Tonbridge Angels 1 Enfield Town 2

Match 19/25/2362 - Tuesday, 2nd September 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Simon 25
Enfield Town (2) 2 Brown 12 Youngs 34
Attendance: 801
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/1,207

Tonbridge Angels fell to a dispiriting defeat at the Yeomans Community Stadium as two teams without a win met in what had become a ridiculously significant fixture for the second day in September.

On a damp, autumnal evening, Craig Nelson made four changes from the side that fought out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Farnborough on Saturday. Bradley Williams retained his place following his early substitute appearance for Matty Warren; returning to the team were Jordan Higgs, Jack Matton and Brody Peart with Scott Wagstaff, Arthur Penney and Martell Taylor-Crossdale taking places on the bench.

All three goals came in the first 35 minutes, with Eddie Simon equalising for the Angels after Enfield Town had taken a 12th minute lead.

Craig reflected on the performance in his post-match interview: “We are conceding the same type of goal time and time again. We started brightly, keeping the ball well, but we were toothless when we have got the ball forward into the final third. You cannot win games if you are going to roll over and not compete in the first or second phase and teams are scoring too easily against us.”

The home side were given due warning of the left wing threat that would come from Nino Adom-Malaki when he cut in to shoot over after nine minutes. Three minutes later, the winger crossed to the far post where it was met with a Sam Youngs header, directed back across the face of goal, for Bayley Brown to tuck home from close range.

Adom-Malaki was the provider again as Youngs’ effort cleared the bar before the Angels had their opening effort with a Peart shot that was saved comfortably by Rhys Forster.

Tonbridge were on level terms after 25 minutes when Marcus Sablier slotted a pass through to Simon who found the bottom corner under pressure from a defender.

Parity was relatively short-lived as the visitors regained the lead on 34 minutes with Adom-Malaki crossing for Youngs to be allowed the time, six yards out, to collect, turn and finish.

Wagstaff was introduced for the second half and immediately injected a tempo that was missing from the opening 45 minutes.

The half unfolded with the Angels showing a greater intensity but the opportunities mainly came and went without Forster being unduly troubled. Higgs headed wide following a corner; Peart shot over and when Simon needed to be substituted after being clattered by Forster, as the goalkeeper advanced beyond his area, the main threat had been removed.

Seven minutes remained when substitute Bunmi Babajide struck the outside of the right hand post but in the remaining minutes it was more likely that Enfield Town would add to their score with Youngs shooting into the side netting and, as a parting shot, firing over.

Craig Nelson commented on the supporters’ reaction at the final whistle; “I don’t blame the fans for that, we are here for them in terms of trying to win games of football and when we are playing teams in and around us, if we don’t win we have to perform better than that and you can’t not win and not perform and expect to have the fans behind you. They are right and the boys have to wear that because if they don’t do that then that’s how it feels. The fans are right to have their voice.”