Tonbridge Angels U18 8 Ramsgate U18 0

Match 112/16/1419 - Monday, 27th March 2017 - Ryman Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (5) 8 Chapman 6, Sollis 10 (pen),20,48,88 Fenton 18,28,52
Ramsgate (0) 0
Attendance: 41

Entrance: £1 Senior
Team Sheet: Free
Mileage: 38/7,706

Tonbridge Angels U18s cruised to an 8-0 win for the second time in three games, this time against a threadbare Ramsgate side that were unable to name a single substitute.

Sid Sollis returned to the starting line-up scoring four times and could easily have doubled that number with a masterclass in clinical finishing. Jack Fenton weighed in with a hat-trick with Tommy Chapman opening the scoring.

Tonbridge took the lead after six minutes and the floodgates were pretty much opened from that point. A splendid cross from Connor Watson to the far post was headed back across the face of goal for Chapman to sweep the ball home from six yards.

Sollis’ pace was shredding the Rams defence and after 10 minutes his run into the penalty area was brought to an abrupt end as he was brought down. Sollis smashed the penalty straight down the middle to put the Angels two up.

Ramsgate brought a decent save out of Lewis Mitchell when a shot from Corey Halton required the Tonbridge goalkeeper to palm the ball away to safety.

Two goals in three minutes confirmed that this night would be another goalfest when, after 18 minutes, a fine interchange of passes between Sollis and McCreadie set up Jack Fenton to slot home and two minutes later Sollis latched onto a inch perfect pass from Jack Bray to drive past a couple of hapless defenders and fire in a shot that gave the Rams keeper no chance.

Tonbridge did receive a setback after 25 minutes when their captain, Callum Adonis-Taylor was injured and substituted by Louis Pateman.

After 28 minutes, accepting a pass from Ryan Gallifant, Fenton produced a sublime chip over the goalkeeper for the fifth of the evening.

Credit must go to a beleaguered Ramsgate side that responded to force Mitchell into action with two saves from Ollie Harris and Bentley Torrander.

The Ramsgate goalkeeper, Kieron Palmer who, perversely grew in confidence as the goals rained in, made a brilliant save before the break to deny Fenton a first half hat-trick.

The Angels made a half-time substitution, Jack Cussen replacing Ollie Baker with Bray taking over the central defensive position.

Three minutes into the second half, Sollis’ pace once more carved open the Rams defence to finish clinically after being put through by a delightful flick from Liam McCreadie.

After 52 minutes the score became 7-0 when Cussen was denied by a good save from Palmer but Fenton was on hand to complete his hat-trick.

Tonbridge went through a wasteful half-hour and in some ways you felt a little relieved for the visitors that they did.

Of course, it had to be Sollis who had the last word when, with two minutes remaining, he cut in from the right to bury a shot into the bottom corner.

Tonbridge Angels Under-18s are next in action on Thursday evening when they entertain Raynes Park Vale, against whom they scored eight goals last Thursday.

Pictures: Graham Fenton

Gillingham 0 Peterborough United 1

Match 111/16/1418 - Saturday, 25th March 2017 - League One

Gillingham (0) 0
Peterborough United (0) 1 Morais 90
Attendance: 7,561

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 58/7,668

Match Report

In the week that Paul Scally, the Chairman of Gillingham Football Club produced a document that told the tale of a football club that, inside a new stadium, could see a path to Premier League football, his employees went on to the pitch and produced the worst performance of the season in an absolutely shocking advert for League One football.

I understand Scally's long-term ambition for the club that will endure long after he, and I, have departed the scene. I appreciate the need for alternative revenue streams and a facility that will serve the local community seven days a week, but at very nearly 66 years of age, I doubt that I will ever see the scheme through to fruition and, rather selfishly, I would prefer to see the here and now dealt with. What we have now is a crap team that are staring League Two football in the face and I don't particularly want to watch it next season, and as a season ticket holder, I will not.

Mr Scally offers up Brighton & Hove Albion as the template for success via a new stadium and he is right to highlight that particular club as they stand on the threshold of the Premier League, but they had the benefit of a benefactor with bottomless pockets and building the stadium and assembling a winning squad was able to be done hand-in-hand. Mr Scally's pockets, by his own admission, are not bottomless.

If the land required to build the stadium at Mill Hill is allocated to Gillingham in the near future, and I hope for the future of the club is does, unless an investor with wads of cash to throw at the project comes on board, the high percentage of each season's budget is going to be directed towards Mill Hill and where will that leave the playing budget?

The game with Peterborough had to be earmarked as one of the remaining games to put three points on the table, they were on a poor run with nothing much left to play for, and to be honest, they looked it. Sadly, Gillingham were worse.

One hour elapsed before Cody McDonald directed a header goalwards that was comfortably collected by Luke McGee.

Gillingham gave a debut to Czech goalkeeper Tomas Holy. Some of his handling was a bit nervy but his kicking was solid and he made one very good save to deny Chris Forrester whose shot from 35 yards was destined for the top corner.

If one could suffer the boredom of the game being served up, then the biting wind that blew under the sun-starved Gordon Road Stand made life really uncomfortable. It was bizarre to look across at the Medway Stand soaked in sunshine and people in shirt sleeves whilst we literally froze.

Out of nowhere came a goal that deserved to win a thriller, not this tedium. On the stroke of the 90th minute, Junior Morais, derided for his body shape and lack of height, let fly from 30 yards into the top corner giving Holy no chance.

I look forward to the outcome of Medway Council's deliberations on the future of Mill Hill, but I fear that by the time they make their decision they will be looking to re-house a League Two club.

Rusthall 1 Glebe 1

Match 110/16/1417 - Wednesday, 22nd March 2017 - SCEFL1

Rusthall (1) 1 Mitchell 45
Glebe (1) 1 Tobon 16
Attendance: 268

Entrance: £2 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 46/7,610

Match Report

It appears that a fascinating contest for the SCEFL1 title is destined for Glebe as they came and went home happy with a point from this top-of-the-table encounter at Jockey Farm.

This match was originally scheduled for a couple of weeks ago but was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. One wonders how many people might have attended that night as this fixture perhaps had the edge taken off it with successive defeats for Rusthall and the competition of Germany v England one terrestrial television. As it was, a record 268 people were willing to turn their back on a meaningless international friendly to watch a game that was always competitive with Rusthall probably feeling the more aggrieved not to collect the full three points.

A cagey opening was a foretaste of the game to unfold as neither side really created anything of note in the opening 15 minutes, but a long punt through the middle from Glebe’s James Day sent Andreas Tobon clear and one-on-one with the Rusthall goalkeeper, Callum Christie. The Glebe man showed great composure to round the keeper and finish into the empty goal.

Playing up the sizeable slope, Rusthall worked their way back into the game but were struggling to create any clear chances. Glebe, however, did create a couple that might have wrapped up the game before the break. Day capitalised on a poor clearance from Christie but shot wide and after 38 minutes, Rusthall’s Luke Stratford saw yellow when he thwarted a Glebe breakaway with a professional foul.

Rusthall, though, deserved their equaliser that came on the stroke of half-time. Dan Mitchell, who won headers all evening, finally got a cross of quality to work with from John Phillips and buried his header past Adam Molloy, who seemed to go down to save in stages.

Certainly knowing that a point would not be much use to them, Rusthall made a concerted effort to win the game in the second period. Within two minutes of the restart Mitchell mis-kicked in front of goal with Phillips blasting the second attempt over the bar.

All the chances fell Rusthall’s way until the 71st minute when Glebe were awarded a penalty when Ryan Golding was brought down by John Lord. The resultant spot kick was crashed against the bar by Aaron Jeffrey. The penalty award appeared harsh so perhaps justice was served.

Rusthall staged a late rally but never really threatened which made it all the more perplexing when Molloy got so vexed over the awarding of a corner that he earned himself a yellow and then talked his way to a red following the final whistle.

With talk that both K Sports and Kent Football United will be denied promotion through differing reasons of ground grading, it is quite probable that both of these sides will eventually find their way into the Southern Counties East Premier.

As a senior citizen, I only paid £2 plus a quid for a very decent programme and another quid for a cuppa. Blooming good value for a night's entertainment.

Tunbridge Wells 2 Fisher 0

Match 109/16/1416 - Tuesday, 21st March 2017 - SCEFL Premier

Tunbridge Wells (0) 2 Shea 72,84
Fisher (0) 0
Attendance: 161

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 38/7,564

Tunbridge Wells fans have suffered long and hard this season, but finally I think they can rest easy. Two goals from John Shea was enough to leave Fisher fearing for their SCEFL Premier future and coupled with last week’s surprise win at Hollands & Blair and the judgement of the Croydon situation, the points are now in the bag to stave of relegation.

For long periods, the Tunbridge Wells defence restricted a Fisher side that knew that only a win would really be good enough, but upfront there was a lack of a cutting edge.

Fisher were obviously sent out with the instruction to get at the Wells from the outset and made most of the early running. Luke Haidarovic fired a shot at Steve Lawrence in the opening minute and a free kick was blocked by the Wells wall a minute later.

Tunbridge Wells started to settle into the game and Jon Pilbeam forced ex-Wells goalkeeper, Nic Taylor into a good save, low to his left.

Fisher continued to create the best of the chances in the first period and in the closing minutes of the half, Tunbridge Wells survived a sustained period of pressure. Lawrence saved from Haidarovic with the follow-up blasted over the crossbar. Alvaro Casado Munoz’s shot hit one of his own players in front of goal with the follow-up, once more clearing the bar.

The Wells carved out their best chance so far, two minutes into the second period when a cross from Josh Biddlecombe found James Pinnock sliding in at the near post but from close range he managed to lift the ball over the bar.

After 70 minutes Haidarovic turned defender when he cleared after Taylor had made a fine save from Keiron Tarbie’s free kick. But it was a short reprieve for the Fish as two minutes later, Biddlecombe crossed from the right to the left side of the six yard box to John Shea who shot across the face of Taylor and into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Lawrence had to be alert to save at his near post before, six minutes from time, a cross from Pilbeam on the right was headed back across the six yard box by Biddlecombe for Shea to volley in his second.

An attendance of 161 is thoroughly decent in the SCEFL, but it is around 70 or 80 people down on where Tunbridge Wells can be with even a remotely successful team. The club cannot afford another season like this one and now they are reasonably assured of safety, the planning for next season needs to start right now. It’s going to be very interesting.

Pictures: Victor Bethell

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Ashford United U18 1

Match 108/16/1415 - Monday, 20th March 2017 - Ryman Youth League

Tonbridge (0) 2 Cussen 47,73
Ashford United (1) 1 Woodcock 19
Attendance: 38

Entrance: £1 Senior
Team Sheet: Free
Mileage: 38/7,526

Two second half goals from Jack Cussen, both headers from Tommy Chapman corners, turned a half-time 1-0 deficit into three valuable points.

Ashford United came into the game on the back of five straight wins including eye-catching wins against fellow title challengers Merstham and Maidstone and are vastly improved from the side that the Angels beat 4-2 at Homelands back in October.

Tonbridge fell behind after 19 minutes in which they had created no less than seven attempts on goal. But with Ashford’s first counter attack that caught Jardell Conteh stranded in the opposition half, Harry Lacey sprinted into the space vacated and produced a cross that Clark Woodcock was able to convert from close range.

The Ashford goalkeeper, Aaron Warton, had earlier produced saves from Liam Smith, Jack Bray and Cussen to deny the hosts.

The goal set back Tonbridge and for the rest of the half they struggled to reproduce the creativity of the first 20 minutes. Lewis Mitchell saved well from Matt Kirby and produced an ever better save to thwart Woodcock.

Billy Thornton made a half-time change replacing an injured Conteh with Alex Bishop, whose pace stretched the visitors during the second period.

Tonbridge were on equal terms within two minutes of the restart when a Chapman corner was met with a powerful header from Cussen from the centre of the six yard box.

Ashford continued to carry a threat and Mitchell produced a superb save, high to his right and from the resultant corner Dominic Welsh cleared from the line whilst covering the far post.

Chapman had a productive seven minutes in which he sent in a cross that begged a touch but none was found; then a shot from outside of the box that was well saved by Warton and, in the 73rd minute, a deep corner was headed home from the tightest of angles from beyond the far post by Cussen.

A high up and under from Smith resulted in Bishop being clattered by Warton to concede a penalty after 76 minutes. The goalkeeper redeemed himself with a fine save, low to his left, from Ziyad Ghali’s spot kick.

The last ten minutes saw chances for both sides, Warton saving from Harvey Killick and Ghali whilst Mitchell saved from Kirby.

Billy Thornton said afterwards: “I never thought we were going to lose the game. First half they had two chances, one of them they scored and the other Mitch pulled off a stunning save. Apart from that we had the ball for long periods of the game. We sat down at half-time and told the lads that we will make more chances. We believed that Ashford were looking tired and once we got one, we would get a few more. Two outstanding deliveries from Tommy Chapman and two fantastic headers, especially the second goal from a tight angle.”

All Tonbridge can do is win their games and hope that Merstham slip up somewhere along the line. This was a game that Ashford made them work hard for the points, but was well deserved by the finish.

Pictures: Lisa Fenton

Tonbridge 0 Dulwich Hamlet 0

Match 107/16/1414 - Saturday, 18th March 2017 - Ryman Premier

Tonbridge (0) 0
Dulwich Hamlet (0) 0
Attendance: 656

Entrance: £6 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/7,488

There is a line that I've used more than once in the time of this blog but it bears using again: "If you are prepared to take a point on the way in, be thankful for it on the way out."

When games are given tags towards the end of the season, "six-pointer" or "must win", I looked upon this one as "must not lose" rather than the aforementioned options. Throw in a stiff wind and a dry pitch, both sides were probably satisfied with the outcome.

Following Tuesday's Ryman League Cup Semi-Final between the clubs, Tonbridge made four changes whilst Dulwich made seven, so a very different game was only to be expected and duly materialised.

Dulwich enjoyed the advantage of the wind in the first period and duly dominated proceedings. After 11 minutes an effort from ex-Angel Nathan Green was deflected over his own crossbar by Jack Parter and Jonny Henly made the first of several ventures from his penalty area to clear. Henly is a sweeper-keeper in the modern way of goalkeeping and is proving to be very adept in the art.

After 27 minutes following a cross from Green, Dipo Akinyemi planted a header onto the top of the crossbar but overall Dulwich were restricted to very few actual shots on goal, whilst the home side failed to ask a single save out of Preston Edwards.

Taking their turn with the wind advantage, Tonbridge produced an opportunity in the opening minute of the second half but Alex Akrofi hooked the ball over the bar.

Although Tonbridge held sway in the second period they, like Dulwich in the first, found it difficult to create clear opportunities. Mitchell Nelson headed a Nick Wheeler free kick wide; and it was late in the game when Luke Blewden and Nathan Elder had headers that were easily gathered by Edwards.

For the neutral it was a game that was hardly a thrill a minute, nonetheless, it was absorbing with both defences and the elements emerging the winners.

Raynes Park Vale U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 8

Match 106/16/1413 - Thursday, 16th March 2017 - Ryman Youth League

Raynes Park Vale U18 (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels U18 (3) 8 Bray 2,43,90 Watson 5, Ikejie 52,62, Adonis-Taylor 54, McCreadie 55
Attendance: 20

Entrance: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 132/7,450
New Ground: 305

Tonbridge Angels U18s had a unique opportunity to impress with their gaffers, Steve McKimm and Barry Moore taking the team alongside Billy Thornton, who has agreed to manage the side through to the end of the season. And, working on the principle that you can only beat what is put in front of you, impress they did.

For Steve and Barry, this was a return to where it all began as eight-year-olds, many moons ago, when the club was known as Malden Vale.

Two goals in the first five minutes completely knocked the heart out of the hosts, Raynes Park Vale who were woeful and that’s being kind. Tonbridge opened the scoring after two minutes when a poorly cleared corner found Jack Bray on the edge of the box from where a firmly driven shot found the centre of the goal. After five minutes, Connor Watson tried his luck from 20 yards with a shot that cannoned off the inside of the post onto the prostrate goalkeeper who valiantly tried to retrieve the ball but only ended up helping it into the net.

Billy Thornton said after the game that it had been difficult to keep the players focused when the game is of such a one-sided nature adding also that the pitch was also pretty poor.

A long throw-in nearly caught the hapless ‘keeper who almost managed to palm it into his own net before the Angels received a minor setback when Jack Fenton, who sat on the first team bench on Tuesday, was injured needing to be replaced by Tommy Chapman after 15 minutes.

Chances came and went for the visitors with goalkeeper Lewis Mitchell a mere spectator but it took until the 43 minute for the Angels to increase their lead with a cracking shot from all of 30 yards into the top corner from Bray.

If the stuffing hadn’t already been knocked out of Raynes Park, three goals in three minutes early in the second period did the rest.

After 52 minutes a through ball from Bray sent Ikeije clear to tuck it past the keeper; two minutes later Callum Adonis-Taylor rose to meet a Chapman corner and power a header home and a further minute elapsed before Liam McCreadie headed home a Bray cross.

At 6-0, the youngsters had every reason to take their foot off the pedal but there were bosses on the sidelines to impress!

Henry Ikeije made it seven when he was put through to slide a shot past a static keeper.

After 71 minutes, considering he was unemployed for such long periods, Mitchell showed great concentration in saving low to his left to maintain his clean sheet.

In time added, after good work from substitute Ziyad Ghali, the outstanding Bray was on hand to complete his hat-trick from close range.

Sadly, Raynes Park Vale is like a place that time forgot. From the 30-odd years ago that McKimm was a youngster, he thought the only change that had been made was that the dug-outs had changed sides. A rickety old stand, that had a certain charm that is unidentifiable, provided cover and bench seating whilst a element of cover is provided behind one goal.