Tonbridge Angels 2 Whyteleafe 1

Match 49/18/1642 - Saturday, 27th October 2018 - FA Trophy 1R

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Read 81 Turner 90 (pen)
Whyteleafe (1) 1 Hector 37
Attendance: 390

Admission: £7 Senior
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/3,154

If there is a need to play the Get Out of Jail card, a time when £3,250 is on the line seems a very appropriate moment.

Tonbridge stared down the barrel of another cup exit to lower opposition from the moment of Sonny Miles’ brain fade until 10 minutes from the end from a shot from Liam King was handled on the line giving the Angels a penalty and also even up the player count.

On the first bitterly cold Saturday of the season, the game got off to a quiet start until Miles’ rush of blood, kicking out after a challenge had left both players on the ground leaving the referee with no option but to show the red card.

Tonbridge adjusted by dropping Tommy Parkinson into central defence but any early momentum had been lost.

Whyteleafe took control of the game and they thought they had taken the lead after 32 minutes when a splendid diagonal ball found Bradley Wilson who produced a fine finish only to ruled offside.

But the Surrey side were not to be denied as five minutes later when the ball was collected by Daniel Hector who unleashed a shot from 30 yards that whistled into the top corner.

Manager Steve McKimm sent his troops out early for the second half and, despite an early effort from Bentley Graham that was deflected safely to Jonny Henly, their greater intent was instantly apparent.

Tom Beere, instrumental in all that was good about the home side in the second period, was sent through on goal and when he was brought down by ex-Angel Nathan Campbell there were thoughts that the red card might be flourished yet again, but the official decreed a yellow sufficient.

In a matter of a minute, Whyteleafe broke from the pressure they had been under and a cross from Graham flashed across the face of the goal begging a touch followed by an effort from Graham that needed to be turned over the bar by Henly.

Jared Small made way for King with 20 minutes remaining and, after 75 minutes, a shot from Joe Turner was bound for the top corner but Tyler McCarthy, in the Leafe goal brilliantly turned it over the bar.

Tonbridge finally found the equaliser that their second half performance deserved when King’s shot from around the penalty spot was saved by the hands of defender Matthew O’Donoghue, who saw the inevitable red. Alex Read stepped up for the spot kick but his initial shot was too close to McCarthy who parried the ball back into the path who made no mistake from the second attempt.

A replay at Church Road appeared set for Tuesday, and the visitors might well claim it was something they deserved, but as King broke through he was brought down by Harrison Carnegie for another penalty and, once more, the sight of the referee’s red card. With Read having been substituted eight minutes earlier, Turner took the responsibility and his driven shot carried too much power despite McCarthy guessing the direction correctly.

Who knows, a favourable draw and that Jail Card might appear even more profitable.

Pictures: David Couldridge

Hollands & Blair 0 Chatham Town 2

Match 48/18/1641 - Wednesday, 24th October 2018 - SCEFL Challenge Cup 2R

Hollands & Blair (0) 0
Chatham Town (0) 2 Walker 51 Pilbeam 85
Attendance: 224

Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 42/3,116

A Medway derby featuring a Chatham side that have made a good start in the SCEFL Premier brought an impressive attendance of 224, virtually double the number of any other match that I’ve watched at Star Meadow.

The first half of this Challenge Cup Second Round tie was a hard fought affair despite the pace of Matt Bodkin and Jon Pilbeam on both flanks producing a real threat for the Chats. What Bodkin is doing plying his trade at this level remains a mystery.

The visitors had the ball in the net after 16 minutes courtesy of Bodkin’s pace and cross but Paul Vines’ finish was ruled out for offside.

Chances for the Chats continued to arrive with Byron Walker firing at Shaun Wicks and also having another goal, once more ruled out.

Blair came back into the game in the last 10 minutes of the half with Caleb Bearman-Bryce and Jason Fregene firing over.

Chatham finally got onto the scoreboard six minutes into the second half when Walker got on the end of a cross from Pilbeam to concert with a tap in from close range.

Once Chatham got their noses in front it didn’t look likely they would offer Blair any route back into the game. Calvin Sedenu managed to test Dan Ellis in the Chats goal just the once whilst at the other end Vines and Walker had chances aplenty to wrap the game long before Pilbeam scored at the second attempt with five minutes to go.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Enfield Town 2

Match 47/18/1640 - Tuesday, 23rd October 2018 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Turner 90+4
Enfield Town (1) 2 Blackman 44 Olomowewe 55
Attendance: 490

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/3,074

When home form doesn’t match results on their travels, everyone, it seems, has a theory. Whilst those theories are not necessarily conspiratorial and some have more merit than others, every one loves their tuppeneth.

Some theories have lasted the test of time and I can remember them being trotted out at the Angel Ground such as the club doesn’t want promotion, it cannot afford it whilst others such as we suffer from a big game, big crowd syndrome can be researched statistically if you have the time and inclination (I haven’t!). One theory that gave me some thinking time is that our award-winning pitch is actually too good and benefits the likes of Bognor and, in this fixture, Enfield who are looking to play their opposition off the park rather than bludgeon them with a aerial barrage. Through the medium of twittersphere, manager Steve McKimm subscribes to a much simpler theory, if you don’t take your chances, you don’t win games and with the opportunities that went begging, you will be hard put to find a counter argument.

The big crowd syndrome was certainly put to the test as a bumper attendance, for a Tuesday evening, of 490 assembled for top versus third going into the game.

A cagey opening period was only highlighted by a good save, low to his left by Enfield goalkeeper, Joe Wright from Joe Turner before Enfield took on a period of dominance. Sam Youngs warmed the hands of Jonny Henly after 17 minutes and the goalkeeper followed this, a minute later with a good save to deny Lewis Taafe.

Having worked their way through that period, it was the home side’s turn to exert pressure with Wright doing well at his near post to repel a Turner effort and a good combination with Tommy Whitnell and Adem Ramadan saw the latter’s effort safely deflected into the hands of Wright.

The game swung to and fro, until a minute before the break the visitors went in front when both central defenders went for the same ball only for Sonny Miles to head it into the back of Arthur Lee’s head with the ball falling sweetly for Ryan Blackman to rifle it home from the edge of the area.

Ten minutes into the second period the task became ever harder for the Angels when an Enfield corner from the right was met with a late, unchallenged run into the box by Taofiq Olomowewe who powered a header past Henly.

On the hour, a Turner corner was headed goalwards by Miles but cleared from the line at the post and the resultant clearance saw Wright save well from Tommy Parkinson.

A cross from Parkinson from the head of Turner but it was directed wide and a Turner cross was headed in the same direction by Alex Read as Tonbridge sought a way back into the game.

With time running out and Tonbridge gambling on pushing bodies forward, Henly was forced to save at his near post from Aaron Greene and substitute Bandon Adams fired over.

Tonbridge gave themselves something of a lifeline in the fourth minute when a header across the face of goal from Parkinson was headed against a post by Read but from the rebound Turner lashed home a shot, that was to prove only a consolation.

Whatever the theory, despite the Angels remaining at the top of the tree, it is plan to see that the recent hiccups at home are undermining the superb away form.

AFC Hornchurch 0 Tonbridge Angels 2

Match 46/18/1639 - Saturday, 20th October 2018 - Bostik Premier

AFC Hornchurch (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Read 45 (pen),90+3
Attendance: 279
New ground: 329

Admission: £6
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 84/3,036

Country Roads have taken Tonbridge Angels home from five Bostik Premier League clubs, 510 miles, 450 minutes plus around 45 minutes of added time and their steadfast defence remains unbreached.

This was my first visit to AFC Hornchurch’s Bridge Avenue Stadium, and contrary to reports of it being a complete dump, I didn’t mind it as far as the facilities go. There was plenty of covered seating and standing accommodation but for those that like to stand behind the goals there is either none or you need binoculars to watch from the clubhouse terrace. It has to be agreed that viewing across the athletics track is far from perfect, especially in the second half when we watched Tonbridge attacking the clubhouse end from a diagonal slightly behind the corner flag. It did, however, turn out to be a handy position to see Alex Read’s exquisite volley to seal the points and an Angels triumph at Hornchurch for the first time ever. The pitch was strangely mown that left the grass relatively long and proved to be a difficult surface.

Hornchurch roared out of the traps, no doubt their ears stinging from a managerial reminder of their midweek 5-1 defeat by Lewes at the Stadium. Sean Marks brought a save out of Jonny Henly before the first minute had elapsed and ex-Angel George Purcell fired narrowly wide after 13 minutes. In between, Adem Ramadan had three efforts that each sailed over the bar, but at least each one got slightly lower.

Purcell shot against the bar after 16 minutes after being set up by Nana Boakye-Yiadom; a free kick from Brad Warner was wastefully headed wide by Kenzer Lee and Purcell once more tested Henly as Tonbridge struggled to find any momentum.

The game was into the last ten minutes of the first half before the visitors started to exert pressure on the Hornchurch goal. A good move involving Joe Turner and Ramadan set up Tommy Whitnell for a shot that was blocked by a defender and Turner supplied a pass for Read to shoot wide.

The breakthrough came on the stroke of half-time when a ball into the box from Jack Parter found Read who drew a clumsy challenge from Kenzer Lee that left the referee with no option but to point to the spot. Read dusted himself down to drive the spot kick into the corner which gave the correctly guessing Callum Chafer no chance.

The second half was as professional a performance as you would wish from your side on the road. The nature of the athletics stadium does not lend itself to being particularly atmospheric but as the home side became completely stifled any noise level was reduced to that of a library.

Chances for both sides were limited, the best of which came when Turner’s free kick was tipped over by Chafer.

Hornchurch’s Connor Hogan picked up a unnecessary booking when in a fit of frustration he kicked the ball into the hoarding after being penalised and following a poor challenge on Turner in the final minute he saw a second yellow.

Three minutes of time added had been played when substitute Jared Small galloped from deep in his own half down the right before sending in the perfect cross for Read to volley home at the far post.

Those Country Roads may be long and winding but, for now, they are paved with gold.

Picture below: Dave Couldridge

Tonbridge Angels Ladies 4 Sittingbourne Ladies 0

Match 45/18/1638 - Thursday, 18th October 2018 - Isthmian Ladies League Cup 1st Round

Tonbridge Angels Ladies (2) 4 Mackley 31 Janes 39,71 Walker 89
Sittingbourne Ladies (0) 0
Attendance: 75

Admission: £2
Programme: With Entrance
Mileage: 38/2,952

Tonbridge Angels Ladies comfortably eased their way into the Isthmian Women’s League Cup Second Round at Longmead against a spirited Sittingbourne side.

Sittingbourne play their football in the Division from which the Angels were promoted last season and, if they can maintain the tenacity displayed, they will do very well this season.

The East Kent side were forced onto the back foot from the first whistle but defended stoutly for 30 minutes before the Angels finally made the breakthrough.

The tone was set after eight minutes when Megan Akehurst headed over and, after 14 minutes, Becky Mackley brought the first save out of the Bourne’s keeper Emily Hariss.

The goalkeeper made a brave save at the feet of Becky Janes, who had the ball in the net after half-an-hour but saw it ruled out as the ball had gone out of play before the cross was made from the right.

The Angels finally got their noses in front a minute later when a ball over the top from Akehurst saw Mackley outpace the defender before coolly lobbing the advancing Hariss.

A second goal was added after 39 minutes when Janes produced a sublime finish at the near post to turn a right wing cross into the bottom corner.

Any thoughts of floodgates opening where dispelled as the visitors spirits remained high despite the pattern of play continuing to be in a single direction.

Once again Sittingbourne’s organisation led to a frustrating 25 minutes for the Angels with Hariss denying Kelly Moran and Akehurst and Lauryn Underhill fired into the side netting.

For a period, following some Sittingbourne substitutions, the visitors threatened but the experienced Tonbridge back line largely kept them at arm’s length.

Nineteen minutes remained when Janes shrugged off challenges in the box before rounding the keeper to slide the ball into the unguarded net to effectively put the game to bed.

Helena Fothergill needed to be alert after being largely unemployed for long periods to race from her goal and clear and she fielded an effort from Georgia Winger to preserve her clean sheet before Tonbridge substitute Sara Walker was on hand to finish after some battling work from Akehurst.

A very decent attendance of 75 would have been impressed with a solid Angels performance, full of pace and movement and will be keeping fingers crossed for a home draw in the next round.

Pictures: Dave Couldridge

Ebbsfleet United Under-19 2 Tonbridge Angels Academy 2

Match 44/18/1637 - Wednesday, 17th October 2018 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Ebbsfleet United Under-19 (0) 2 Demontagnac 53 Edwards-Henry 76
Tonbridge Angels Academy (0) 2 Shirman 72 Lewis 76
Headcount: 3
Played at STC Sports Club, Welling Park FC
New Ground: 328

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 69/2,914

Tonbridge Angels Academy retained their unbeaten start to their League season with a hard fought point against Ebbsfleet United at STC Sports Club, Eltham, home of Kent County League Division Three, Welling Park that boasted a couple of brick built dug-outs, but very little else.

Tom Parkinson, with Jamie Coyle alongside him in the technical area, was light on numbers with five players unavailable through injury and effectively was only able to list one substitute.

The pitch was, in truth, a bit of a cabbage patch and difficult for both sides and the leaden skies had turned into an irritating drizzle. Tonbridge started the brighter with Jacob Lambert pulling a shot wide and Ned Lewis forcing Ebbsfleet goalkeeper, Omar Adam, into a save low to his left.

Lewis brought another save out of Adam and Zak Wolvey fired over as the Angels controlled the first half hour before the home side went close when a corner was allowed to travel to the far post from where Zaccharia Dainkhh shot into the side netting.

Joe Roberts was asked to make his first real contribution to the half in the final minute when he saved low to his left from Aruf Ahmed before the referee called time on a 45 minutes that the Angels had largely been in full control.

Parkinson was forced to use his sole fit substitute, Tom Hylton early into the second period when Joel Banks limped out of the action.

Ebbsfleet, probably responding to a few harsh words during the break, offered a great deal more going forward and after 53 minutes, a speculative shot from the impressive Dantai Demontagnac slipped through the grasp of Roberts to open the scoring.

The game opened out after the goal with chances falling to both sides, the Angels’ Lewis firing wide after being put through by Josh Stirman and, following a free kick floated into the box by Sam Slipper, Harry Hudson planted a header against the bar.

Lambert shot narrowly wide before the visitors drew level with a shot from outside of the box by Stirman that similarly slipped through the grasp of Adam after 72 minutes.

Tonbridge will be disappointed with themselves that following a corner of their own, the ball was punted forward with Dainkhh galloping away down the left to provide a tap-in for Darnell Edwards-Henry to restore Ebbsfleet’s lead after 76 minutes.

But the Angels roared back and were level just a minute later. Slipper floated in another free kick that this time was met by a powerful header from Harry Lewis to restore parity.

The heavy nature of the pitch, with the grass desperately in need of the sight of a mower, told on all the players in the final 10 minutes who were beginning to run on empty and neither side had quite the energy to craft a winner.

Tom Parkinson said after the game that he couldn’t have asked more from his team in terms of effort but had been disappointed with the decision making that led to the two goals conceded.

Tonbridge Angels 1 Bognor Regis Town 2

Match 43/18/1636 - Saturday, 13th October 2018 - Bostik Premier

Tonbridge Angels (0) 1 Read 67
Bognor Regis Town (0) 2 Lethbridge 51 Walsh 90
Attendance: 814

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £2.50
Mileage: 38/2,845

Non-League Day at Tonbridge probably exceeded expectations with an impressive 814 through the gate. The bumper attendance was rewarded with a high quality game that anyone who had ventured into this level for the first time in the absence of the Premier League’s glitterati would surely have thought their £5 was well spent.

The home fans would have perhaps felt a sense of injustice that a reckless challenge that took their goalkeeper from the field leaving them with a substitute custodian with a history that was duly repeated.

Whilst that was the defining moment in the game, the majority of the home support would have recognised that Bognor were excellent and probably deserved the points whilst appreciating that their own favourites had worked tirelessly to fight their way back into the game.

Tonbridge roared out of the traps and good wing back play from James Folkes ended with Adem Ramadan firing over with just 30 seconds on the clock.

Jared Small fired wide before Bognor found their feet with their short passing game opening up the Angels defence. Joe Tomlinson and Doug Tuck combined well, creating chances for Mason Walsh whilst Bradley Lethbridge curled a shot wide of the far past followed by Jimmy Muitt and Harvey Whyte firing over.

Tonbridge struggled to regain their opening momentum but slowly the game evened out with a determined run from Alex Read ending with a shot over and two fine passes from Small to Turner and on to Read carved Bognor open but the striker fired wide.

A rush of madness from Bognor ‘keeper Dan Lincoln allowed Small a distant shot into an empty net as chances fell one after the other to both sides who were similarly afflicted with wayward shooting.

After 51 minutes a defensive mix-up saw Sonny Miles allow Lethbridge cut in from the left to bury his unexpected opportunity to give the visitors the lead.

Bognor further grew in confidence with Lethbridge guilty of dragging a couple of chances wide and it appeared a tall order for the Angels to find a way back into the game. But Ramadan, who had a sparkling game, cut in from the right with his shot-cum-cross rebounding to Read who made no mistake from around 12 yards.

A point apiece would probably have been seen as a good result from both sides point of view but the game turned on 78 minutes when the challenge from Whyte caught Henly earning him a yellow card that many from a closer vantage point thought deserved greater punishment. After a long delay, Henly was unable to continue and needed to be stretchered from the pitch.

Tonbridge supporters misgivings about their substitute goalkeeper, unfortunately proved well founded when in the 90th minute a 25 yard shot from Walsh, hardly carrying much venom, found its way past him to the delight of the large travelling contingent and the exasperation of the rest of Longmead.

In the eight minutes of added time, Tonbridge substitute Liam King saw an effort blocked and Read fired tamely at the keeper.

This was a great advert for the Bostik Premier and worth £5 of anybody’s money (as long as they entered the ground before 2.15pm), but Tonbridge’s supporters will only feel frustration whatever price they paid.