour, we’ve been in control. Trevan has to score a couple, the keeper has made a good save, but we were not clinical enough and that’s why we have been looking at other options and seeing what’s out there.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Weston-super-Mare 0

Match 60/24/2299 - Saturday, 4th January 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Shields 25 Nelson 71
Weston-super-Mare (0) 0
Attendance: 832
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,308

Tonbridge Angels eased to a comfortable win over Weston-super-Mare at a bitterly cold Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium with a goal in each half.

Jay Saunders commented after the match: “I thought it was a very impressive performance. Weston are a good side, they have got a lot of players who can hurt you and we limited that.”

Jay made one change from the side that started the abandoned game at Hornchurch with Mo Dabre returning for his 50th appearance for Nazir Bakrin.

The opening minutes of the first half were very much those of Weston-super-Mare who created three chances, each of which needed a good save from the Angels goalkeeper, Matt Rowley. After four minutes, he saved low from Jordan Bastin, then after nine minutes denied James Dodd and two minutes later turned over the bar another effort from Dodd.

In the midst of the brisk opening from the visitors, Charlie Pegrum had a chance for the Angels which he dragged wide of the far post.

After surviving the opening surge from the visitors, the Angels settled and took control of the game with Sean Shields beginning to dominate the midfield. A corner from the left was punched clear by Max Harris but only to the feet of Pegrum whose shot was deflected wide and twice in two minutes Harris needed to save from Shields.

The goal the Angels had been threatening came on 25 minutes when Harry Ottaway picked a pocket for Pegrum to slide a pass through to Shields whose shot found the net via a post.

Tonbridge largely dominated the rest of the half with Shields twice testing Harris but WSM gave fair warning that they were not out of the game with a couple of breaks one of which brought a scramble around the edge of the six yard box.

The second half saw, for the most part, a controlled performance from the Angels without creating too many chances of note until the 71st minutes when a beautifully flighted free kick from Shields was met with a towering header from Ronny Nelson to double the Angels advantage.

Efforts to put the game beyond the visitors came from substitute Trevan Robinson and Crossley Lema; a header from Naz Bakrin and in the dying seconds, Robinson and fellow substitute Jeremy Santos combined well to open up a diving header for the former that was narrowly wide before the referee brought the curtain down to allow the attendance of 832 to hurry to the warmth of their car heaters.

Jay summed up: “We could have gone on and scored another couple but all-in-all it was a really professional performance. Parky and Blacky have said that at times we’ve really looked a young looking side but today it looked like some of those boys have really come of age and I was really pleased with the whole team.”

Gillingham 0 Bromley 3

Match 59/24/2298 - Thursday, 2nd January 2025 - EFL League Two

Gillingham (0) 0
Bromley (2) 3 Dennis 7 Arthurs 26 Grant 76
Attendance: 7,454
Admission: £20
Mileage: 38/4,270

Match Report

Hornchurch A-A Tonbridge Angels

Match 58/24/2297 - Wednesday, 1st January 2025 - National League South

Hornchurch (1) A Muldoon 9
Tonbridge Angels (1) A Bakrin 23
Attendance: TBA
Match Abandoned after 38 minutes - Waterlogged Pitch
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 102/4,232

Tonbridge Angels supporters that had made the journey to Hornchurch were left frustrated as referee Ayrton Hursey brought a halt to proceedings after 38 minutes with player welfare being the prime consideration as the pitch condition worsened following incessant heavy rain.

Jay Saunders, who along with his counterpart Daryl McMahon had been consulted, was in agreement with the decision: “Once you entered the field of play you can understand why the game was abandoned. There were a few doubts when we first got here because of a heavy downpour but then it eased off. It didn’t surprise me, it is more for player’s welfare. We wanted to carry on because we were playing quite well given the conditions. But when you went onto the pitch you understood just how bad it was with players struggling to keep their footing.”

Jay had made four changes from the starting XI that was beaten by Maidstone United on Boxing Day. Liam Vincent had failed to recover from the dead leg that forced his substitution whilst Trevan Robinson, Jeremy Santos and Scott Wagstaff made way for Sean Shields, returning from injury, Charlie Pegrum, Garrett Kelly and Naz Bakrin. There was a surprise inclusion for assistant manager Tommy Parkinson on the bench.

An early chance fell to Shields who drove a shot into the side netting before Hornchurch opened the scoring with a fine strike from Ollie Muldoon into the top corner from 25 yards that gave Matt Rowley no chance.

The goal served as an added impetus to the Angels and they quickly gained control of the game moving the ball well on the sodden surface.

After 23 minutes, the Angels got a well-deserved equaliser. A right-sided corner was headed on by Jamie Fielding and as a headed challenge was made, the ball dropped to Bakrin who struck cleanly into the centre of the goal.

The visitors were firmly in the ascendancy when the referee firstly spoke with both captains before going to the dugouts to inform the respective managers.

Jay said of the 38 minutes of play: “I was pleased, other than the strike for their goal, we looked good, threatening at times. We looked quite sharp and up for it, disappointed that it was called off but it is what it is.”