Tonbridge Angels 3 Chippenham Town 2

Match 58/25/2400 - Saturday, 21st February 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 3 McCann 3 Sutcliffe 34 Pavey 57
Chippenham Town (2) 2 Haines 13 Touray 39
Attendance: 1,339
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,472

There are six-pointers and then there are genuine six-pointers.

This was not two teams similarly placed in the table in December, this was two teams staring down the barrel of relegation in late February with the games remaining ebbing away and the points required to safety seemingly becoming ever more distant.

But, in a game when, given Tonbridge’s recent history with late goals, the added time board showing six minutes brought more than a flutter of the heart as the visitors, Chippenham Town pressed forward for an equaliser the Angels, ably marshalled by the central defensive unit of Jordan Thompson and Ethan Sutcliffe, made sure of no late despair and the final whistle was greeted wildly by a crowd of 1,339 which was boosted by tickets handed out to local junior clubs.

Alan Dunne, Tonbridge Angels manager, said in his post-match interview: “I’m pleased with the result because it wasn’t our best performance, but sometimes, winning ugly is what it is all about at this time in the season, picking up the points to get the job done.”

I know far too many people at Tonbridge to suggest that the club have sleepwalked into the situation in which they find themselves but, whatever the reasons, this game and the visit of Hampton on Tuesday have become absolutely pivotal.

The scribble pad has been out, the path to safety has been mapped, but like the local roads, that route is littered with potholes but at least the first one has been avoided.

This week reality set in at Eastbourne Borough which cost Tommy Widdrington his job after just six months at the helm and in the club’s statement they referred to their plans for life in the Isthmian League and reverting to part-time. It seems that a wealthy chairman is not necessarily the magic bullet.

Eastbourne replaced Chippenham at the foot of the table after the midweek matches and the Wiltshire club have been showing signs of revival of late with eye-catching wins over Maidstone United and Torquay United.

Whilst Spring hasn’t exactly sprung, the weather didn’t carry a chill but the rain couldn’t stay away completely as Dunne made a single change to the side beaten at Hornchurch with Matt Warren coming in for Naz Bakrin, who dropped to the bench.

The game marked one year of the passing of Devonte Aransibia, who was remembered with a minute’s silence with his young son leading out the Angels side.

Tonbridge got off to the best possible start, taking the lead after just three minutes, when, following a corner that saw the Chippenham goalkeeper, Will Henry save well from Alfie Pavey, the ball was recycled for a cross to fall at the feet of Noah McCann who lashed it home from around 10 yards.

The lead was only to last 10 minutes when a free kick into the area was only cleared to the right side of the six yard box to Luke Haines whose well struck half volley found the roof of the net.

The visitors looked anything but a team that have spent the majority of the season propping up the table, popping the ball about and creating decent chances for Billy Phillips and Will King that was comfortably saved by Laurie Shala.

So it was somewhat against the run of play when Tonbridge went back in front after 34 minutes when a Sean Shields free kick towards the far post took a deflection off a visiting defender before Ethan Sutcliffe bundled the ball home.

The Angels might have doubled their lead three minutes later when a close range shot from Thompson was saved by Henry but after 39 minutes a superb cross from Lewis Colwell was met at the far post with a well directed header from Ezio Touray to level the game at the break.

Dunne introduced the livewire Bumni Babajide at the start of the second period and he had an immediate impact as his surge forward and pass to Kyle Smith saw the latter’s right-sided cross turned in at the far post by Pavey.

Chippenham were certainly not as fluid in the second period and the chances to put the game beyond them fell to Shields and Thompson before the added time, kitchen sink time from the visitors.

Dunne concluded: “There’s still 13 games to go, still a lot of work to do and we need to move on quickly to Hampton on Tuesday.”

Pictures: David Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Cray Wanderers U23 0

Match 57/25/2399 - Monday, 16th February 2026 - Kent Intermediate Cup Semi-Final

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Fincham 41
Cray Wanderers (0) 0
Headcount: 70
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,434

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s have reached the final of the Kent Intermediate Cup, a competition that is principally contested by U23 sides.

The Angels route to the final has seen them eliminate Lordswood, Margate, Deal Town and, in last night’s semi-final, Cray Wanderers, all of which from the older age group.

The final will be held on Wednesday, 6th May at Chatham Town against the winners of Wednesday’s other semi-final between Hollands and Blair and Faversham Town.

For a little bit of historical context, the Kent Intermediate Cup was entered into in the early 2000’s by Tonbridge’s reserve sides and was won in 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012 and, for the last time in 2013.

Cray Wanderers were considered to be the favourites for the competition and proved stern opposition for Dom Welsh’s side, who fielded a couple of the Academy U19’s in Ollie Thomson and Noah Millis.

As expected the game was competitive from the outset with neither side gaining any sense of dominance. The Angels opening opportunity came on the quarter hour when Thomson narrowly headed wide following a corner with chances coming at the other end that never really tested Jacob Hunt.

On 30 minutes a last gasp block denied Richardson’s shot but, four minutes before the break, it was Richardson’s cross that saw Callum Fincham steal in unchallenged to head home and give the Angels a half-time lead that might have been doubled as Fiachra Pritchard’s effort drifted agonisingly wide.

The second half was never going to be anything other than a backs-to-the-wall commitment from the Angels with the missiles that were being thrown into the area from Cray’s Archie Morley, without doubt the longest throw-in’s seen at this level.

But, superbly marshalled by captain Ed Dyer, the Tonbridge youngsters stayed strong and, barring a couple of scares, they restricted the visitors to absolutely nothing that troubled Hunt.

The vocal band of brothers behind the goal greeted the Under-18’s with well-deserved appreciation that they accord a senior team success.

Hornchurch 3 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 56/25/2398 - Saturday, 14th February 2026 - National League South

Hornchurch (2) 3 Gibbs 37 Sandat 45 (pen) Balanta 90+3
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Leahy 7 Thompson 70
Attendance: 770
Admission: £10 Senior
Mileage: 94/3,396

Valentine’s Day is meant to be a day of the heart, not a day of heartbreak, but Tonbridge Angels’ second defeat in four days following an added time goal was as difficult to stomach as a dodgy oyster served as a romantic hor’dourve.

The visit to Hornchurch, third in the table with games in hand that could take them top, was labelled as a free hit for the Angels, who are slowly getting dragged into a relegation dog fight as teams below them have begun to pick up unlikely results.

But, having taken an early lead, and entering the break 2-1 down to two goals that needed VAR intervention, a second half performance should have brought a deserved point back to Kent.

Angels manager Alan Dunne said: “The boys are gutted, they have emptied the tank and I can only be proud of them coming up against a massive team like Hornchurch. It’s been a week in which we deserved six points, at least four, but we’ve come away with none.”

Hornchurch is an awkward place to watch football with the athletics track, but strangely, I don’t find it quite as soulless as Chelmsford, perhaps helped by the welcoming nature of the volunteers.

But, their grass pitch is a real worry and following Tuesday’s postponement and another week of rain, it wasn’t really expected that the game would go ahead and an 8.30am pitch inspection confirmed those concerns. As it happens, the club officials were confident of its condition after 24 hours of no rain and cancelled the inspection.

Our arrival, after a rare trouble-free ride through the Dartford Tunnel, was greeted with the equally rare glimpse of the great, golden orb in the sky after weeks of interminable darkness. However, as the sun quickly set, the temperature dropped quickly and brought more than the occasional shudder.

Tonbridge welcomed back Sean Shields to the starting line-up in a team that showed three changes from Tuesday’s defeat against Maidenhead Town with Alfie Pavey and Kyle Smith restored to the team.

Tonbridge started as brightly as the sunshine with Shields to the fore, shooting over the bar in the opening five minutes and two minutes later, his shot was only parried into the path of Tom Leahy, who finished from close range.

The Angels were unable to capitalise on their early lead and were forced to defend for long periods after. Following good goalkeeping from Laurie Shala to deny the home side on several occasions, there was a sense of inevitability that the equaliser would come, but not in the circumstances in which it did. Firstly, what is a lumbering centre half such as Harry Gibbs doing crashing in a shot from 25 yards that came down from the underside angle of the bar and post to be cleared only for a linesman’s flag to indicate that the ball had crossed the line. Who knows whether the ball crossed the line, the said official was certainly not in line to make that judgement assuredly and the referee certainly wasn’t having deferred to his assistant.

Tonbridge had their first glimpse of goal since taking their only lead with two minutes remaining in the half after Shields crossed for Pavey to head wide, but as the half entered added time, the home side were awarded a penalty when Henry Sandat was brought down by Angels’ captain, Jordan Thompson, who later claimed that he hadn’t touched the Hornchurch forward, who took the penalty himself, firing into the roof of the net.

Dunne made changes early in the second period replacing Nazir Bakrin and Pavey with Matt Warren and Frankie Baker and the Angels dominated the half and were well deserving of their equaliser on 70 minutes when a ball into the path of Baker saw his shot saved by the feet of the goalkeeper, rebounding to the unlikely recipient of Thompson, who tucked it home from no distance.

At this point, were Tonbridge guilty of over ambition? They sensed an unlikely three points on the road and, indeed, Tom Leahy had a chance to restore the lead, but when the game entered its final five minutes of added time, perhaps the sensible thing would have been to manage the game in the Hornchurch half when in possession, but with possession given away, a ball into the box saw Shala make a great save from Myles Weston only for it to fall to the clinical feet of Angelo Balanta, who tucked it home to the despair of the Tonbridge support.

Substitute Bunmi Babajide had a late chance, but it wasn’t to be and another trip across the bridge was made empty-handed. So much pressure is now on the two upcoming home games against fellow strugglers, Chippenham Town and Hampton and Richmond Borough.

Action pictures: David Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels 0 Maidenhead United 1

Match 55/25/2397 - Tuesday, 10th February 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Maidenhead United (0) 1 Robinson 90+4
Attendance: 600
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,302

A drab, dank and damp evening matched the mood of Tonbridge Angels supporters as they left the Yeomans Community Stadium on Tuesday evening after their favourites conceded a goal and a hard-earned point, with effectively the last touch of the match.

Depending on which end of the pitch you were stationed, behind one goal there was exhilaration and, at the other, despair at such a cruel twist. But, if honesty prevailed, neither side had done enough to deserve maximum points.

Tonbridge Angels manager, Alan Dunne, agreed with the assessment that the result was cruel, whilst also accepting that his side had not enjoyed the best of evenings: “Football can be really cruel. We weren’t great, but they came for a snatch and grab and that was what they got.”

In a game of very little penalty area action, the best of which was arguably produced by the Angels, but many free kicks of the soft variety, there was a sense of inevitability as referee Will Briers gave his last of the evening, at the very end of four added minutes. It was lofted into the box from the left by former Angels Josh Popoola to the head of Matt Robinson who rose between two Tonbridge defenders to score from six yards.

The dismal weather reduced the attendance considerably to 600, Tonbridge’s lowest for a National League South game this season and the vast majority of those retreated to the covered areas.

A first half, pretty much devoid of excitement, must of left many questioning why they had left the comfort of their armchair, albeit to be asked to ensure the misery of EastEnders!

That be said, it was the Angels that went closest when, on the half-hour, a snap shot from Tom Leahy hit the base of the post.

Just past the hour, Frankie Baker capitalised on indecision between a Maidenhead defender and his goalkeeper to fire a shot towards an open goal but the deflection from covering defender, Manny Onariase was enough to steer the ball against the post.

A minute later it was the visitors turn to strike the woodwork when a 25 yard free kick from Josh Umerah crashed against the crossbar.

Any slow burner of a contest needs a climax and added time produced the ifs, buts and maybes. In the third minute, Akehurst crossed and when the ball fell at the feet of Tom Leahy he stabbed it goalwards but was left with his head in his hands as Maidenhead’s Dutch goalkeeper, Jordi van Stappershoef, plunged to save low at his near post.

And so to the sucker punch and Robinson’s goal.

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 AFC Croydon Athletic 0

Match 54/25/2396 - Monday, 9th February 2026 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 2 Fincham 63 Penman 81
AFC Croydon Athletic U18 (0) 0
Headcount: 40
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,264

Tonbridge Angels U18’s began their make or break month with a win at the Yeomans Community Stadium against bottom club AFC Croydon Athletic who conspired to ease the Angels path with an indisciplined performance that saw two players sent off.

Perversely the remaining players showed great discipline and resilience, alongside an outstanding display from their goalkeeper to leave the Angels waiting until just past the hour mark to finally break the deadlock.

A couple of slip-ups at the turn of the year has left the U18’s probably needing to win every remaining game to defend their title including home and away fixtures against their principal challengers AFC Whyteleafe.

In the midst of these games they also have a Kent Intermediate Cup semi-final at home to Cray Wanderers.

A sign of what was to come came as early as the ninth minute when the Croydon #3 picked up a booking for an unnecessary trip.

Tonbridge, as would be expected, made most of the early running with Robert Penman shooting over; River Ballach testing the goalkeeper and Callum Fincham steering a very presentable chance wide, but Croydon had also shown that they had something about them not reflected by their league position with their #8 to the fore.

The game had its pivotal moment on 24 minutes when following an Angels corner, a couple of players grappling fell to the ground which led to, we are led to believe, the Croydon #8 kicking out, leading to a melee in which most players of both sides became involved with management from both clubs rushing onto the pitch to act as peacemakers.

As always in these incidents, the referee was left with an almost impossible situation to unravel but came to the conclusion that the #8 as the perpetrator saw red.

With the man advantage, the direction of play became one way, but the Angels bemoaned wayward finishing and superb goalkeeping as the visitors almost got to the break without conceding but were to be reduced to nine men as the #3 picked up a second yellow for pulling back Penman who was about to race clear.

Croydon set up in the second half with two banks of four encamped across their 18 yard line and when the Angels broke those lines, the goalkeeper was equal to Harry Bingham and Callum Fincham.

The breakthrough finally came on 63 minutes when a cross from Ballach found Fincham arriving late into the box to drive home a shot that not even the Croydon keeper could lay a hand on.

Perhaps sensing that they needed something extraordinary, Croydon hit a shot goalwards directly from the restart that needed Jacob Hunt to back peddle and catch on his line.

The corner count in Tonbridge’s favour became endless with one, after 80 minutes rebounding from the bar, but a minute later, Nathaniel Waul played in Penman, who from a fairly acute angle, smashed his shot into the roof of the net.

In the last minute, Ashton Lucas saw his shot come back off the underside of the bar before the referee brought down the curtain on a slightly crazy night.

Gillingham 2 Tranmere Rovers 1

Match 53/25/2395 - Saturday, 7th February 2026 - League Two

Gillingham (1) 2 Hale 25.65
Tranmere Rovers (0) 1 Whitaker 78
Attendance: 5,564
Admission: £21
Mileage: 40/3,226

The first signs that the weekend’s football was not to go as scheduled was on Tuesday when Weston-super-Mare’s home game against Worthing was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. As various storms have battered the south-west since the turn of the year, the Optima Stadium had already suffered two postponements for the same reason. So, the prospects were not good and with a weather forecast that proved correct with rain expected every day going forward left Tonbridge Angels supporters fearing a wasted 300-odd mile round journey.

Torquay United wasted no time and postponed their game on Friday but Weston decided to hold fire, announcing a 8am pitch inspection on Saturday morning. At precisely 8.06, that inspection had been completed, match postponed. One wonders whether the inspection involved somebody looking out of their bedroom window, observing that it was still raining and picked up the phone to Tonbridge to tell them to get off the coach and go home. Credit to Weston, they saved a wasted journey, but could they have made that decision on Friday, almost certainly.

So, plans to change, thankfully Gillingham are at home with no obvious noises that their pitch was going to be unplayable, and as ever, tickets readily available. After an unexpected Saturday morning lay-in and a couple of hours immersed in the curling at the winter Olympics it was time to make the gentle 25 mile trip to sit, more or less, in the same seat that I placed myself for many, many years.

Gillingham are a strange side at present and, from my limited viewing, not a great side to watch. Everything seemed to be lumped forward to Sam Vokes and when he was replaced on the hour with two more big target men in Seb Palmer-Holden and Josh Andrews the practice continued. They are a team that plays in fits and starts, both of my previous visits this season have seen them surrender leads as they retreated to defend their box in numbers.

They shouldn’t have needed to do this as they were well deserving of their single goal half-time lead against Tranmere Rovers and when they went two-up it seemed a done deal but a goal on 78 minutes from Charlie Whitaker set up a closing period that included six added minutes in which the Gills were forced to hold on for grim death.

Ironically, for all the big men and the long balls pumped into the leaden sky, it was Gillingham’s new signing, Ronan Hale, relatively diminutive, that had given them the comfort of a two goal lead, the second of which from a header from a Max Clark corner that had missed the heads of Palmer-Holden and Andrews. Hale’s first half goal was a sharp finish after Ethan Coleman had headed a clearance back into the box.

The win ends a personal drought that I had not realised had stretched back to 29th December 2023 without a win, albeit that was only eight games and most of them have been draws.

Picture: Gillingham FC

Tonbridge Angels 1 Maidstone United 1

Match 52/25/2394 - Saturday, 31st January 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Korboa 67
Maidstone United (1) 1 Moore 5
Attendance: 2,509
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,186

The circus that is the A26 derby came to town and for another year Maidstone United returned to the county town unbeaten as they have been since Teniola Time in August 2014, but at least this season has seen the Angels take four points from their biggest rivals following their historic win at the Gallagher in November.

How I wanted a win today, having sat out that Gallagher success on the end of a hospital bed awaiting my wife’s discharge who had spent eight days in hospital following a fall. When the winning goal went in, I asked her if anybody would notice if I ran down the corridor waving my shirt, she said that seeing we hadn’t seen a soul for hours, nobody would notice!

It was not to be, there was no Teniola or Shields Time but Tonbridge gave it their best shot, recovering from going a goal down with less than five minutes on the clock, they hit the woodwork three times before crafting an equaliser that sent a packed Yeomans into rapture.

Alan Dunne’s side is a long way from the finished article, he better than anybody knows that, and just when you think they are on the road to consistency they can throw in a performance that doesn’t meet the standards that he is striving to achieve. But, I as a supporter and I hope many of the people around me, can see where we are heading and that is not back to the Isthmian Premier.

Week after week it seems they are coming up against teams that Dunne labels as “heavyweights” and he bemoans the disparity between his side and full time teams, but, whilst not winning every game, they rise to the challenge. But, strangely and something that certainly needs addressing, it is the odd occasion when they meet a side on a level playing field that they fall short and to ensure our National League South status, the visits of Chippenham, Hampton, Bath City and Salisbury need to supply the vast majority of the 15 points required to get to the magic 50.

The attendance of 2,509 was only a hundred or so short of the number at the reverse fixture and the large number of travelling support in the segregated north end were in jubilant mood when the Angels fell behind to a scrappy, set piece goal bundled home by Deon Moore after Taylor Foran’s initial effort had been parried by goalkeeper Laurie Shala.

This is perhaps the biased bit! I have to say that given the early goal this should have been the catalyst for a promotion-seeking, a club of substantial means, such as Maidstone United to go on and win the game comfortably, that they didn’t is a credit to Tonbridge, but also an indictment that they simply do not have the credentials to achieve to what they supposedly aspire, or could it be that the behind-the-scenes rumours that they don’t aspire to that are actually true?

Tonbridge regained their composure and were unlucky not to go into the break on level terms, with an effort from Tom Leahy that brushed the post and an, albeit mishit cross from Ricky Korboa, that sailed over the head of the Maidstone goalkeeper, Nathan Harness, who had a shaky afternoon, only to strike the inside of the post and rebound to safety.

Dunne made half-time substitutions, something that he does to good effect. Sometimes I don’t agree or even understand them, but more often than not he is right and I’m not, and that’s why he is a football manager!

But Scott Wagstaff brought a different tempo, a quality that eventually brought the equalising goal but not before Korboa had struck the post a third time with the ball gratefully falling back into the arms of Harness.

The equaliser came on 67 minutes, begun and finished by Korboa, who released the livewire substitute Bunmi Babajide who drove at the Maidstone back line before releasing Wagstaff, who driven wide by Harness was still able to put in a cross to the far post from where Korboa was left with a tap in.

A melee in front of the dug-outs saw Wagstaff ending with a dislocated shoulder and leaving the pitch from a situation that an incompetent official in Tom Ellsmore saw pretty much nothing. Biased opinion again maybe, but had Wagstaff stayed on the pitch, Tonbridge were winning this game.

I walked away from a mostly happy Longmead Stadium actually gutted that we hadn’t won the match and whilst it will be Maidstone that, in terms of their league position, will be most disappointed with the point, it was as much as they deserved.

Photos: Dave Couldridge

Chelmsford City 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 51/25/2393 - Monday, 26th January 2026 - National League South

Chelmsford City (1) 1 Taylor 13
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 1,357
Admission: £9.36
Mileage: 132/3,148

If the powers that be at the National League could see their way clear to give Chelmsford City automatic promotion out of the South then there won’t be a Tonbridge Angels supporter that will not be eternally grateful. For them, this is the ultimate graveyard.

As every National League manager reminds us, “there are no easy games in this league”, but some are historically more difficult than others and Chelmsford, for a variety of reasons from the Dartford Tunnel closures through to abject refereeing have contributed to the ultimate Theatre of Screams. In fairness, there have been many occasions when we have been beaten fair and square, but back through the years, something always happens at the Melbourne Stadium and rarely in our favour.

We have won there, once, five years ago, when Tom Parkinson and Tom Beere’s goals gave us a 2-0 win in a game that, bar around 15 officials, was seen by nobody due to Covid restrictions. That, as they say, is sod’s law.

Just managing to complete the journey to this soulless place is an achievement. Last season it was my turn, along with my passengers, to fail to make it through the Dartford Tunnel as a vehicle fire led to a situation whereby, at kick-off time, we were still on the Kent side. This season was no different as an earlier accident meant an hour’s delay, that thankfully we had allowed for, but others had to make the decision to turn around.

Of the places we visit in National League South, this is the least appealing. The athletics track means that to sit in the main stand you might as well be in a different county and the maze of barriers that supposedly lead to the terraces behind the goals can take you into dead ends. The pitch looks like it has been used in training for the athletics club hammer throwers and, if all this sounds like an excuse for the result, then it’s not. On the night, Tonbridge’s lightweight attack foundered on the brick outhouses that makes up the Chelmsford back line.

The necessity, due to the athletics club priority status, means that midweek fixtures have to be played on a Monday night, and we never seem to get a Saturday fixture. Consequently, the Tonbridge Angels manager, Alan Dunne, needed to rotate from Saturday’s starting line-up that produced a heartening 4-1 win over AFC Totton, and my guess would be, that if the game had been played, even 24 hours later, he would have chosen a different side.

There wasn’t much in the game, for all their resources which this season, for the first time, means that Chelmsford are a full time club, it took one moment of quality from Lyle Taylor, once of Nottingham Forest and Charlton Athletic, and reported to be earning anything between £1,500 and £2,500 a week, depending on who you a listening to, to seal the points with a cracking effort from 20 yards.

A case could be made that the Angels deserved something out of the game. Three minutes after Taylor’s goal, Matty Warren’s driven shot from a similar distance came back off the crossbar and in a second half scramble in front of goal, the Chelmsford back line threw their considerable bodies on the line to deny Bunmi Babajide, Alfie Pavey and Ansu Janneh within less seconds than shots.

Despite the admirable effort, there was a sense of inevitability that another miserable evening in Chelmsford was going to go unrewarded, only leaving the prospect of doing battle with the M25 as the motorway fairies were despatching their lane closure cones. Thankfully, this was a contest that was won with a trouble-free drive home. Happy endings, now that is clutching at straws.

Slough Town 2 Tonbridge Angels 3

Match 50/25/2392 - Saturday, 24th January 2026 - National League South

Slough Town (1) 2 Makowski 1 Oshilaja 37
Tonbridge Angels (0) 3 McCann 8 Leahy 34 Babajide 80
Attendance: 784
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 156/3,016

Tonbridge Angels recovered from going a goal down within the opening minute to record back-to-back wins for the first time under Alan Dunne with a deserved 3-2 success at Slough Town.

A delighted Alan Dunne commented in his post-match interview: “It wasn’t great start, we got caught cold but the reaction was really good. After going ahead it was disappointing to concede again, Slough are one of the in-form teams, but in the second half the boys really stepped up with those coming off the bench all helping to change the game. This time of the year, it is all about results and back-to-back wins, I’m buzzing!”

Arbour Park was a windy place with that wind carrying a real chill as the manager named the same side that beat AFC Totton at the Yeomans Community Stadium last Saturday. Ansu Janneh, who has returned to the club, took a place on the bench.

The Angels could not have got off to a worse start with a ball lofted forward towards the Slough leading goalscorer, Wiktor Makowski, who it appeared had pushed Ethan Sutcliffe, but the referee adjudged that he had won the challenge fairly and clinically finished into the far corner.

Tonbridge responded to the setback positively and, after five minutes, Ricky Korboa lofted his goalbound lob over the walkabout goalkeeper Adam Desbois, only for the Slough player-manager, Scott Davies to clear from his line.

Three minutes later the Angels were level when, following a left-sided corner from Marcus Sablier, Noah McCann powered in a header from the edge of a crowded six yard box that found the net despite a desperate attempt to clear from the line.

Laurie Shala was called into action, just three minutes later, as he reacted brilliantly to a wicked deflection following a Slough corner.

Desbois was having an erratic first half as he, once more, travelled out of his penalty area only to collide with his own defender and then dropped a resultant corner under little pressure.

On 33 minutes, the Angels supporters were breathing a sigh of relief as a left wing cross from Basil Tuma narrowly evaded Johnny Goddard, but that anxious intake of breath was replaced with cheers moments later when Frankie Baker got the better of Kiki Oshilaja to cross to an unmarked Tom Leahy who picked his spot from 10 yards to give the visitors the lead.

Sadly the lead was only to last three minutes as Slough worked a good move down the right before Makowski was released to cross for Oshilaja to head into the net, off the left hand post.

The chances kept coming as Baker charged down a clearance from Desbois and just before the break nearly squeezed the ball under the body of the goalkeeper at the near post.

The half-time break almost certainly gave both managers an opportunity to get into their defenders and ask for some discipline at the back and the second half saw a far less goalmouth action.

Alan Dunne rang the changes early in the second period introducing Scott Wagstaff and Bunmi Babajide for Bradley Williams and Sablier, and the lively Babajide was quickly unsettling the Slough backline, but on 66 minutes, it was the home side that spurned a golden opportunity to get their noses in front when Harvey Walker’s cross was met with a Makowski header, but the normally clinical striker’s header cleared the bar.

Slough were made to pay for that profligacy 10 minutes from time, when Kyle Smith laid a pass into the path of Babajide, who from the tightest of angles, rifled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net between Desbois and his post to spark wild celebrations behind the goal.

The Angels saw a valid appeal for handball waved aside as the game entered its closing stages and negotiated six added minutes relatively comfortably aside from an effort from Tyrique Clarke that was steered wide.

Alan Dunne concluded: “Today, we wasn’t at our best, some of our players were not at their best, but we still managed to grind out a win, I think that shows the sign of a good side, today we were a bit scrappy but we got the job done.”

Tonbridge Angels U18 4 Broadbridge Heath U18 0

Match 49/25/2391 - Monday, 19th January 2026 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 4 OG, Barton, Fincham, Edwards
Broadbridge Heath U18 (0) 0
Attendance: 40
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/2,858

The Under-18’s returned to winning ways, after last week’s disappointing defeat at Cobham with a comfortable 4-0 win against Broadbridge Heath at the Yeomans Community Stadium.

The Angels youngsters maintain their position in third place in the Isthmian Football League U18 East Division, two points adrift of leaders AFC Whyteleafe, with both home and away fixtures remaining to be played. Cobham, who have played a game more, are sandwiched between the two.

Tonbridge were somewhat eased into a position of comfort much by the visitors’ own doing. Firstly, they conceded an own goal with only 20 seconds on the clock and then, after 26 minutes, were reduced to 10 men when they had a player sent off after being deemed the last man when committing a foul.

Dom Welsh introduced three Under-16’s to the squad, Joel Letsa, Arthur Edwards and Lewis Egbewumni and Edwards got his name on the score sheet with a towering header in the final throes of the game.

A great link-up down the right in the opening attack ended with River Ballach crossing for a Broadbridge defender to turn the ball into his own net at the near post for a perfect start for the Angels.

It gave the Angels the confidence to showcase their passing and movement to which Broadbridge found difficult to counter. After 12 minutes a free kick from Mackenzie Richardson came back off the crossbar and, four minutes later, the goalkeeper produced an absolute world class save to deny River Ballach.

When Robert Penman was dragged back for the referee to brandish a red card, hotly disputed, both on the sidelines and by the offender, the task was an uphill one for Broadbridge Heath.

After Bingham had hit the bar on 32 minutes, Tonbridge doubled their advantage three minutes later with a well worked goal, created by Bingham and Richardson, and finished by Kyler Barton, the Angels were well in control and went into the break three goals up when Callum Fincham intercepted a wayward pass to run clear and finish well into the bottom corner.

All credit to Broadbridge Heath who made it hard for the Angels to add to the tally in the second half and it was almost on the stroke of the 90th minute when Edwards header wrapped up the points.

The introduction of the three Under-16’s means that nine from that age group have played up a year this season, a great testament to the coaching of Adam Barden and Roy Massey with the Kent Youth League U16’s.

Tonbridge Angels 4 AFC Totton 1

Match 48/25/2390 - Saturday, 17th January 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 4 Sablier 27 Baker 50 Babajide 68 Korboa 71
AFC Totton (1) 1 Osborne 30
Attendance: 1,656
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/2,820

A huge crowd, boosted by Tonbridge Angels’ Schools Partners Day, left the Yeomans Community Stadium in a celebratory mood as they saw home success in National League South for the first time since October and for only the second time this season.

A delighted Alan Dunne said in his post-match interview: “It’s been coming (a home win) and the scoreline was about right, if anything we deserved a couple more goals. The first half was tough, they are a big team and I thought we might struggle physically but we got to half-time, staying strong. We got a lot right today, I’m really pleased with that.“

On a mild day, with many happy, young faces ready for their afternoon’s entertainment, the manager made three changes from the side that brought a point back from Enfield Town with Bradley Williams, Frankie Baker and Marcus Sablier starting for Bunmi Babajide, Alfie Pavey who took places on the bench alongside Scott Wagstaff, who featured despite dislocating a shoulder last Saturday.

There was little evidence of the second half that would unfold with three goals for the hosts after an opening 45 minutes in which AFC Totton were marginally the better side with their direct style placing pressure on the Angels back line.

After an opening quarter-hour when the half-chances had fallen to the visitors, Tonbridge took the lead on 27 minutes with a fine team goal that ended with Marcus Sablier scoring with a close range finish at the far post after an slick interchange between Tom Leahy and Frankie Baker.

The lead was only to last three minutes when Charlie Osborne released Ash Clarke to squeeze a shot between Laurie Shala and his near post from the edge of the box and, subsequently, the Hampshire side enjoyed the better of the possession for the remainder of the half but without seriously threatening Shala’s goal.

The Angels regained their lead five minutes into the second half when Baker executed a cool finish for his first senior goal after being sent clear to go one-on-one with Totton’s goalkeeper, Jacob Knightbridge.

Totton responded with an effort from Ralph Vigrass but the introduction of Babajide, adding direct pace, on 57 minutes, wrested the initiative back in favour of the Angels.

Tonbridge thought they had doubled their advantage on 66 minutes when Ricky Korboa saw his effort disallowed for offside, but the disappointment was only to last a couple of minutes when Korboa laid in Babajide to lash the ball home from 12 yards and Korboa went from provider to scorer just three minutes later when a defence splitting pass from Sablier allowed Korboa to angle a shot into the far corner to put the game beyond Totton.

Despite being rampant in the closing minutes, it took a superb save by Shala, acrobatically turning over a shot from Osborne to retain their three goal advantage and see the game out as comfortable winners.

Alan Dunne concluded: “It was good to give something back to the fans, it has been a while coming and they deserve that. We stood up today, as men despite being a young group, against possibly the biggest, most physical side in the league and it showed how far we have come as a group.”

Enfield Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 47/25/2389 - Saturday, 10th January 2026 - National League South

Enfield Town (0) 1 Thompson 90+2
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Leahy 11
Attendance: 682
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 136/2,782

The Angels came away from Donkey Lane with a hard-earned point in a game of two polar opposite halves. The first half, in which Tonbridge dominated to go into the break a goal ahead was countered with a second period in which the hosts, Enfield Town, pressed hard for an equaliser that finally came, and not undeservedly, in the second minute of added time.

Larry McAvoy, taking the post-match interview: “It feels like two points dropped. The boys are disappointed with the result from the position we were in, leading going into added time, but when they have scored, it could quite easily have gone the other way.”

The fixture survived a 10am pitch inspection, which although obviously heavy, was perfectly playable given the downpours of the past couple of days.

Manager Alan Dunne made four changes from last Saturday’s starting XI against Dorking Wanderers. Into the side came Matty Warren, Noah McCann, Alfie Pavey alongside Jordon Thompson, whose signing from Hemel Hempstead Town was announced during the morning. Arthur Penney and Naz Bakrin joined those on the injured list with Frankie Baker and Bailey Akehurst taking places on the bench

The game started quietly with both sides literally finding their feet on the surface with the home side having a couple of efforts that gave no real concern before the Angels went ahead on 11 minutes when a corner from the right was headed on by Bunmi Babajide into a crowded six yard box from where Tom Leahy got the final touch to stab the ball home.



From the opening goal, the visitors controlled the first half and had two great chances to extend their lead when, on 34 minutes, a long ball forward saw Leahy challenged by Enfield’s goalkeeper, Joe Wright a long way from his penalty area with the ball breaking to Ricky Korboa, whose shot was deflected for a corner. On 40 minutes, a superb cross from Leahy found the diving head of Pavey, but his effort was directed at a thankful Wright.

The second half began with the Angels remaining on the front foot with a chance for Korboa that cleared the bar before Enfield began an extended period of pressure and when skipper Scott Wagstaff was helped from the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder, the home side seized control.

The chances began to fall to Enfield with Lamar Reynolds poorly heading at Laurie Shala when found unmarked eight yards from goal and Tom Youngs saw his effort narrowly clear the bar but as the game entered 10 minutes of added time when a through ball from Oliver Knight was taken down by Adam Thompson who fired past Shala into the roof of the net.

Tonbridge survived a number of corners in the remainder of added time to take a valuable point back over the bridge.

McAvoy concluded: “The boys stood up to the physical challenge really well, for a young group to defend the amount of corners, long balls and throw-ins, showed real character. We nearly saw it out, but at the moment we are not getting the points our performances deserve.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Dorking Wanderers 2

Match 46/25/2388 - Saturday, 3rd January 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Akehurst (pen) 44 Leahy 73
Dorking Wanderers (2) 2 Carter 11 McShane 68
Attendance: 1,361
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/2,646

Tonbridge Angels will be rueing a missed opportunity to put an elusive home win on the board after dominating a depleted Dorking Wanderers side on a bitterly cold afternoon at the Yeomans Community Stadium.

Manager Alan Dunne reflected in his post-match interview: “We have dominated the game, if we could have put our chances away, in the last four or five games, we would probably be in the top six, and that is the difference. Tactically we got it right, but if you don’t put the ball in the net you leave yourselves open and, at the moment, we can’t put the ball in the net enough.”

Three changes were made from the side beaten on Tuesday evening by Eastbourne Borough with club captain Scott Wagstaff and Bailey Akehurst being recalled with new loan signing from Millwall, Frankie Baker introduced into the starting XI with Matty Warren and Brody Peart taking places on the bench.

The game entered the break all-square courtesy of a 44th minute penalty converted by Bailey Akehurst after good work from Frankie Baker that saw him upended in the box by Tony Craig. Tonbridge had totally dominated the opening half but had fallen behind on 11 minutes when an error from Ethan Sutcliffe saw Charlie Carter sprint clear before laying the ball across the area to give Patrick Casey an unmissable opportunity.

From the outset it was the Angels that were on the front foot with Ricky Korboa shooting into the side netting after four minutes before going behind.

The home responded positively with Baker’s pace giving the Dorking defenders plenty to think about. Kyle Smith brought a save out of the visiting goalkeeper, Harrison Foulkes and, on 22 minutes, from an Akehurst corner, Arthur Penney climbed highest but his header drifted narrowly wide.

Foulkes made a terrific save at his near post to deny Baker and just past the half-hour a heavy touch from Tom Leahy denied him a chance in front of goal.

In the meantime, Laurie Shala was brought into action, saving well from Dennon Lewis.

Dorking opened the second period with a great chance falling to Jake Lawrence that brought a fine stop from Shala with the rebound going over. The visitors restored their lead on 68 minutes, against the run of play, when an effort from Casey was cleared from the line by Naz Bakrin, but the ball span backwards for James McShane to bundle home.

The lead was only to last five minutes before the Angels were level when a corner led to an almighty scramble within the six yard box that saw efforts from Bakrin and substitute Alfie Pavey blocked before Leahy seized upon the loose ball to side-foot into the net from close range.

The Angels pressed hard for a winner and as the game entered its final seconds of six added minutes, appeals for a penalty was denied by the referee as the ball struck the hand, at full stretch above his head, of Dorking defender, Dan Gallagher.

Alan Dunne concluded: “I’m disappointed because I feel it is two points dropped and disappointed with the goals conceded, but before the game, with Dorking, one of the top sides, I would have taken a point.”

Tonbridge Angels 3 Eastbourne Borough 4

Match 45/25/2387 - Tuesday, 30th December 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 3 Babajide 37 Pavey 63,90
Eastbourne Borough (2) 4 Aderoju 7,51 Taylor 17 Phipps 75
Attendance: 1,007
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/2,608

On a bitterly cold evening, attention was taken away from frost biting at the extremities, with a “mad game” full of thrills and spills but one that ultimately brought no end to the Angels home woes.

Alan Dunne in his post-match interview: “That was probably the maddest game of football I’ve ever seen with the worst start since I’ve been here at the club. We have gifted them two goals and it was only after that, we woke up. I’m gutted but we cannot give teams four goals at home and expect to win a game.”

Sean Shields’ injury at Ebbsfleet ruled him out of the starting line-up being replaced by Brody Peart following his suspension.

Eastbourne Borough, who have been showing green shoots of recovery recently under Tommy Widdrington, flew out of the blocks and were two-up within the opening 20 minutes to the delight of a large visiting following.

After seven minutes, Borough hit the front when a left sided cross from Kai Corbett was bundled home by leading goalscorer Pemi Aderoju, who met the ball at the near post with the ball bouncing off his knee and trickling over the line.

Ten minutes later, it was 2-0 as a corner was recycled from the right and delivered into the box by Josh Anifowose which found Archy Taylor, whose half-hit shot took a deflection off a Tonbridge defender to find its way into the net.

Faced with an uphill struggle, the Angels responded well with efforts on goal from Peart and Kyle Smith that brought saves from Woody Williamson, the latter being a really good low save.

On 37minutes, the Angels reduced the deficit when Ricky Korboa sent Bunmi Babajide through to rifle a shot between Williamson and his post into the roof of the net.

On the stroke of half-time, Smith fired agonisingly wide but it was the Sussex side that went into the break ahead.

Eastbourne started the second half as they had in the first, on the front foot and restored their two goal advantage after 51 minutes when Aderoju latched onto a poor back pass from Noah McCann to slot past the advancing Laurie Shala.

Matty Warren shot over and Tom Leahy brought another good save from Williamson before Dunney rang the changes, introducing Scott Wagstaff and Alfie Pavey for Warren and Peart on the hour.

The substitutions brought an instant dividend as Smith crossed from the right and Pavey headed home from close range.

Smith, who had been struggling with a knock prior to half-time made way for Marcus Sablier on 68 minutes as the Angels pressed forward in search of an equaliser with Leahy heading narrowly over from Babajide’s cross.

But, with 15 minutes to go, Eastbourne scored again with a well worked corner routine that that saw Corbett cross low into the area into the path of Harry Phipps, whose first time shot from six yards gave Shala no chance.

With now nothing to lose, the Angels threw bodies forward in a desperate effort to rescue the game and were eventually rewarded in the 90th minute when Pavey nodded home at the back post.

Six added minutes provided hope and somehow, after five of them, an effort from Naz Bakrin landed in the hands of Williamson and in the final throes, the keeper was in the right place to deny Korboa.

A frustrating evening was summed up by Alan Dunne: “If you were here, you would have seen that the scoreline flatters them a bit as we have dominated the game and could have scored a lot of goals. It was a wild game but we have to move on quickly to Saturday’s game against Dorking.”

Gillingham 1 Colchester United 1

Match 44/25/2386 - Monday, 29th December 2025 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 1 Mackenzie 74
Colchester United (0) 1 Reid 87
Attendance: 7,284
Admission: £22
Mileage: 45/2,570

Ebbsfleet United 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 43/25/2385 - Friday, 26th December 2025 - National League South

Ebbsfleet United (0) 1 Samuel 79
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 1,695
Admission: Pass
Mileage: 54/2,525

The Angels suffered a Boxing Day defeat at Ebbsfleet United following a 79th minute goal from Dominic Samuel in a game where neither side deserved the full complement of the spoils.

Alan Dunne reflected in his post-match interview: “To come and compete, and in the second half, control the game is something to be proud of. I felt for the boys, they have put so much into the game and the least that we deserved was a draw.”

On a cold lunchtime, with an icy wind penetrating the Angels support on the open, Swanscombe End terrace, the manager selected the same starting XI as began last Saturday’s game with two goalkeepers on the substitute’s bench to bolster the numbers.

The game certainly took its time to warm up with the only goalmouth action in the opening 20 minutes restricted to a shot from Tom Leahy that brought a save from the home custodian, Matt Hall.

The Angels suffered a scare of their own doing after 27 minutes when an under-hit back pass from Ethan Sutcliffe was intercepted by Samuel, but the striker was denied as the Angels goalkeeper, Laurie Shala, plunged at his feet to smother the ball.

Bunmi Babajide tested Hall just before the half-hour, but perhaps took his shot too early after intercepting a misplaced pass before Ebbsfleet began to dominate the closing moments of the half with a well worked move that offered Lennon Peake an opportunity that went narrowly wide and, on the cusp of the break, Josh Coley missed the target when it seemed easier to score.

The second period started brightly for the Angels with a run and cross from Kyle Smith that eluded Ricky Korboa at the far post by millimetres.

Unfortunately, for the Angels, just as they were getting on top with efforts on goal from Korboa and Sean Shields, the latter sat down in the middle of the field with an injury that forced him from the field and that hard won momentum was lost.

Whilst the attacking threat from the visitors was diminished with Shields departure, at the other end, the Ebbsfleet threat was being relatively easily contained.

That was until 11 minutes from time, when Samuel, who had enraged the Tonbridge support in the first half with an outrageous dive in the penalty area, latched onto a loose ball on the right hand edge of the 18-yard box to clinically pick his spot into the far, bottom corner.

Ebbsfleet did what they had to do in the final 10 minutes, knocking the ball into the corners and competently seeing out time without alarm.

Dunney concluded: “There were positives, we are making strides, we will win games and lose games, but people are talking about Tonbridge Angels as a well-structured side with pace on the break. We looked dangerous every time going forward, but it came down to little margins that money can buy, Ebbsfleet are a huge club and they have those resources and they are the differences that I cannot find at the present time.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Dagenham and Redbridge 2

Match 42/25/2384 - Saturday, 20th December 2025 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 Shields 11,45
Dagenham & Redbridge (1) 2 Leech 20 Stephenson 47
Attendance: 1,361
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/2,471

A bumper attendance of nearly 1,400 were treated to a Christmas cracker as both teams went headlong for the win but, in the end, had to settle for a deserved share of the points.

The Christmas festivities opened at the Yeomans Community Stadium with Christmas jumpers in evidence aplenty, a greeting from Santa Claus and then a pulsating match that provided rich entertainment.

Manager Alan Dunne reflected in his post-match interview: “I would probably have taken a draw before the game but, especially in the first half when we produced the best half of football since I’ve been here, we were outstanding and we ended up disappointed not to take the full complement of points.”

Dunney made three changes from the starting XI at Torquay United, with Noah McCann coming in for his debut following his loan move from Queens Park Rangers; Bunmi Babajide and, returning to the starting line-up for the first time this season, Sean Shields. Bradley Williams and Tobi Omole missed out with injuries whilst Alfie Pavey took a place on the bench.

The game opened at a rattling pace, that was to endure for the duration, with the Angels earning a first minute corner that saw a header from Matt Warren clear the bar. Dagenham then took up the reins with Timothee Dieng’s strike being deflected over quickly followed by a superb block from Arthur Penney to deny Joe Haigh.

But, it was the Angels that took an 11th minute lead, courtesy of a 25-yard strike from that man Shields, into the top corner that had Kai McKenzie-Lyle clawing at fresh air, despite his immense stature. A clearance from Laurie Shala was touched into the path of Shields by Babajide for Shields to advance before striking cleanly and taking the adulation of the Tonbridge support behind the goal.

The Angels had the ball in the net again on 18 minutes when a well-worked goal was chalked off as Tom Leahy had strayed narrowly into an offside position, at least in the opinion of the assistant referee, before finding the far bottom corner.

Dagenham responded and were deserving of their equaliser on 20 minutes when a cross from the right from Sam Graham was met with a bullet header from Stan Leech, of which, the absent Andy Carroll would have been proud.

Confidence, far from daunted, Tonbridge pressed on through the first half with Ricky Korboa, cutting in from the left to bring a good save at his near post by McKenzie-Lyle and Shields curling a shot from the left corner of the 18-yard box that just cleared the angle of the right-sided woodwork.

On 43 minutes, the Angels had a further goal disallowed as Ethan Sutcliffe headed home at the far post following a Kyle Smith cross, but the ball was deemed to have gone out of play before Smith made the cross.

The first half was nearing its frantic close when the home side retook the lead when McKenzie-Lyle’s attempted clearance was partially charged down by Babajide with the ball falling into the path of Shields, via a defender’s head, who found the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The play-off seeking visitors were back on terms within a couple of minutes of the restart when Dylan Stephenson cut in from the left to bury a really good finish into the bottom corner.

It has to be said that Dagenham showed their credentials in the second period and on 58 minutes it took a good save at his near post from Shala to deny Stephenson a second goal.

Tonbridge had their chances throughout the second period, mostly on the break, with a shot from Leahy that drifted agonisingly wide following a deflection and an effort from Korboa that was saved.

Dunney concluded: “I was really pleased that we have gone toe-to-toe with a club such as Dagenham. I felt we deserved the win but we can take a lot of positives out of the game. We can see a lot of improvement, we are making progress every week and I am really proud of that.”