Tonbridge 2 Leiston 2

Match 29/16/1337 - Tuesday, 20th September 2016 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (2) 2 Folkes 25, Allen 38
Leiston (0) 2 Heath 48, Blake 68
Attendance: 497

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/2,691

Match Report

A great game to watch, a wonderful advert for the Ryman League Premier. The old cliche of a game of two halves can be recycled without it being any but the truth. Throw in for good measure a contender for goal of the season, even at this early stage, and you have an evening that was well worth the admission fee.

At the end of the evening, both teams that had begun the game with unbeaten records emerged with that particular statistic remaining in place. It is easy to get carried away with the top-of-the-table clash scenario and first versus second doesn't tell a lie, but with only seven games played the importance of this match will not be known for several months and by that time, they would have met again. The other billing was to be the most prolific attack in the division against the meanest defence.

Tonbridge started marginally the brighter of the two teams and twice in the opening 10 minutes the Leiston goalkeeper, Leon Ottley-Gooch spilt the ball from crosses to offer some further encouragement. After 15 minutes Tommy Parkinson produced one of his trademark headers from a corner at the far post but this was blocked on the line and cleared. At the other end, Matt Blake served notice as to why he has scored six goals already this season with two efforts in the space of a minute that were narrowly wide.

However, it was the home side that took the lead after 25 minutes from the unlikely source of James Folkes, whose cross-cum-shot towards the far post sailed straight in. Did he mean it? Of course he did!

Anthony Di Bernardo was called into action after 36 minutes when the ball fell kindly in the box for Gareth Heath whose shot was saved at the close range.

Two minutes later and Luke Allen produced his contender for goal of the season. Folkes passed the ball inside to Allen who started his run from inside the centre circle in his own half. He surged into the space in front of him; as two defenders sought to close him down he rounded them to unleash a shot from 20 yards that sailed past Ottley-Gooch.

Cliche alert and we all know the importance of the third goal in any football match. Whether Leiston had a flea in their ear from their manager, but whatever had been said, the visitors flew out of the traps and halved the deficit within two minutes of the restart with a good strike from the edge of the box from Heath.

Leiston's tails were now up and they pushed on in search of an equaliser. A free kick into the box led to a scramble and Blake pounced to poke the ball home. Offside claims led to the referee consulting the linesman but the goal was allowed to stand.

Chances came and went for both sides in the remaining minutes before the referee brought the game to a close with both sides deserving of something out of the game.

Tonbridge U18 4 Phoenix Sports U18 0

Match 28/16/1336 - Monday, 19th September 2016 - FA Youth Cup 1QR

Tonbridge U18 (0) 4 Sollis 41,50,83 Chapman 90+1
Phoenix Sports U18 (0) 0
Attendance: 172

Entrance: £2
Programme: With entrance
Mileage: 38/2,653

So far, retirement hasn't brought me much satisfaction. True, I don't miss the driving to London every night and it's pretty good getting my body clock back into the normal day-night mode but, more than anything else, I miss the daily banter of my ex-workmates. One great positive is that after over 20 years of being restricted to Tuesday night football during the week, I can now go any evening I like and with that I have discovered Tonbridge's Under-18 side and they are an absolute pleasure to watch.

I'm not saying it was all my own doing but I put out a plea on the Tonbridge forum that this side were worth watching and hoped a few extra would turn out for this FA Youth Cup tie. The response was brilliant, 172 paid on the night and putting that into context that is five more people than attended the senior side's FA Cup tie at Wingate and Finchley on Saturday.

After a lively start from Phoenix Sports with a first minute effort that Lewis Mitchell did well to tip over the bar, Tonbridge gained the upper hand and produced some eye-catching football that produced chance after chance. Henry Ikeije was the first to test the visiting goalkeeper before the night's eventual star man, Sid Sollis, shot narrowly wide. After 17 minutes, the goalkeeper palmed away a well taken free kick from Tommy Chapman, who's deliveries throughout the game left me thinking that perhaps there is another Wheeler in making.

The opportunities continued to mount through what began to look like an unlikely goal-less first period but four minutes before the break, Sollis drove a shot low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to break the deadlock. Sollis might have doubled his account two minutes later after a splendid pass from Chapman but the goalkeeper saved well.

Five minutes into the second half, following a corner, Sollis hooked in from close range. At this point, a little mellee ensued and this is something I have noticed in the game at this level, whether it is youthful, testosterone-charged, but there does seem a bit of needle. I mentioned this to a refereeing friend, who told me this age group is probably the worst to officiate.

Sollis completed his hat-trick with seven minutes remaining finishing a pass from Richard Frempong into the bottom corner and celebrated in front of his enthusiastic fan club in the main stand.

In time-added a shot from Chapman was deflected past the goalkeeper, but the lad deserved a goal for a fine performance that on another night when Sollis wasn't scoring a hat-trick, would have been recognised.

I didn't expect them to, but Tonbridge Under-18s have become part of my retirement plan!

Wingate & Finchley 0 Tonbridge 3

Match 27/16/1335 - Saturday, 17th September 2016 - FA Cup 2QR

Wingate & Finchley (0) 0
Tonbridge (1) 3 Dundas 15,55 Elder 77
Attendance: 167

Entrance: £8 Senior
Programme: Sold Out
Mileage: 147/2,615

Tonbridge progressed comfortably through to the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, and the fans begin to wonder (with the Angels FA Cup record there is no level of expectancy) if the 44-year wait for a First Round Proper place is about to end.

Those supporters, who made up a good half of the meagre 167 attendance, have good reason to float that dream around their head as a tricky tie on paper in north London was navigated with relative ease.

Our own traffic problems began at the Tunnel (where else?) and although we made reasonably good time for the rest of the journey, we were still left to hot-foot it to the turnstiles with only five minutes to spare. Unfortunately, the programmes had sold out (167 and they run-out, how many did they print, 50?).

The conditions were bright, but very breezy with the pitch looking in very good condition.

Tonbridge started strongly and had their first opportunity after just four minutes when Craig Dundas' effort was cleared at the far post and a follow-up shot from Nick Wheeler was also blocked. It was the first sign that Dundas would be a thorn in Wingate's side all afternoon.

After a couple more half-chances, Tonbridge took the lead after 15 minutes. A corner from the right was met with a towering header from Tommy Parkinson which was initially parried by Wingate's goalkeeper, Shane Gore, but the rebound was headed over the line by Dundas.

The home side responded well with a couple of shots that brought comfortable saves from Anthony Di Bernardo and a free kick from Tommy Tejan-Sie that begged a touch but eluded everyone.

The second half opened with the visitors once more on the front foot. A long, mazy run across the face of the 18 yard box ended with a shot high, wide and not too handsome from Wheeler.

Ten minutes into the half, Tonbridge doubled their advantage with Dundas' second goal. A woeful clearance was intercepted by the Sutton loanee and although his first effort was blocked by Gore, he followed up to tuck in the rebound.

As followed the first half goal, the hosts responded and Di Bernardo was forced to punch clear under pressure and on the hour a shot from 25 yards by Tejan-Sie rattled the crossbar and immediately a Luke Ifill cross should have been converted at the far post but Tanasheh Abrahams headed wide.

A third goal was needed to put the tie to bed and Tonbridge thought they had it when Wheeler cut in from the left the fire a shot into the far corner but a linesman's flag ruled it out.

Thirteen minutes from the end, Tonbridge's name was put into the hat for the next round when Jack Parter, overlapping down the left, sent in an inch perfect for cross for Nathan Elder to power a header home from close range.

The home side's shoulder sank and Tonbridge could easily have added to the scoreline before the finish with further chances for Parkinson and Scannell.

44 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ...

Looking out on the football ...

... and looking out on the rugby

Hollands & Blair 4 Lordswood 0

Match 26/16/1334 - Wednesday, 14th September 2016 - Southern Counties East

Hollands & Blair (2) 4 Lockyer 8, McDonald 40, Simon 47, Staff 80
Lordswood (0) 0
Attendance: 126

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 45/2,468

The ball dropped 20 yards from goal and with a wave of the magic wand that was the right foot of the wizard it sailed into the top corner past a spellbound Harry Potter. No, it wasn't quite Hogwarts, but Star Meadow and the wizard was Jack Simon, but when you've a goalkeeper called Harry Potter on the field, it was too good a tale not to embellish.

Since my first visit to Star Meadow on a freezing cold night in January, there have been some changes other than a much warmer evening. The entrance to the ground has been moved to the opposite corner and entry brings you directly to a new covered seating enclosure that holds not too many but probably satisfies the ground grading people for Step Six.

On the management side, the long-serving Paul Piggot has left to be replaced as manager by Bryan Greenfield and the free-scoring Rob Denness has joined Greenwich. The club have done well though to retain the services of the Southern Counties East leading goalscorer from last season, James McDonald.

Lordswood started the season well and topped the table but recently have taken a couple of heavy defeats and found themselves quickly on the back foot against Hollands. Justin Ascheri clipped the top of the bar in the opening minute and McDonald pulled an opportunity narrowly wide of the post a minute later. Lordswood's luck was not to hold though and Gary Lockyer hooked a shot over his shoulder to give the hosts a seventh minute lead.

A fine through ball sent McDonald clear, leaving Potter helpless as the clinical striker doubled Hollands advantage in the 39th minute.

Just two minutes had elapsed in the second period when Simon performed his piece of magic. Although the half remained one-sided it took the hosts until ten minutes from time to add a fourth when Tom Staff climbed at the far post to head home a corner.

Folkestone Invicta 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 25/16/1333 - Tuesday, 13th September 2016 - Ryman League Cup

Folkestone Invicta (0) 0
Tonbridge (0) 1 Blewden 83
Attendance: 224

Entrance: £7 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 75/2,423

Match Report

In the season of Arsenal's "Invincibles", 2003-04, the club's supporters took great delight proclaiming "1-0 to the Arsenal" with reference to their great ability to grind-out the single goal victory. Whether it was fact or jealousy, opposition supporters just labelled them Boring, Boring Arsenal. I'm hoping that Ryman club supporters are not going to see Steve McKimm's Tonbridge side in that light, but they have developed that same ability to protect a clean sheet.

Steve McKimm substantively changed his back line with George Beaven and Ugo Udoji returning from injury allowing Sonny Miles a night off and James Folkes retiring to the bench. In between the sticks, young Louis Lawlor had a very impressive debut with two fine first half saves, clean handling and very good kicking.

Tommy Whitnell and Luke Blewden gained some valuable game time along with Tashi-Jay Kwayie and a full 90 minutes for Tom Phipp, who showed authority in midfield that we briefly glimpsed before his serious injury.

Tonbridge might have gone in front with less than a minute on the clock when Damian Scannell, who was outstanding on the night, pulled a shot from the right side of the box narrowly wide of the left hand post and when he was brought down in the box after six minutes, he was shown a yellow card for diving. It looked a poor decision (seen through Angels eyes) whilst a very vocal Invicta supporter suddenly saw the referee in a completely different light. Such are opinions.

Lawlor made his only mistake of the night when a poor clearance allowed a return shot on an empty goal that cleared the bar. It was the youngster's only heart-stopping moment.

Tonbridge dominated the first half without finding the net. Blewden, Whitnall, a Jerrome Sobers header and Kwayie was through on goal before a last ditch saving tackle denied his opportunity.

Folkestone were pretty toothless with our old friend, Carl Rook, quite anonymous.

The second half followed much the same pattern although Lawlor was required to make an early save.

Penalties were starting to loom large when with 14 minutes to go Blewden smacked the ball with a shot from the edge of the box and immediately after brought a save from the Folkestone goalkeeper. The striker was not to be denied though, and with seven minutes remaining, he took aim from the edge of the box and the ball flew past the despairing goalkeeper.

The visitors comfortably saw out the tie to earn a second round home game against Sittingbourne.

New York Red Bulls 2 DC United 2

Match 24/16/1332 - Sunday, 11th September 2016 - MLS Eastern Conference

New York Red Bulls (1) 2 Veron 33 B. Wright-Phillips 54
DC United (0) 2 Birnbaum 89 Neagle 90+5
Attendance: 20,086

Entrance: $8.95
Programme: None
Mileage: 41/2,348 (from hotel)

Match Report

Our visit to New York was primarily for the US Open Tennis. Of course, with the wife in tow, there had to be a little (a lot) shopping, a bit of sightseeing but there has to be time made available to see the Red Bulls.

This was our second visit to the Red Bull Arena and, once again, the club are chasing the end-of-season play-offs and the Eastern Conference championship. They are challenged by their city rivals, New York City and the present league leaders, Toronto, who following the weekend results are two points clear with a game in hand. Red Bulls are second by virtue of their superior goal difference to New York City.

Wherever you are in the world, and whatever level you are watching, one thing never changes, it's goals that win matches and if you don't take your chances then, invariably, it will come back to bite you.

Red Bulls should have sewn this game up long before an 89th minute goal gave DC United a little bit of hope. It was almost inevitable that in the last seconds of the five added minutes with the DC goalkeeper in the Red Bulls penalty area for a corner that the ball was bundled into the net to give the Washington side an unlikely point.

Nothing comes cheap in New York, I won't bore you with the tale of an Indian meal that left us feeling mugged at gunpoint, so the tickets for the match at Harrison came as a bonus. The night previous to the match I had tried to book the seats online and, for whatever reason, the site just kept kicking me out until I lost patience and decided I would just buy from the ground knowing that there would not be anything like a full stadium.

On the day of the game, we were due to fly home the next day, I went to the hotel's laptop station to run out my boarding passes and noticed one of the bellboys trying to book tickets for a show. I told him my tale of woe from the previous evening and he asked me if I would like him to try StubHub, a site I have always thought was strictly for over-inflated price tickets. He asked me what I wanted to pay and I said that I had been trying for the $41 tickets in the top tier. You can imagine my delight when he secured those tickets for the princely sum of $8.95 including all the charges!

On my first visit to the Red Bulls, the lack of visiting supporters was very obvious, there was none at all travelling from Chicago. So, albeit the trip from Washington is a good deal shorter, it was good to see the knot of DC supporters there to support their club and credit to them, even at 2-0 down into the dying embers of the game they were still banging the drum.

Once again, the weekend marked the anniversary of 9/11 with the unfurling of the giant stars and stripes and a moving rendition of the national anthem, although the moment's silence was literally that, ten seconds tops.

The game looked plain sailing for the Red Bulls, who were buoyed by the previous night's defeat of their City rivals at New England Revolution. They huffed and puffed a little through a first half that lacked a bit of quality until a strong run from Sacha Kljestan took him to the bye-line; his cross was deflected upwards and Gonzalo Veron dived in to head home from close range.

Kljestan nearly doubled the Red Bulls advantage just before the break when he hit a post.

That lead should have been wiped out within three minutes of the second period when ex-Red Bulls Lloyd Sam (also ex of Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday) was through on goal but Louis Roubles came out on top in the one-on-one.

The Red Bulls lead was doubled, however, nine minutes into the half when Bradley Wright-Phillips emphatically finished after being sent clear by Danny Royer.

Almost immediately Wright-Phillips might have put the game beyond DC when his shot was parried to safety by the goalkeeper as the Red Bulls embarked on a create and waste period.

Kljestan, best player on the pitch, hit the inside of a post and Royer had a couple of chances in the space of a minute.

When DC pulled a goal back in the last minute, Birnbaum rifling home from an unmarked position on the right side of the box, and the board was held aloft showing five minutes added time, the sense of inevitability heightened.

Red Bulls lived dangerously, but just had one last corner to defend. The ball wasn't cleared and it fell to Neagle to stab it home from a yard leaving the Red Bulls players flat out on the ground and those DC fans wildly celebrating.

The final whistle was greeted with boos from the home support, more than a little harsh I felt.

This ended up very good entertainment for the small price paid. I'm disappointed the Americans haven't adopted the British passion for a matchday programme, they give away hats and posters and are very family friendly but the programme doesn't feature although at the tennis there was a new issue every day.

We had intended taking in the New York Cosmos on this trip, but an awkward journey for an evening game knocked it on the head, perhaps next time.

Tonbridge Angels U18 5 Ashford Town U18 0

Match 23/16/1331 - Wednesday, 31st August 2016 - Ryman League Under-18

Tonbridge (4) 5 Sollis 4, Frempong 12, Ikeije 29, Fenton 58, Bakare 82
Ashford Town (0) 0
Headcount: 55

Entrance: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/2,307

With no team sheet and the first time I've seen Tonbridge's Under-18s this season, I bow to Dan Couldridge's superior knowledge of age group football and indulge in a bit of cut and paste from his Tonbridge Angels Forum posting.

A very impressive performance from a Tonbridge Angels side featuring several of last year's successful Under 16 squad with a selection of eye-catching performances from the newcomers.

Pick of the bunch were Sid Sollis, who backed up a four-goal haul at the weekend for the Reserves with a fourth minute header from 15 yards out that crashed in off the bar from Tommy Chapman's corner, and Richard Frempong, who has arrived from Bridon Ropes and is already on the radar of clubs at a higher level. Frempong showed some startling pace in attack, a real knack of staying on his feet under serious pressure despite his stature and wrapped up his performance with a fine goal, somehow keeping possession with three defenders around him and then firing into the top corner from just inside the penalty area.

That goal had arrived in he twelfth minute by which point the result was already in no doubt with Tonbridge asserting a clear superiority throughout the first half. Goal number three arrived with a great ball into the channel from Dom Welsh to Frempong, whose pace took him clear of the right-back and gave him time to unselfishly set up Henry Ikeije for a simple tap in.

Ashford certainly improved in the second half but there was little chance of a comeback. Jack Fenton scored the fourth, volleying in from the edge of the box after the ball had been half-cleared by a defender, before substitute Kunle Bakare wrapped things up with a dazzling run and finish.

The next opportunity to see this impressive Angels side is on Monday 19 September and the team would welcome your support. Dulwich Hamlet or Phoenix Sports will be the visitors in the FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round.

I will add that on leaving the ground with a couple of seasoned spectators at this level, one remarked that this Tonbridge side were the best under-18s he had seen in many a year.