Match 87/24/2326 - Wednesday, 26th March 2025 - National League U19 Alliance
Tonbridge Angels Academy (2) 6
Worthing Academy (0) 1
Attendance: 15
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/6,051
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Maidstone United U18 3 Welling United U18
Match 86/24/2325 - Tuesday, 25th March 2025 - Isthmian Youth League
Maidstone United U18 (2) 3
Welling United U18 (0) 1 Craggs
Attendance: 54
Admission: £3
Mileage: 20/6,013
In years to come, I might wonder why I attended an Under-18's game at fierce rivals Maidstone United and even wanted them to win! So the explanation is that coming into this game, if Welling United won all of their remaining games they would be crowned the Isthmian Youth League East champions. One slip up and the door would be open for our, as in Tonbridge Angels, Under-18's to win their first title since 2017. Two excellent first half goals and a robust second half defensive performance gave the home side the points, which incidentally, keeps their own hopes of the title alive. It was a strange experience, celebrating in a reasonably restrained manner, Maidstone's goals. Thanks Maidstone, but I don't want to do it again!
Maidstone United U18 (2) 3
Welling United U18 (0) 1 Craggs
Attendance: 54
Admission: £3
Mileage: 20/6,013
In years to come, I might wonder why I attended an Under-18's game at fierce rivals Maidstone United and even wanted them to win! So the explanation is that coming into this game, if Welling United won all of their remaining games they would be crowned the Isthmian Youth League East champions. One slip up and the door would be open for our, as in Tonbridge Angels, Under-18's to win their first title since 2017. Two excellent first half goals and a robust second half defensive performance gave the home side the points, which incidentally, keeps their own hopes of the title alive. It was a strange experience, celebrating in a reasonably restrained manner, Maidstone's goals. Thanks Maidstone, but I don't want to do it again!
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Tonbridge Angels 2 Chelmsford City 1
Match 85/24/2324 - Saturday, 22nd March 2025 - National League South
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Shields 11 Maloney 76
Chelmsford City (1) 1 Valentine 16
Attendance: 1,028
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,993
Tonbridge Angels gained maximum points from this mid-table encounter with a second half goal from Taylor Maloney to further their chances of a top half finish to the season.
Warm, spring sunshine attracted an attendance of 1,028 on Non League Day that saw Jay Saunders introduce new signing Luke Cook for the injured Gianluca Botti with Nazir Bakrin and Sean Shields coming in for the suspended Ethan Sutcliffe and Mo Dabre. Harry Ottaway and Mikey Berry returned to the bench after injury.
For, what might have been considered an end of season affair, a competitive, entertaining game ensued that produced chances from the outset with the visiting goalkeeper, Ted Collins, acrobatically turning over a close range header from Ronny Nelson in the fourth minute.
The home side made much of the early running and deservedly went ahead on 11 minutes when Brody Peart set up Sean Shields to bury his shot into the bottom corner.
The lead was only to last five minutes with Chelmsford’s livewire Nico Valentine capitalising on a defensive error to equalise with a good finish.
Buoyed by their equaliser, the visitors ended the half on the front foot with the Angels goalkeeper, Matt Rowley saving from Saleem Akanbi and Ryan Blackman.
The second half saw Tonbridge regain the momentum and might have regained their lead just past the hour when a well worked move between Cook and Jamie Fielding set up a close range header from Ottaway that was brilliantly denied by Collins.
Shields hit the bar on 73 minutes with Nelson having his shot on the rebound blocked following a scramble in the Chelmsford six yard box before the Angels scored what was ultimately to be the winner through Maloney who drove home a rebound off the chest of Collins following a fierce shot from Berry.
Chelmsford attempted to retrieve a point from the game with a big chance at the death but Taylor Legg’s header cleared the bar.
Jay Saunders said after the game: “It was a very open game, we started excellently and for the first 15 minutes we were brilliant, causing them a lot of problems but not taking our chances and then they change shape and it was disappointing to concede from what was their first attack. Overall, it was two teams that were going for it, we looked a bit fatigued from Tuesday night, but I’m pleased with the win and cannot fault the boys for their efforts.”
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Shields 11 Maloney 76
Chelmsford City (1) 1 Valentine 16
Attendance: 1,028
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,993
Tonbridge Angels gained maximum points from this mid-table encounter with a second half goal from Taylor Maloney to further their chances of a top half finish to the season.
Warm, spring sunshine attracted an attendance of 1,028 on Non League Day that saw Jay Saunders introduce new signing Luke Cook for the injured Gianluca Botti with Nazir Bakrin and Sean Shields coming in for the suspended Ethan Sutcliffe and Mo Dabre. Harry Ottaway and Mikey Berry returned to the bench after injury.
For, what might have been considered an end of season affair, a competitive, entertaining game ensued that produced chances from the outset with the visiting goalkeeper, Ted Collins, acrobatically turning over a close range header from Ronny Nelson in the fourth minute.
The home side made much of the early running and deservedly went ahead on 11 minutes when Brody Peart set up Sean Shields to bury his shot into the bottom corner.
The lead was only to last five minutes with Chelmsford’s livewire Nico Valentine capitalising on a defensive error to equalise with a good finish.
Buoyed by their equaliser, the visitors ended the half on the front foot with the Angels goalkeeper, Matt Rowley saving from Saleem Akanbi and Ryan Blackman.
The second half saw Tonbridge regain the momentum and might have regained their lead just past the hour when a well worked move between Cook and Jamie Fielding set up a close range header from Ottaway that was brilliantly denied by Collins.
Shields hit the bar on 73 minutes with Nelson having his shot on the rebound blocked following a scramble in the Chelmsford six yard box before the Angels scored what was ultimately to be the winner through Maloney who drove home a rebound off the chest of Collins following a fierce shot from Berry.
Chelmsford attempted to retrieve a point from the game with a big chance at the death but Taylor Legg’s header cleared the bar.
Jay Saunders said after the game: “It was a very open game, we started excellently and for the first 15 minutes we were brilliant, causing them a lot of problems but not taking our chances and then they change shape and it was disappointing to concede from what was their first attack. Overall, it was two teams that were going for it, we looked a bit fatigued from Tuesday night, but I’m pleased with the win and cannot fault the boys for their efforts.”
Ebbsfleet United 1 Tonbridge Angels 0
Match 84/24/2323 - Tuesday, 18th March 2025 - Kent Senior Cup SF
Ebbsfleet United (0) 1 Anthony 90+2
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 505
Admission: £5
Mileage: 54/5,955
It was a cruel exit for the Angels from the Kent Senior Cup as Ebbsfleet United scored a wonder goal in the 90th minute after the visitors had dominated proceedings for much of the game.
With the lottery of penalties imminent, Elijah Anthony collected a clearance and from 25 yards found the top corner with a superb effort to see the National League side into the final where they will meet Welling United.
Replying to Matt Davison’s assertion after the match that we deserved more, Jay Saunders said: “I think so. I was really pleased with the performance and the reaction from Saturday. I’ve said to the boys, we have been the nearly men this season when it comes to the league and in games with the chances we had tonight, we nearly took them and, unfortunately, it’s taken a hell of a strike to beat us when it looked like it would go to penalties.”
On another chilly evening of this seemingly endless winter, Jay was deprived of the services of Sean Shields through injury. Bailey Akehurst and Mikey Berry were cup-tied which brought Mo Dabre, Brody Peart and Taylor Maloney into the starting line-up from Saturday’s defeat at Bath City.
Backed by a noisy contingent that made up over a third of the attendance, Tonbridge started on the front foot and never relinquished that control until the final 10 minutes or so when the home side’s strength from the bench made an impact.
An chance fell to Peart within the first couple of minutes but his shot was directed at the Ebbsfleet goalkeeper, Felix Goddard, who was further tested on six minutes with an effort from Gianluca Botti.
A Dominic Poleon effort that cleared the bar by some distance was the only interruption in the Angels momentum who saw further chances for Dabre and Jack Wood go wide.
The best chance of the half came on 39 minutes when a right sided corner found the head of Botti, but from close range he could only steer his header narrowly wide of the post.
In the final act of the half, Botti was denied again this time by the feet of the advancing Goddard.
Dabre, feeling the recurrence of his hamstring injury, was substituted at the break by Nazrin Bakrin but the direction of play was unaltered with the Angels pressing forward for the most part.
Peart put an effort wide on 54 minutes followed by a golden chance on 64 minutes when a slightly heavy pass from Botti found Maloney stretching in front of goal to steer his opportunity wide.
As the home side brought National League regulars from the bench, the pressure on the Angels defence began to intensify but was being comfortably dealt with.
On 76 minutes, Academy player Kimsley Gatakata replaced Botti, who limped away from the action, and immediately had an opportunity in front of goal but, under pressure from a giant defender, he couldn’t get the necessary purchase on his shot and it was saved by Goddard.
Such is the nature of penalties, we will never know the outcome, but this was rendered unnecessary as the clock ticked past the ninety with the outrageous strike from Anthony that gave Matt Rowley no chance.
Jay concluded: “I’m disappointed for everyone associated with the club, it would have been a good final, we took it as seriously as we could, went as strong as we could and gave a really good account of ourselves and I don’t think we deserved to lose it over the 90 minutes.”
Ebbsfleet United (0) 1 Anthony 90+2
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 505
Admission: £5
Mileage: 54/5,955
It was a cruel exit for the Angels from the Kent Senior Cup as Ebbsfleet United scored a wonder goal in the 90th minute after the visitors had dominated proceedings for much of the game.
With the lottery of penalties imminent, Elijah Anthony collected a clearance and from 25 yards found the top corner with a superb effort to see the National League side into the final where they will meet Welling United.
Replying to Matt Davison’s assertion after the match that we deserved more, Jay Saunders said: “I think so. I was really pleased with the performance and the reaction from Saturday. I’ve said to the boys, we have been the nearly men this season when it comes to the league and in games with the chances we had tonight, we nearly took them and, unfortunately, it’s taken a hell of a strike to beat us when it looked like it would go to penalties.”
On another chilly evening of this seemingly endless winter, Jay was deprived of the services of Sean Shields through injury. Bailey Akehurst and Mikey Berry were cup-tied which brought Mo Dabre, Brody Peart and Taylor Maloney into the starting line-up from Saturday’s defeat at Bath City.
Backed by a noisy contingent that made up over a third of the attendance, Tonbridge started on the front foot and never relinquished that control until the final 10 minutes or so when the home side’s strength from the bench made an impact.
An chance fell to Peart within the first couple of minutes but his shot was directed at the Ebbsfleet goalkeeper, Felix Goddard, who was further tested on six minutes with an effort from Gianluca Botti.
A Dominic Poleon effort that cleared the bar by some distance was the only interruption in the Angels momentum who saw further chances for Dabre and Jack Wood go wide.
The best chance of the half came on 39 minutes when a right sided corner found the head of Botti, but from close range he could only steer his header narrowly wide of the post.
In the final act of the half, Botti was denied again this time by the feet of the advancing Goddard.
Dabre, feeling the recurrence of his hamstring injury, was substituted at the break by Nazrin Bakrin but the direction of play was unaltered with the Angels pressing forward for the most part.
Peart put an effort wide on 54 minutes followed by a golden chance on 64 minutes when a slightly heavy pass from Botti found Maloney stretching in front of goal to steer his opportunity wide.
As the home side brought National League regulars from the bench, the pressure on the Angels defence began to intensify but was being comfortably dealt with.
On 76 minutes, Academy player Kimsley Gatakata replaced Botti, who limped away from the action, and immediately had an opportunity in front of goal but, under pressure from a giant defender, he couldn’t get the necessary purchase on his shot and it was saved by Goddard.
Such is the nature of penalties, we will never know the outcome, but this was rendered unnecessary as the clock ticked past the ninety with the outrageous strike from Anthony that gave Matt Rowley no chance.
Jay concluded: “I’m disappointed for everyone associated with the club, it would have been a good final, we took it as seriously as we could, went as strong as we could and gave a really good account of ourselves and I don’t think we deserved to lose it over the 90 minutes.”
Tunbridge Wells 0 Hollands & Blair 3
Match 83/24/2322 - Saturday, 15th March 2025 - SCEFL Premier
Tunbridge Wells (0) 0
Hollands & Blair (1) 2 Brooker 31 Walmsley 45+5 Draycott 66
Attendance: 221
Admission: £6
Mileage: 38/5,901
Tunbridge Wells (0) 0
Hollands & Blair (1) 2 Brooker 31 Walmsley 45+5 Draycott 66
Attendance: 221
Admission: £6
Mileage: 38/5,901
Friday, 14 March 2025
Staplehurst Monarchs 1 Welling Town 2
Match 82/24/2321 - Wednesday, 12th March 2025 - SCEFL 1
Staplehurst Monarchs (1) 1 Headley 45+3
Welling Town (1) 2 Nolan-Samuels 9 Huckle 55
Attendance: 50
Admission: £5
Mileage: 1/5,863
Staplehurst Monarchs (1) 1 Headley 45+3
Welling Town (1) 2 Nolan-Samuels 9 Huckle 55
Attendance: 50
Admission: £5
Mileage: 1/5,863
Chesham United 0 Tonbridge Angels 1
Match 81/24/2320 - Tuesday, 11th March 2025 - National League South
Chesham United (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Botti 68
Attendance:
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 184/5,862
New Ground: 389
Business as usual was the message from chair, Sophie Purves, echoed by Jay Saunders and delivered by his squad who put in a solid performance at Chesham United.
One might say it wasn’t quite business as usual as wins on the road this season have been hard come by, but this fourth win propelled the Angels back into the top half of the table as the Angels seek a good end to the season to send Jay on to pastures new with a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.
It was a cold evening for Tonbridge Angels’ first-ever visit to The Meadow and the manager made four changes from the starting XI that had performed admirably but without reward against Torquay United. Into the line-up came Bailey Akehurst, Mo Dabre, Nazir Bakrin and Brody Peart for Taylor Maloney, Gianluca Botti, Jack Wood, who took places on the bench, and Mikey Berry, who was unavailable following his injury on Saturday.
Ultimately, it has to be admitted that this was not a classic and, at times, had a real end-of-season feel to it as a difficult pitch never lent itself to football of any great quality. But the Angels were gritty and determined when they needed to be in defence and found the one bit of quality that was needed to win the game when Botti converted from close range on 68 minutes.
Jay said in this post-match interview: “This is a difficult place to come on a Tuesday night after Saturday’s efforts. The pitch was very difficult which meant we set up very different and had a different game plan to Torquay and had to play a different way but the boys carried it out excellently and I thought there were some excellent displays and I’m really pleased we have got the win.”
Both sides were looking to put a three game run without a win behind them, so an early goal would give confidence to whoever might have scored it, and that could well have been the home side as Matt Rowley was forced to make a brilliant save after less than two minutes after a shot came in from close range following a corner.
The game then got bogged down in the middle of the park with neither side particularly taking control. Bailey Akehurst fired in a shot that cleared the bar and Rowley was pressed into action again saving from Samson Esan.
The big chance of the half fell to the home side in the last couple of minutes with Nathan Minhas blazing over when well placed.
Tonbridge took the on 68 minutes when a free kick sent to the far post by Sean Shields was headed back across goal by Jamie Fielding, a defender got his feet in a tangle in attempting to clear and, as the ball ran loose, Botti, on as a substitute for Peart, was on hand to tuck home from around six yards.
Despite there being 20 minutes plus to play out, the Angels did this with relative ease, the only scare being a header deep into added time from goalkeeper Ben Goode, who had ventured forward for a corner.
Dabre was sprinting clear in the last seconds only to pull up with what initially looked like a recurrence of his hamstring injury but rather was said to be only cramp.
Jay added: “The boys, overall, deserved it. We worked really hard, it was not the prettiest of games to watch but we knew we had to play the conditions and play percentages and for large parts of the game we did that very well. We’ve been up and around the top 10 all season and I don’t want us to see us fall away because the boys deserve more, as do the supporters.”
Chesham United (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Botti 68
Attendance:
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 184/5,862
New Ground: 389
Business as usual was the message from chair, Sophie Purves, echoed by Jay Saunders and delivered by his squad who put in a solid performance at Chesham United.
One might say it wasn’t quite business as usual as wins on the road this season have been hard come by, but this fourth win propelled the Angels back into the top half of the table as the Angels seek a good end to the season to send Jay on to pastures new with a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.
It was a cold evening for Tonbridge Angels’ first-ever visit to The Meadow and the manager made four changes from the starting XI that had performed admirably but without reward against Torquay United. Into the line-up came Bailey Akehurst, Mo Dabre, Nazir Bakrin and Brody Peart for Taylor Maloney, Gianluca Botti, Jack Wood, who took places on the bench, and Mikey Berry, who was unavailable following his injury on Saturday.
Ultimately, it has to be admitted that this was not a classic and, at times, had a real end-of-season feel to it as a difficult pitch never lent itself to football of any great quality. But the Angels were gritty and determined when they needed to be in defence and found the one bit of quality that was needed to win the game when Botti converted from close range on 68 minutes.
Jay said in this post-match interview: “This is a difficult place to come on a Tuesday night after Saturday’s efforts. The pitch was very difficult which meant we set up very different and had a different game plan to Torquay and had to play a different way but the boys carried it out excellently and I thought there were some excellent displays and I’m really pleased we have got the win.”
Both sides were looking to put a three game run without a win behind them, so an early goal would give confidence to whoever might have scored it, and that could well have been the home side as Matt Rowley was forced to make a brilliant save after less than two minutes after a shot came in from close range following a corner.
The game then got bogged down in the middle of the park with neither side particularly taking control. Bailey Akehurst fired in a shot that cleared the bar and Rowley was pressed into action again saving from Samson Esan.
The big chance of the half fell to the home side in the last couple of minutes with Nathan Minhas blazing over when well placed.
Tonbridge took the on 68 minutes when a free kick sent to the far post by Sean Shields was headed back across goal by Jamie Fielding, a defender got his feet in a tangle in attempting to clear and, as the ball ran loose, Botti, on as a substitute for Peart, was on hand to tuck home from around six yards.
Despite there being 20 minutes plus to play out, the Angels did this with relative ease, the only scare being a header deep into added time from goalkeeper Ben Goode, who had ventured forward for a corner.
Dabre was sprinting clear in the last seconds only to pull up with what initially looked like a recurrence of his hamstring injury but rather was said to be only cramp.
Jay added: “The boys, overall, deserved it. We worked really hard, it was not the prettiest of games to watch but we knew we had to play the conditions and play percentages and for large parts of the game we did that very well. We’ve been up and around the top 10 all season and I don’t want us to see us fall away because the boys deserve more, as do the supporters.”
Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Tonbridge Angels 0 Torquay United 1
Match 80/24/2319 - Saturday, 8th March 2025 - National League South
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Torquay United (1) 1 Young 38
Attendance: 1,304
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,678
Torquay United returned to Devon with three precious points in their quest for promotion, courtesy of a 35th minute winner from Jordan Young in a game in which the hosts could justifiably make a case of being deserving of a point.
Jay Saunders was rightly proud of his side’s performance: “I feel a little bit hard done by, I thought we deserved something out of the game. I’m quite proud of the boys, against a full-time outfit, one of the favourites, we’ve put on a good performance. We’ve had a go to the end, but unfortunately, come up a little bit short in the quality area, the key moments that are the difference between winning or drawing games. But, all in all, we caused them problems, we created chances but lacked that quality to take them.”
Tonbridge Angels matched their visitors in almost every department in the game but lacked the clinical finish that Young executed for the game’s only goal. After winning possession on the left touchline, Torquay broke forward rapidly which culminated with a shot from Matt Jay that struck a post with the rebound falling to Young who cleanly struck home his opportunity.
The Angels had created two earlier chances when the ball was hacked to safety after four minutes after it bounced loose in the penalty area following a corner and on 16 minutes when Jack Wood was sent clear he saw his lob over goalkeeper, James Hamon, drifting agonisingly wide.
A sickening clash of heads saw Tonbridge’s 18 year-old Mikey Berry knocked unconscious and he was helped from the field in a groggy state of health `after an extended time of treatment.
Jamie Fielding kept the Gulls advantage at a single goal before the break with a last gasp challenge to deny Offrande Zanzala after he had rounded Matt Rowley.
The second half saw the Angels exert considerable pressure on Torquay but the resolute defending of the visitors limited the chances. Sean Shields struck the outside of a post early in the half and when Shields went clear on 79 minutes, Hamon was quickly off his line to smother and, following, Mo Dabre was felled as the ball ran loose but the referee waved away penalty claims.
In a frantic period of added time, substitute Brody Peart brought a near post save from Hamon and Jay Saunders was shown a red card as time ebbed away whilst the Torquay goalkeeper was sat on the ground receiving treatment. Hamon preserved the points for Torquay with a good save to deny Ronny Nelson’s header as the clock ticked into its third minute of added time.
Jay added: “Credit to the boys, it’s just disappointing that we couldn’t get anything out of the game which for large parts we gave a good account of ourselves.”
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Torquay United (1) 1 Young 38
Attendance: 1,304
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,678
Torquay United returned to Devon with three precious points in their quest for promotion, courtesy of a 35th minute winner from Jordan Young in a game in which the hosts could justifiably make a case of being deserving of a point.
Jay Saunders was rightly proud of his side’s performance: “I feel a little bit hard done by, I thought we deserved something out of the game. I’m quite proud of the boys, against a full-time outfit, one of the favourites, we’ve put on a good performance. We’ve had a go to the end, but unfortunately, come up a little bit short in the quality area, the key moments that are the difference between winning or drawing games. But, all in all, we caused them problems, we created chances but lacked that quality to take them.”
Tonbridge Angels matched their visitors in almost every department in the game but lacked the clinical finish that Young executed for the game’s only goal. After winning possession on the left touchline, Torquay broke forward rapidly which culminated with a shot from Matt Jay that struck a post with the rebound falling to Young who cleanly struck home his opportunity.
The Angels had created two earlier chances when the ball was hacked to safety after four minutes after it bounced loose in the penalty area following a corner and on 16 minutes when Jack Wood was sent clear he saw his lob over goalkeeper, James Hamon, drifting agonisingly wide.
A sickening clash of heads saw Tonbridge’s 18 year-old Mikey Berry knocked unconscious and he was helped from the field in a groggy state of health `after an extended time of treatment.
Jamie Fielding kept the Gulls advantage at a single goal before the break with a last gasp challenge to deny Offrande Zanzala after he had rounded Matt Rowley.
The second half saw the Angels exert considerable pressure on Torquay but the resolute defending of the visitors limited the chances. Sean Shields struck the outside of a post early in the half and when Shields went clear on 79 minutes, Hamon was quickly off his line to smother and, following, Mo Dabre was felled as the ball ran loose but the referee waved away penalty claims.
In a frantic period of added time, substitute Brody Peart brought a near post save from Hamon and Jay Saunders was shown a red card as time ebbed away whilst the Torquay goalkeeper was sat on the ground receiving treatment. Hamon preserved the points for Torquay with a good save to deny Ronny Nelson’s header as the clock ticked into its third minute of added time.
Jay added: “Credit to the boys, it’s just disappointing that we couldn’t get anything out of the game which for large parts we gave a good account of ourselves.”
Thursday, 6 March 2025
Tonbridge Angels U18 3 Chatham Town U18 1
Match 79/24/2318 - Monday, 3rd March 2025 - Isthmian Youth League
Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 3 Penman 15 Fabimafobee 42 Fincham 85
Chatham Town U18 (1) 1 Chime 8
Attendance: 35
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,640
It’s a well used cliche, but as the title race in the Isthmian Youth East Division moves into its final three games, Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s manager said after his side’s 3-1 win over Chatham Town: “We have to take each game as it comes, ultimately it seems likely that we will need to win all three of our remaining games and hope that Welling slip up somewhere.”
On paper, Welling United’s run-in looks a little tougher than the Angels, who also hold a significant advantage in terms of goal difference and many eyes will be focusing on Wednesday evening’s match between Sutton Common Rovers (not out of the race) and Welling at Whyteleafe.
On Monday evening, the Angels recovered from going a goal behind on eight minutes to lead 2-1 at the break before adding a third goal with five minutes remaining. Dom Welsh said of the game: “We were not at our best but we had our good moments. It got a bit tense, but we defended really well and, bar the goal, they didn’t really have a shot of note at goal.”
Chatham’s opener came when a through ball to Fallon Chime saw the Angels defence looking for an offside decision that never came and allowing the forward to clinically finish.
Tonbridge’s response was good and they were quickly back on level terms when good work down the right from River Ballach saw his cross deftly turned in at the near post by Robert Penman, whose goal was his 20th of the season.
Tonbridge now had the momentum and with Tolu Fabimafobee coming to the fore, the Chats were under a good deal of pressure with the winger twice testing the goalkeeper.
Chatham were never out of the game though, forcing successive corners and, from one a header from Clarence Tambe was narrowly wide.
But the Angels took a lead into the break when they scored on 42 minutes after the goalkeeper had made successive saves from Noah Millis, the follow-up from Ishe Hunidzarira, before the ball broke for Fabimafobee to bury into the corner.
Whilst the Angels dominated the second half with a shot from Callum Fincham that was deflected wide on 64 minutes and a goal disallowed on 79 minutes, there was a huge sigh of relief when a header from Chatham Colin Igboma cleared the bar.
The game was finally made safe with five minutes remaining when the ever-dangerous Fabimafobee set up Fincham to finish well from the left side of the box.
Dom Welsh added: “We can only do what is in our own hands, but if Welling go on and win every one of their last seven games you have to congratulate them and say they have deserved it.”
Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 3 Penman 15 Fabimafobee 42 Fincham 85
Chatham Town U18 (1) 1 Chime 8
Attendance: 35
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,640
It’s a well used cliche, but as the title race in the Isthmian Youth East Division moves into its final three games, Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s manager said after his side’s 3-1 win over Chatham Town: “We have to take each game as it comes, ultimately it seems likely that we will need to win all three of our remaining games and hope that Welling slip up somewhere.”
On paper, Welling United’s run-in looks a little tougher than the Angels, who also hold a significant advantage in terms of goal difference and many eyes will be focusing on Wednesday evening’s match between Sutton Common Rovers (not out of the race) and Welling at Whyteleafe.
On Monday evening, the Angels recovered from going a goal behind on eight minutes to lead 2-1 at the break before adding a third goal with five minutes remaining. Dom Welsh said of the game: “We were not at our best but we had our good moments. It got a bit tense, but we defended really well and, bar the goal, they didn’t really have a shot of note at goal.”
Chatham’s opener came when a through ball to Fallon Chime saw the Angels defence looking for an offside decision that never came and allowing the forward to clinically finish.
Tonbridge’s response was good and they were quickly back on level terms when good work down the right from River Ballach saw his cross deftly turned in at the near post by Robert Penman, whose goal was his 20th of the season.
Tonbridge now had the momentum and with Tolu Fabimafobee coming to the fore, the Chats were under a good deal of pressure with the winger twice testing the goalkeeper.
Chatham were never out of the game though, forcing successive corners and, from one a header from Clarence Tambe was narrowly wide.
But the Angels took a lead into the break when they scored on 42 minutes after the goalkeeper had made successive saves from Noah Millis, the follow-up from Ishe Hunidzarira, before the ball broke for Fabimafobee to bury into the corner.
Whilst the Angels dominated the second half with a shot from Callum Fincham that was deflected wide on 64 minutes and a goal disallowed on 79 minutes, there was a huge sigh of relief when a header from Chatham Colin Igboma cleared the bar.
The game was finally made safe with five minutes remaining when the ever-dangerous Fabimafobee set up Fincham to finish well from the left side of the box.
Dom Welsh added: “We can only do what is in our own hands, but if Welling go on and win every one of their last seven games you have to congratulate them and say they have deserved it.”
Monday, 3 March 2025
Hemel Hempstead Town 2 Tonbridge Angels 0
Match 78/24/2317 - Saturday, 1st March 2025 - National League South
Hemel Hempstead Town (0) 2 Tomkins 69 Matthews-Lewis 78
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance:
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 180/5,602
No visit to Hemel Hempstead comes easy to Tonbridge Angels or their supporters. Our history with the Hertfordshire club doesn’t date back into the mists of time, but each visit has inevitably come with its own set of problems on and off the pitch.
Such as it was for the Angels’ supporters who, for the second week in a row, found Junction 27 of the M25 their stopping point, leaving them with a tiresome diversion through endless congested roundabouts whilst stressfully watching the sands of time to the scheduled kick-off drift away.
The game itself was a dull, lifeless affair, with two second half goals giving the hosts a deserved win.
Someone on high then decided that not enough pain had been inflicted on the Angels’ band of brothers and sisters, and having checked phones to make sure that the road home was clear, the QE2 bridge became closed, necessitating another extended journey back.
Those chasing the clock were given the lifeline of a delayed kick-off of 15 minutes and had the relative good news on arrival of an unchanged team from Tuesday’s win against Welling United, with Mo Dabre and Ryan Hanson returning to a full complement of senior players on the bench.
The first day of spring had brought some bright sunshine and a bit of warmth as the game finally got underway at 3.20pm with, hopefully, the last of the visiting supporters in place.
It seems odd to say on the opening day of March but the game took on an end of season feel from the outset, being scrappy and bereft of goalmouth action.
It was fully 37 minutes before either goalkeeper was particularly asked to do anything with Matt Rowley comfortably saving from Brandon Barzey and four minutes before the break Ethan Sutcliffe broke into the box from the right to pull a ball back from the byline that Hemel’s goalkeeper, Brad House, palmed away to safety.
If anything, Tonbridge had enjoyed, if that’s the right word, the better of the possession in a poor first half.
The second period saw a clever variation from a throw-in that saw an effort from Jack Wood that cleared the bar but the game quickly reverted back to the first half state of stalemate.
That was broken on 69 minutes when this scrappy game got its reward of a scrappy goal from the hosts, who had dominated the half. A long throw into the box produced a scramble with the ball eventually falling at the feet of Ben Tomkins who stabbed it home from close range.
Hemel immediately had a good chance to double their advantage when George Williams sent Oliver Lynch clear to shoot wide but, in the 78th minute, the ball was fed to substitute Millar Matthews-Lewis who lobbed the ball into the far corner from the edge of the six-yard box.
A couple of late half chances might have given the Angels a consolation but it was not to be as a disconsolate set of supporters began their trudge home.
Jay Saunders, interviewed after the game, commented: “It was a nothing game in regards to quality. I don’t think there was a lot in it, neither goalkeeper has had a lot of saves to make and it looked like an end of season game for the large part, but to be fair to them, they have had two opportunities and taken them. In hindsight, some of them looked a bit leggy and off it and if I could go back and change that, I definitely would, so I take that on the chin and take part of the blame for that. But there was not enough desire, second half, to go out and get a win.”
Hemel Hempstead Town (0) 2 Tomkins 69 Matthews-Lewis 78
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance:
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 180/5,602
No visit to Hemel Hempstead comes easy to Tonbridge Angels or their supporters. Our history with the Hertfordshire club doesn’t date back into the mists of time, but each visit has inevitably come with its own set of problems on and off the pitch.
Such as it was for the Angels’ supporters who, for the second week in a row, found Junction 27 of the M25 their stopping point, leaving them with a tiresome diversion through endless congested roundabouts whilst stressfully watching the sands of time to the scheduled kick-off drift away.
The game itself was a dull, lifeless affair, with two second half goals giving the hosts a deserved win.
Someone on high then decided that not enough pain had been inflicted on the Angels’ band of brothers and sisters, and having checked phones to make sure that the road home was clear, the QE2 bridge became closed, necessitating another extended journey back.
Those chasing the clock were given the lifeline of a delayed kick-off of 15 minutes and had the relative good news on arrival of an unchanged team from Tuesday’s win against Welling United, with Mo Dabre and Ryan Hanson returning to a full complement of senior players on the bench.
The first day of spring had brought some bright sunshine and a bit of warmth as the game finally got underway at 3.20pm with, hopefully, the last of the visiting supporters in place.
It seems odd to say on the opening day of March but the game took on an end of season feel from the outset, being scrappy and bereft of goalmouth action.
It was fully 37 minutes before either goalkeeper was particularly asked to do anything with Matt Rowley comfortably saving from Brandon Barzey and four minutes before the break Ethan Sutcliffe broke into the box from the right to pull a ball back from the byline that Hemel’s goalkeeper, Brad House, palmed away to safety.
If anything, Tonbridge had enjoyed, if that’s the right word, the better of the possession in a poor first half.
The second period saw a clever variation from a throw-in that saw an effort from Jack Wood that cleared the bar but the game quickly reverted back to the first half state of stalemate.
That was broken on 69 minutes when this scrappy game got its reward of a scrappy goal from the hosts, who had dominated the half. A long throw into the box produced a scramble with the ball eventually falling at the feet of Ben Tomkins who stabbed it home from close range.
Hemel immediately had a good chance to double their advantage when George Williams sent Oliver Lynch clear to shoot wide but, in the 78th minute, the ball was fed to substitute Millar Matthews-Lewis who lobbed the ball into the far corner from the edge of the six-yard box.
A couple of late half chances might have given the Angels a consolation but it was not to be as a disconsolate set of supporters began their trudge home.
Jay Saunders, interviewed after the game, commented: “It was a nothing game in regards to quality. I don’t think there was a lot in it, neither goalkeeper has had a lot of saves to make and it looked like an end of season game for the large part, but to be fair to them, they have had two opportunities and taken them. In hindsight, some of them looked a bit leggy and off it and if I could go back and change that, I definitely would, so I take that on the chin and take part of the blame for that. But there was not enough desire, second half, to go out and get a win.”
Thursday, 27 February 2025
Tonbridge Angels 2 Welling United 0
Match 77/24/2316 - Tuesday, 25th February 2025 - National League South
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Vincent 38 (pen) Botti 59
Welling United (0) 0
Attendance: 727
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,422
A goal in each half was enough to comfortably ease the Angels past relegation-threatened Welling United and record back-to-back victories following Saturday’s win at Enfield Town.
On a cold evening at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium, Jay Saunders effectively started with the side that finished the game at Enfield with Mikey Berry and Christie Ward starting ahead of Taylor Maloney and Crossley Lema, who both dropped to the bench.
Welling, who moved out of the bottom four with a draw at Chippenham Town on Saturday, were fast out of the traps and went close twice in the opening 10 minutes through Scott Kashket, the second of which saw his effort brilliantly turned onto the crossbar and over by Matt Rowley.
Tonbridge, relieved not to have fallen behind, settled into the game and Gianluca Botti rippled the side netting with a shot after 18 minutes after being found in a good position by Ethan Sutcliffe.
Now firmly in control of the game, Botti had a couple of half chances before in the 38th minute a great forward pass into the right channel from Jamie Fielding allowed Sutcliffe to take an excellent touch which took him into the box and commit the Welling defender, Riccardo Di Trolio, into a challenge that brought him down with referee Ben Robinson immediately pointing to spot from where, on his 50th appearance, Liam Vincent converted.
Successive corners prior to the break found the head of Fielding, but these went wide as the Angels entered the break well deserving of their single goal advantage.
The second half was largely one-way traffic as Tonbridge, with the energetic Berry finding pockets of space anywhere him roamed in the midfield with Ward tidying up any loose ends.
Sean Shields had a couple of efforts early in the half, the second of which brought a fine save from the Welling goalkeeper, Rhys Lovett and with the momentum firmly with the home side it seemed only a matter of time before the lead was increased.
This came, just shy of the hour, when Shields’ pinpoint cross found Botti to bury a header into the corner giving Lovett no chance.
Pantomime villain of the evening, Garrett Kelly, returning to Longmead, received an inevitable yellow card and when he was robbed late in the game it offered the chance for Maloney to shoot narrowly wide.
Lloyd Blackman, taking the post-match interview, said: “It was a thoroughly professional performance.”
Of the shape taken following Saturday’s win: “We felt we could hurt them in the wide areas with ‘Woody’ and ‘Shieldsy’ and, generally, that was our main route to goal. It was a slight change, but the boys adapted very well considering it was a quick turnover from Saturday to Tuesday. We gave them the game plan and they executed it really well.”
Picture: David Couldridge
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Vincent 38 (pen) Botti 59
Welling United (0) 0
Attendance: 727
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,422
A goal in each half was enough to comfortably ease the Angels past relegation-threatened Welling United and record back-to-back victories following Saturday’s win at Enfield Town.
On a cold evening at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium, Jay Saunders effectively started with the side that finished the game at Enfield with Mikey Berry and Christie Ward starting ahead of Taylor Maloney and Crossley Lema, who both dropped to the bench.
Welling, who moved out of the bottom four with a draw at Chippenham Town on Saturday, were fast out of the traps and went close twice in the opening 10 minutes through Scott Kashket, the second of which saw his effort brilliantly turned onto the crossbar and over by Matt Rowley.
Tonbridge, relieved not to have fallen behind, settled into the game and Gianluca Botti rippled the side netting with a shot after 18 minutes after being found in a good position by Ethan Sutcliffe.
Now firmly in control of the game, Botti had a couple of half chances before in the 38th minute a great forward pass into the right channel from Jamie Fielding allowed Sutcliffe to take an excellent touch which took him into the box and commit the Welling defender, Riccardo Di Trolio, into a challenge that brought him down with referee Ben Robinson immediately pointing to spot from where, on his 50th appearance, Liam Vincent converted.
Successive corners prior to the break found the head of Fielding, but these went wide as the Angels entered the break well deserving of their single goal advantage.
The second half was largely one-way traffic as Tonbridge, with the energetic Berry finding pockets of space anywhere him roamed in the midfield with Ward tidying up any loose ends.
Sean Shields had a couple of efforts early in the half, the second of which brought a fine save from the Welling goalkeeper, Rhys Lovett and with the momentum firmly with the home side it seemed only a matter of time before the lead was increased.
This came, just shy of the hour, when Shields’ pinpoint cross found Botti to bury a header into the corner giving Lovett no chance.
Pantomime villain of the evening, Garrett Kelly, returning to Longmead, received an inevitable yellow card and when he was robbed late in the game it offered the chance for Maloney to shoot narrowly wide.
Lloyd Blackman, taking the post-match interview, said: “It was a thoroughly professional performance.”
Of the shape taken following Saturday’s win: “We felt we could hurt them in the wide areas with ‘Woody’ and ‘Shieldsy’ and, generally, that was our main route to goal. It was a slight change, but the boys adapted very well considering it was a quick turnover from Saturday to Tuesday. We gave them the game plan and they executed it really well.”
Picture: David Couldridge
Sunday, 23 February 2025
Enfield Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 3
Match 76/24/2315 - Saturday, 22nd February 2025 - National League South
Enfield Town (1) 1 Kasimu 27
Tonbridge Angels (0) 3 Nelson 77 Shields 78 Botti 90+6
Attendance: 733
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 146/5,384
Tonbridge Angels supporters who had endured a difficult journey to Enfield, whether by a road with an M25 road closure or by train, were eventually rewarded with three goals in the final quarter-hour to record their first win on the road since late November and, in so doing, also put a six game winless run behind them.
For 75 minutes, all that seemed unlikely as the visitors struggled to come to terms with a difficult pitch in which any quality from either side was at a premium.
Jay Saunders speaking with Matt Davison after the game: “Up until we got our first goal, it was not the most enjoyable afternoon I’ve had, but it shows you how quickly a game of football can change. It was a tough game, obviously with the pitch, you know what you are in for. I was disappointed with the first half, and the goal we conceded, but I think we showed a good reaction with the substitutes coming on and making an impact.”
On a mild afternoon with glimpses of the sun, Jay Saunders was able to welcome back Sean Shields, Liam Vincent and Crossley Lema, but lost Harry Ottaway to injury. Mikey Berry, Christie Ward and Bailey Akehurst took places on the bench.
The opening 20 minutes was not for the football purist with misplaced passes, hefty clearances and very little in the way of goalmouth action. To be fair to Enfield Town, much of the early momentum was with them but without troubling Matt Rowley to any great degree.
On 27 minutes, as Tonbridge were starting to wrest a bit of control from their hosts and with Gianluca Botti having broken clear to be denied by a good challenge, Enfield Town took the lead when a cross-cum-shot from the right by Anointed Chukwu was bundled home at the far post by Hisham Kasimu.
The Angels could easily have gone into the break further adrift as, on 41 minutes, John Oyenuga put a good chance wide and on the stroke of half-time, Rowley saved well to turn away a shot from Sam Youngs and, from the resultant corner, was needed to claw away an inswinger from under his crossbar.
Jay made a change during the break, reverting to a back four with the substitution of Ethan Sutcliffe with Ward.
But as the second half progressed and the pitch got worse, so did the game. On 64 minutes, Berry was introduced for Taylor Maloney and after Jack Wood had taken a whack, Akehurst was his replacement.
In the space of a minute the game was suddenly turned on its head when the latest of what had been numerous Vincent long throws that had continuously looked the Angels most potent weapon, found its way towards the far post from where a deft header from Ronny Nelson squeezed its way past the Enfield Town goalkeeper, Joe Wright and his post.
If the Angels support felt relief at the equaliser, they were in raptures a moment later when a superbly weighted through ball from Botti sent Shields clear to finish into the bottom corner.
Enfield Town, desperate to get something from the game to aid their relegation fight, threw bodies forward but Rowley was only needed to catch or punch a couple of corners before six minutes of added time were entered.
The Angels were managing the period comfortably but added some gloss to the scoreline when in the final minute, a cross from the right saw a Shields effort brilliantly saved by Wright but as the energetic Berry fought for the rebound the ball fell at the feet of Botti to drive home from inside the six yard box.
Jay added: “I’m pleased because we needed that. We’ve probably played better recently and not got the results, but today, at half-time, I’ve questioned them when I felt they felt sorry for themselves. When you’ve been on the run we’ve been on with injuries and results, you feel that everything has been against you.”
Enfield Town (1) 1 Kasimu 27
Tonbridge Angels (0) 3 Nelson 77 Shields 78 Botti 90+6
Attendance: 733
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 146/5,384
Tonbridge Angels supporters who had endured a difficult journey to Enfield, whether by a road with an M25 road closure or by train, were eventually rewarded with three goals in the final quarter-hour to record their first win on the road since late November and, in so doing, also put a six game winless run behind them.
For 75 minutes, all that seemed unlikely as the visitors struggled to come to terms with a difficult pitch in which any quality from either side was at a premium.
Jay Saunders speaking with Matt Davison after the game: “Up until we got our first goal, it was not the most enjoyable afternoon I’ve had, but it shows you how quickly a game of football can change. It was a tough game, obviously with the pitch, you know what you are in for. I was disappointed with the first half, and the goal we conceded, but I think we showed a good reaction with the substitutes coming on and making an impact.”
On a mild afternoon with glimpses of the sun, Jay Saunders was able to welcome back Sean Shields, Liam Vincent and Crossley Lema, but lost Harry Ottaway to injury. Mikey Berry, Christie Ward and Bailey Akehurst took places on the bench.
The opening 20 minutes was not for the football purist with misplaced passes, hefty clearances and very little in the way of goalmouth action. To be fair to Enfield Town, much of the early momentum was with them but without troubling Matt Rowley to any great degree.
On 27 minutes, as Tonbridge were starting to wrest a bit of control from their hosts and with Gianluca Botti having broken clear to be denied by a good challenge, Enfield Town took the lead when a cross-cum-shot from the right by Anointed Chukwu was bundled home at the far post by Hisham Kasimu.
The Angels could easily have gone into the break further adrift as, on 41 minutes, John Oyenuga put a good chance wide and on the stroke of half-time, Rowley saved well to turn away a shot from Sam Youngs and, from the resultant corner, was needed to claw away an inswinger from under his crossbar.
Jay made a change during the break, reverting to a back four with the substitution of Ethan Sutcliffe with Ward.
But as the second half progressed and the pitch got worse, so did the game. On 64 minutes, Berry was introduced for Taylor Maloney and after Jack Wood had taken a whack, Akehurst was his replacement.
In the space of a minute the game was suddenly turned on its head when the latest of what had been numerous Vincent long throws that had continuously looked the Angels most potent weapon, found its way towards the far post from where a deft header from Ronny Nelson squeezed its way past the Enfield Town goalkeeper, Joe Wright and his post.
If the Angels support felt relief at the equaliser, they were in raptures a moment later when a superbly weighted through ball from Botti sent Shields clear to finish into the bottom corner.
Enfield Town, desperate to get something from the game to aid their relegation fight, threw bodies forward but Rowley was only needed to catch or punch a couple of corners before six minutes of added time were entered.
The Angels were managing the period comfortably but added some gloss to the scoreline when in the final minute, a cross from the right saw a Shields effort brilliantly saved by Wright but as the energetic Berry fought for the rebound the ball fell at the feet of Botti to drive home from inside the six yard box.
Jay added: “I’m pleased because we needed that. We’ve probably played better recently and not got the results, but today, at half-time, I’ve questioned them when I felt they felt sorry for themselves. When you’ve been on the run we’ve been on with injuries and results, you feel that everything has been against you.”
Staplehurst Monarchs 3 Rochester United 1
Match 75/24/2314 - Wednesday, 16th February 2025 - SCEFL Division One
Staplehurst Monarchs (1) 3 Luke Adams 21 Headley 69 Sean Adams 80
Rochester United (0) 1 Wilkins 59
Attendance: 67
Admission: £5
Mileage: 1/5,238
Staplehurst Monarchs and Rochester United slogged their way through 90 minutes on a pitch where the going would have been described as heavy had it been a racecourse.
That they produced an entertaining game is a credit to both sides. On a first viewing, the pitch that has been the subject of several postponements this season, didn’t look too bad but 20 minutes after kick off it was cutting up badly making anything played along the ground a serious risk.
In Jack Bray, Staplehurst had a defender for the occasion, he headed everything, heaved his clearances long with a thou shalt not pass attitude.
The pitch has been a major concern for Staplehurst since their promotion into Step 6 football but, hopefully, a resolution is just around the corner.
Funding is in place for the laying of a 3G pitch and approval sits with Maidstone Borough Council and it is reported that a decision is fairly imminent. It is seen by the local residents to be a community asset, so MBC, let’s get on with it.
Staplehurst took the lead on 21 minutes after an opening period when the visitors just about held the balance of play. Luke Adams buried a shot into the bottom corner to give the Monarchs a lead that they took into the break.
Rochester equalised, deservedly, on the hour when a long throw was only partially cleared to Liam Wilkins who scored from the edge of the box.
At this point, and with the pitch churning up, the game could have gone either way but it was the home side that restored their lead on 69 minutes when a long throw was scrambled home at the near post by Phil Headley.
With 10 minutes remaining Sean Adams made the game safe with the best goal of the game, an angled shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Both sides continue to harbour outside ambition of a play-off spot with Rochester in the better of the position with games in hand.
Staplehurst Monarchs (1) 3 Luke Adams 21 Headley 69 Sean Adams 80
Rochester United (0) 1 Wilkins 59
Attendance: 67
Admission: £5
Mileage: 1/5,238
Staplehurst Monarchs and Rochester United slogged their way through 90 minutes on a pitch where the going would have been described as heavy had it been a racecourse.
That they produced an entertaining game is a credit to both sides. On a first viewing, the pitch that has been the subject of several postponements this season, didn’t look too bad but 20 minutes after kick off it was cutting up badly making anything played along the ground a serious risk.
In Jack Bray, Staplehurst had a defender for the occasion, he headed everything, heaved his clearances long with a thou shalt not pass attitude.
The pitch has been a major concern for Staplehurst since their promotion into Step 6 football but, hopefully, a resolution is just around the corner.
Funding is in place for the laying of a 3G pitch and approval sits with Maidstone Borough Council and it is reported that a decision is fairly imminent. It is seen by the local residents to be a community asset, so MBC, let’s get on with it.
Staplehurst took the lead on 21 minutes after an opening period when the visitors just about held the balance of play. Luke Adams buried a shot into the bottom corner to give the Monarchs a lead that they took into the break.
Rochester equalised, deservedly, on the hour when a long throw was only partially cleared to Liam Wilkins who scored from the edge of the box.
At this point, and with the pitch churning up, the game could have gone either way but it was the home side that restored their lead on 69 minutes when a long throw was scrambled home at the near post by Phil Headley.
With 10 minutes remaining Sean Adams made the game safe with the best goal of the game, an angled shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Both sides continue to harbour outside ambition of a play-off spot with Rochester in the better of the position with games in hand.
Tuesday, 18 February 2025
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.”
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Truro City (1) 1 Dean 15
Attendance: 1,085
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/5,237
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.”
Dorking Wanderers (0) 1 Murphy 90+3
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance:
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 111/5,199
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 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.
Sunday, 9 February 2025
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.”
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.”
Wednesday, 5 February 2025
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.”
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.”
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.”
Monday, 3 February 2025
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.”
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."
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 (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.”
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