Gillingham 0 Swindon Town 2

Match 66/25/2408 - Tuesday, 17th March 2026 - League Two

Gillingham (0) 0
Swindon Town (0) 2 Drinan 69 Holman 85
Attendance: 4,991
Admission: £22
Mileage: 45/4,101

GILLS IMPROVE, BUT WITHOUT REWARD

It might not have been the best evening to return to Gillingham for the first time in five weeks and with two five goal hammerings in the last two games and a visit from the old enemy, Swindon Town, the prospects were not encouraging.

The resulting 2-0 defeat for the Gills was predictable but the manner of the loss was not. By any matrix Gillingham were extremely unlucky, they dominated almost every area of the game barring the opening 15 minutes when confidence was obviously shaken by the recent results. But, as we are regularly advised by football managers, if you don’t take your chances, you are vulnerable and Swindon, with their only two shots on target, scored twice following questionable defending.

Tempering my disappointment, Tonbridge Angels won with a late goal at Weston-super-Mare, thereby reaching 50 points, safety and a another National League South season to enjoy.

There was a time when the animosity between the clubs, dating back to 1979, Ray McHale, Danny Westwood and the old-timer threatening the referee with his walking stick, would have brought a full house but, whether it was Gillingham’s woeful form or that the rivalry has now faded into the mists of time, an attendance of 4,991 was paltry.

Gillingham might have gone into the break one or two goals in front without the superb interventions from the Swindon goalkeeper, Connor Ripley, who belied the Rainham End jibes regarding his ample girth, brilliantly turning over a shot heading for the top corner from Ronan Hale after 31 minutes and diving low to claw away a header from Omar Beckles following a corner.

Attacking the Rainham End in the second half, a Remeao Hutton cross into the box looked destined to finish in the net as Hale attempted to get on the end of it from close range but the ball was scrambled to safety.

On 69 minutes, the Gills paid for their inability to take their chances when a long punt forward by Ripley, saw two defenders attack the same ball with neither making a meaningful contact but saw Aaron Drinan race clear to clinically finish.

Gillingham created further scrambles in the Swindon area without converting and the coup de grace came five minutes from time when Fletcher Holman scored a second following Joel McGregor’s low cross into the box.

The appreciative applause from the home crowd at the final whistle showed an understanding that this had been a much improved performance, if not the desired result.

AFC Whyteleafe U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 65/25/2407 - Monday, 16th March 2026 - Isthmian Youth League

AFC Whyteleafe U18 (1) 1
Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 2 Penman 45+1 Lucas 45+5
Headcount: 53
Admission: Free
Mileage: 82/4,056

IT'S IN THEIR HANDS!

A battle was expected. A battle was got. A battle was won.

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s have the retaining of their Isthmian Youth East title within their own hands following a titanic battle at Whyteleafe, who given their second half onslaught of the Angels’ goal might justifiably feel that they deserved something out of the game. But the visiting defence, superbly led by skipper Ed Dyer, stood firm to take home the valuable points.

A month ago this, and the return fixture at the Yeomans next Monday, looked every inch title deciders, but a recent drop-off of form from Whyteleafe and a consecutive run of seven wins (including a home win against Tonbridge) from Cobham has seen off Whyteleafe’s challenge.

Both Tonbridge and Cobham have two games remaining, Tonbridge lead the division by a single point, and should it come to it, a massive advantage in goal difference. The Angels final two games see the Whyteleafe return and a visit to Haywards Heath whilst Cobham entertain AFC Croydon and visit Lancing, a match frustratingly still to be arranged.

During daylight hours Spring does appear to be upon us but the evenings still retain a chill as was already the case at kick-off time at Church Road.

Whyteleafe, perhaps sensing this was their last chance saloon, started the game like the trains that regularly run behind the stadium and within the opening minute, Angels’ goalkeeper, Jacob Hunt brought off a brilliant save as a home forward bore down on goal.

Having taken due warning from the early scare, the visitors took control of the game and it was the Whyeleafe goalkeeper that needed to be on his toes to deny attempts from Harry Bingham and River Ballach either side of Robert Penman’s drive that was narrowly over.

As the game settled, it became a keenly contested affair, sensibly refereed by Abi Oyeleke. After 21 minutes, Whyteleafe hit a post and with four minutes remaining of the half, they took the lead when their goalscorer was sent clear to tuck the ball past the advancing Hunt.

As the half ticked into added time, Tonbridge won a free kick on the left that was sent towards the near post from where, the ever-alert Penman squeezed the ball home for an equaliser.

With the added time ticking into its fifth minute, the visitors won another free kick, this time, 25 yards from goal and more central. Penman’s low, rasping shot was well saved by the goalkeeper, but the rebound fell into the path of Ashton Lucas who found the net with the last kick of the half.

I don’t think anyone expected the second period to remain goalless as the two sides slugged it out, with on occasions tempers becoming a little frayed but always within the control of the referee.

Of possession, Whyteleafe had the better of the half but, barring one occasion when he saved brilliantly low to his left, Hunt was not seriously tested, much to the credit of the defenders in front of him. Meanwhile, the Angels had chances through Callum Fincham and Penman that might have put the game to bed.

Tonbridge saw the game out, in the corner of the pitch, as Whyteleafe’s frustration led to a series of free kicks.

Dom Welsh commented after the game: “We got home, just about. We were not at our best, but at the business end of the season it is a points game.”

Horsham 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 64/25/2406 - Saturday, 14th March 2026 - National League South

Horsham (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Sutcliffe 90
Attendance: 1,468
Admission: £11
Mileage: 134/3,974

WHISPER IT QUIETLY – MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Whisper it very quietly as the magic 50 point mark remains three points away, but Dunney has dun[ne] it, mission accomplished.

A first visit to the Fusion Aviation Community Stadium, the Hop Oast trips off the tongue a lot easier, brought a 1-0 win with a 90th minute goal from Ethan Sutcliffe in a game that had mid-table, end of season written all over it, except for Tonbridge Angels at least, there was just a little rubber stamping remaining.

Firstly, for the groundhopping fraternity, Horsham’s newish stadium was opened in 2019 and is a presentable, 3,000 capacity ground, tree-lined that adds to its charm. On entry to the Hop Oast, the first point that should be made, is the friendliness of the place, if everywhere could follow the template of Horsham Football Club, football would be in a much nicer place.

The main stand holds around 300 people, the only seating in the stadium so only just fulfilling the National League criteria. Opposite the main stand are two covered enclosures, either side of the dug-outs and behind the far goal is another area of covered terracing. At the entrance to the ground are the well-appointed bar facilities raised above flat standing behind the goal. The 3G pitch, which we were told would be replaced in the summer, certainly looked to have seen better days.

As the season enters its frantic last six weeks, with Saturday/Tuesday the norm from now on, Alan Dunne chose to rotate quite heavily with five changes following the midweek defeat at Dover.

The first half can be filed under the 45 minutes that the 1,468 present are not going to get back category, shaded by the home side, was awful. Best chance of the half was blazed over the bar by Horsham’s Shiloh Remy, whilst efforts from Alfie Pavey and Ricky Korboa for the Angels disappeared into the bright blue Sussex sky.

Thankfully for the paying public, the game did improve somewhat in the second period with Tonbridge taking control of the game, despite the opening chance falling to former Angel, Shamir Fenelon, who broke clear but took too long to get his shot away allowing Sutcliffe to make a saving tackle.

After 64 minutes, there was a heavy collision between another former Angel, Jack Brivio and Pavey that saw the former laying motionless for somewhile and, during the 12 minute stoppage, the Horsham manager, Dom Di Paolo saw a red card for saying something out of turn directed at referee Dan England.

As the game entered its extensive stoppage time, Matt Warren saw his shot from distance agonisingly deflected past the post but, from the resulting corner from Bailey Akehurst into a crowded penalty area, Sutcliffe stabbed the ball home and with perhaps the help of a deflection, leaving Lewis Carey wrong-footed and the Angels were in front.

In the fourth minute of the twelve added, Matt Rowley was called on to make his big save of the afternoon from a header following a corner, leaving the visiting supporters to celebrate with the We Are Staying Up chant as Tonbridge saw out time with relative comfort.

Looking at the National League table, the grotty trip to Braintree beckons alongside the visit to the end of the earth that is Truro, can’t wait. Thanks Dunney!

Action pictures: Dave Couldridge

Dover Athletic 2 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 63/25/2405 - Tuesday, 10th March 2026 - National League South

Dover Athletic (1) 2 Wilkinson 22,54
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 731
Admission: £17
Mileage: 94/3,840

When the fixtures drop in July, there are dates that are immediately pencilled it, Boxing Day, the Maidstone games and perhaps there is a new ground to visit. On the flip side, there are the visits that are done out of nothing more than loyalty while secretly hoping that a valid excuse surfaces to give it a miss.

Such is Dover Athletic, charmless and unfriendly, whose modus operandi seems to be to make visiting supporters as unwelcome as possible.

Where was the communication that this would be a segregated game. I’ve no issue with the decision to segregate given the recent history of both club's set of youths, but to only find out on arrival at the ground is poor, very poor.

For those of you who have never been to Crabble (lucky you), the stadium is set atop a hill, not just any old hill, it’s a mountain that with a bit of snow could host the downhill at the Winter Olympics. After a torturous climb to reach the turnstiles, with no help from club officials informing you in which direction to walk, I decided to put a step counter on the return descent which recorded a near half-mile hike down a treacherous, unlit pathway.

On the playing field, I have nothing but respect for Dover’s manager Jake Leberl. He took over a basket case of a club with a notoriously difficult chairman in a pretty toxic atmosphere and has led them to promotion and relative safety in National League South on what I can only imagine is a small budget in comparison to the division’s big hitters that certainly doesn’t include Tonbridge Angels.

One area in which Dover have always excelled is with their academy and it was fitting that a scholar of their programme, George Wikinson, was the architect of their 2-0 win.

Tonbridge went into the game on a high following Saturday’s win against Worthing, but on the night have to reflect on an evening of possession aplenty but with no cutting edge and ending up on the receiving end of two very good goals, the first a beautifully crafted team goal and the second a wonder strike from 25 yards.

On a heavy pitch, manager Alan Dunne opted for an amount of rotation with four changes to the starting XI with Bradley Williams, Matty Warren, Naz Bakrin and Alfie Pavey included.

A game unfolded that was high on endeavour, low on quality but, uncharacteristically defined by two moments of excellence. After 20 minutes of nothingness, a series of one-two’s within the Angels box opened up the space for Wikinson to roll the ball past Matt Rowley into the far corner.

Frankie Baker’s persistence and pace offered the Angels a route back into the game but this foundered throughout on the defensive solidity of two brick outhouses in Jalen Jones and Harry Beadle.

Bunmi Babajide, as always, was full of energy and it was his effort just before the break that was deflected into the welcoming hands of Mitch Walker that brought the first involvement of the Dover stopper.

Dunney’s Plan B was left with a Crabble-sized mountain to scale after 54 minutes when a headed clearance was met on the half-volley from Wilkinson which found the top corner like a tracer bullet. It was some hit and one I guess he won’t replicate ever again.

The goal brought a trio of the Dover oiks to goad the Angels support, undoubtedly the segregation plan was well founded, if ill-timed.

A full complement of substitutions, the vast majority of possession and plenty of “penalty area entry” failed to unduly stretch Walker although a cross-cum-shot from Bailey Akehurst drifted only narrowly wide and Akehurst was also responsible for a shot that cannoned off the goalkeeper’s chest.

Roll on July, fixtures being scanned in excited expectation, but this one won’t set the pulses racing.

Sent from my iPhone

Tonbridge Angels 1 Worthing 0

Match 62/25/2404 - Saturday, 7th March 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Korboa 90+2
Worthing (0) 0
Attendance: 1,137
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,746

Another remarkable result in season of remarkable results that only leaves me scratching my head as to why Tonbridge Angels have spent any time looking over our shoulders.

Worthing arrived at the Yeomans with continued praise ringing in their ears following their 4-0 demolition of the Angels in the FA Trophy in November but departed having been made to look bang average.

It is a shame that those of us with non-league in our hearts are subjected to reading almost every week of another club issuing an apology for supporter behaviour and because of previous discretions from youths that have attached themselves to Worthing, this match was segregated. In all my time, there has never been a problem with Worthing, so it must be difficult for genuine supporters of the Sussex club to stomach the reputation they now carry.

Manager Alan Dunne made three changes to the starting XI at Hemel Hempstead with Scott Wagstaff, Marcus Sablier and Bunmi Babajide returning.

Another change was needed as Kyle Smith went down with a recurrence of an injury within the first five minutes and needed substituting by Nazir Bakrin.

Worthing had none of the fluency of November, or even in defeat at Woodside Road in September under the guidance of Craig Nelson. In the first half they were restricted to one chance, two minutes before the break, when a shot from Joel Colbran was parried by Matt Rowley to the head of Shiloh Remy but his tame header was easily collected by the Tonbridge goalkeeper.

Tonbridge had started the game brightly with Smith seeing his free kick saved by Taylor Seymour; Frankie Baker firing over and Sablier also having a shot comfortably saved by Seymour.

Early in the second period, came the Angels most heart stopping moment of the game when a free kick saw a missed overhead attempt from Coleman De Graft confusing the Angels defence with the ball falling at the feet of Remiero Moulton at the far post but the alert Rowley was quickly plunging at his feet to smother the shot before it was hacked to safety.

On 58 minutes, substitute Callum Morton should have done better than steer a header wide, but from that moment Tonbridge contained the visitors with ease and, on the break, were offering dangerous moments of their own.

As the clock ticked into added time, Tonbridge supporters were probably happy with a hard earned point when Bradley Williams, who had made a huge impact on the game from the bench on 56 minutes, fed the ball to the left to Ricky Korboa, who cut in, found enough space to pick his spot into the final corner to send Angels supporters into raptures.

Eight agonising minutes, that turned into 11, had supporters baying for the final whistle, but as it had been for the most part of the afternoon, the visitors final push was tepid at best and seen off comfortably.

Twelve points clear, 13 in reality with a vastly superior goal difference, surely safety is as good as assured. Football Web Pages think so, but at one point this afternoon they had Larkfield winning their SCEFL match 22-3 when they actually lost 4-2! So let’s get to 50 points before cracking out the bubbly!

Pictures: David Couldridge and Wes Fitness

Tonbridge Angels 4 Gillingham 3

Match 61/25/2403 - Tuesday, 3rd March 2026 - Kent Senior Cup Quarter Final

Tonbridge Angels (1) 4 Babajide 37 Baker 53,66 Bakrin 84
Gillingham (1) 3 Dayal 43 Theodore 53 Booth 82
Attendance: 407
Admission: £10
Mileage: 38/3,708

Tonbridge emerged for the second time in three years victorious in the Wink Derby with a 4-3 win in an exhilarating Kent Senior Cup Quarter Final.

Whilst we at Tonbridge refer back to 1975 for our last Kent Senior Cup success, remarkably, Gills supporters have to have very long memories as their wait goes back to 1948!

Gillingham did what they always do by fielding a youth side and refusing to play any Kent Senior Cup game at Priestfield whatever the draw as terms of their entry.

What they did bring to the Yeomans was a talented group of youngsters that thrilled going forward but lacked a bit of resilience defensively.

Card marked before the game by old friends who have survived the toxicity of the final years of the Scally era (unlike myself) to watch out for Sullivan Booth, who was very good, but eyes were drawn to the sparkling wing play of Damian Theodore, who embellished his performance with a superb strike.

Scott Wagstaff, it was revealed on the day, has been appointed Youth team Manager at the Gills and he would be more than welcome to send these two lads our way on loan next season.

Spring has meteorologically sprung but it remained a chilly evening as Alan Dunne almost completely rotated his squad following Saturday’s defeat at Hemel Hempstead.

Gills started brightly, and dominated the opening half-hour, with Theodore immediately to the fore, perhaps a touch too many at times but never anything less than a real threat.

Tonbridge’s first attempt on goal came after 31 minutes when Sean Shields brought a save out of substitute goalkeeper, Benji Spencer before they went ahead on 37 minutes when Bunmi Babajide received the ball on the left to bury a shot into the far, bottom corner.

The Gillingham youngsters were not to be cowed by going behind with a cross-cum-shot from Kelly Adams that only narrowly drifted wide of the right hand post. The equaliser that their first half performance richly deserved came two minutes before the break when Theodore crossed to the for Louie Dayal to steer the ball home from 12 yards.

Perhaps the telling factor of the second half would be that from the bench, each substitution made the Angels stronger and this brought an immediate dividend as substitutes Ricky Korboa and Frankie Baker combined for the latter to convert Babajide's right-sided pass inside.

Theodore decorated his performance after 53 minutes when he cut in from the left to bury an exquisite strike into the top corner to bring the scores level once more and for a period of 10 minutes, the Gills were once more on top.

But, after 66 minutes, a shot from 20 yards from Matt Warren wasn’t held by Spencer and the ever-alert Baker was on hand to force home the rebound.

Any thought that that was that for evening’s highly engaging entertainment were dispelled eight minutes from time when Booth collected a through ball and sped through a gaping hole in the centre of the defence to finish clinically past the advancing Laurie Shala.

With penalties on the horizon, as was the case two years ago, the Angels found a winner on 84 minutes when a free kick swung into the box saw Ethan Sutcliffe head the ball back into the centre of the goal to the feet of Nazir Bakrin who poked it home from six yards.

The Angels move forward to the semi-final where they will visit Chatham Town. It is not the FA Cup, but one feels that, good though the Chats were back in October at Longmead, Tonbridge didn’t do themselves justice on the day and it will be something of a compensation to put one over them before looking forward to a Kent Senior Cup Final where the old enemy, Maidstone United lie in wait.

Photo: Dave Couldridge

Hemel Hempstead Town 1 Tonbridge Angels 0

Match 60/25/2402 - Saturday, 28th February 2026 - National League South

Hemel Hempstead Town (0) 1 Dowrich 90+5
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 651
Admission: £12
Mileage: 160/3,670

Once is unfortunate, twice is careless, three times is a pattern and one that is driving Tonbridge Angels supporters to despair.

Three times in the last five games, the winner has been conceded in time added at the end of a match, goals in the 94th, 93rd and 96th minutes have cost the Angels vital points that would almost certainly have guaranteed safety.

That the latest, is the word heartbreak or annoyance, came without surprise at Hemel Hempstead Town, who after laying to rest the hoodoo’s that were Worthing, Torquay, Salisbury and the Gallagher, now take the title of the Angels ultimate graveyard.

In truth, it was a nothing game from which neither team deserved the full complement of points.

Larry McAvoy taking the post-match interview: “It’s not the first time this season, over the past month we have been burning points in terms of these late goals. It is not fitness, not desire, but we are young in terms of mentality and making mistakes.”

The omens were good, a trouble-free drive through the tunnel and round the M25 to the most out-of-form team in the league, but it’s Hemel, where something always happens and it’s never good.

On a dry afternoon that was deceptively cold, Manager Alan Dunne made two changes from Tuesday’s home win against Hampton with Naz Bakrin and Sean Shields starting for Matt Warren and Bunmi Babajide.

In charge, for her first National League South game, was Grace Lowe and she made her mark on the game with a yellow card for Tonbridge’s Tom Leahy for a high foot within the first minute.

Chances were at a premium throughout the game and the Angels goalkeeper, Matt Rowley, was called upon to deny the first half’s best effort on eight minutes when an outstretched leg denied Isiah Noel-Williams.

A minute later Ms Lowe had her second Angels name in the book that of Noah McCann.

In a tight first half, Tonbridge just about edged the possession without overly stretching the home goalkeeper, Michael Johnson.

The second half produced much of the same although, now kicking down the slope, it was the home side that now enjoyed the better of the possession with a mounting corner count and on 73 minutes a shot from Kyran Wiltshire rebounded off a post.

And so the game entered its added time of four minutes and when Ms Lowe booked Rowley for time wasting the game edged into its 95th minute with a cheap free kick given on the left. The ball was lofted into a crowded penalty area, blocks and half-clearances ensued before the ball dropped to Dorian Dowrich whose sweetly hit volley gave Rowley no chance.

McAvoy concluded: “We are trying to get the players to be better at game management. It does come with experience but we’ve got to learn and learn quickly and deal with those moments in the game, be more streetwise.”

Tonbridge Angels 2 Hampton and Richmond Borough 0

Match 59/25/2401 - Tuesday, 24th February 2026 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Leahy 37 Baker 51
Hampton & Richmond Borough (0) 0
Attendance: 648
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/3,510

A bad day a work, home and straight to the fridge where’s there’s a single can of lager with your name on it. Slump into your favourite armchair, crack the ring pull, the pressure is released and, suddenly, all seems right with the world.

As supporters, the past three days have for some while been seen as a pivotal point in Tonbridge Angels season, win them both and the finishing line in terms of safety was on the horizon, lose them, well, we really would be in the cack.

Saturday’s win against Chippenham Town opened the door, perhaps a fourth point against a rapidly improving Hampton and Richmond Borough might be enough.

At the final whistle, the proverbial ring pull was a celebratory one, two wins on the spin (at home, no less) and the magic 50 points is just nine away. Or if you are supremely optimistic, Football Web Pages predicted final table says one more win will be enough, personally I’ll set my sights on the heavenly 50!

Truth was, on the night, Hampton at times looked good but gave us a huge helping hand with a comical goal and a sending-off contributing to their own downfall.

Angels manager Alan Dunne said after the game: “We deserved those two wins, we overran them today, strong team but we got it right, but we have got to be humble, there is a lot of football to play.”

Spring is officially a few days away, but the mild evening that did eventually give way to a chill saw Dunne make three changes with the surprise return of Matt Rowley, on loan for the rest of the season, between the sticks being the main talking point and Bunmi Babajide and Frankie Baker returning to the starting XI.

Hampton started the game with a confidence borne of their splendid 4-0 away win at Bath City on Saturday knocking the ball around in a manner that belied their lowly league position. For 15-20 minutes, barring the normal raucous support from behind the goal, Angels supporters watched on pensively thinking that a long night might well be in store and a goal disallowed on the quarter hour for an offside that was tight was a warning shot across the bows.

A shot narrowly wide from Harry Gardner was also a forerunner to Tonbridge’s opening effort from Ricky Korboa that was saved comfortably by Marcus Dewhurst after a good combination between Kyle Smith and Babajide.

Tonbridge got their noses on front on 37 minutes with a goal that echoes the old saying “what goes around, comes around”. Only 10 days ago, a did it cross the line incident went against the Angels at Hornchurch resulting in a goal, tonight the boot was on the other foot as a scramble in front of goal following a corner was eventually hooked in by Tom Leahy, after a header from Noah McCann, with desperate attempts to clear in vain according to the officials.

In added time, Kwaku Frimpong was shown a yellow card that was to become significant in the early stages of the second period.

Tonbridge doubled their advantage after six minutes of the second half with a crazy goal. Miscommunication was the order of the day as Dewhurst rolled the ball towards a defender but Baker was the most alert, intercepting the pass and tucking the ball home from a couple of yards. Hampton protests followed, but for what who knows.

Things went from bad for worse for the visitors four minutes later when Frimpong saw a second yellow and subsequent red card for a foul on Korboa as the winger looked to break clear.

The game lost its edge as a contest despite a spirited effort from the visitors that had the home support wishing for a lot less than seven minutes on the added time board. But, it was Tonbridge that had the better of the chances and, perhaps, the one regret would be that it was an opportunity lost to wipe out the negative goal difference.

Fast forward now to Hemel Hempstead on Saturday, an absolute graveyard for the Angels, but at least this time approached with renewed confidence.

Pictures: David Couldridge

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