Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Kennington U18 0

Match 51/21/1915 - Sunday, 31st October 2021 - Kent County U18 Cup 2R

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Burke 83
Kennington (0) 0
Headcount: 25

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 23/2,823

Ultimately Tonbridge Angels found the winning goal but both sides deserve to take credit for producing a competitive game in atrocious weather. A howling wind was matched by downpours of Noah proportions. Even the supposed resilience of a 3G surface was stretched to its limits as standing water began to collect in one corner.

The game, as said, was always competitive but the quality was compromised by the elements. In fact, it was the outstanding piece of quality that produced the winning goal.

Tonbridge dominated the possession for much of the game but in 10 minute spells Kennington provided a serious threat.

The best chance of the first half fell to Max Cormack after 41 minutes but he pulled it wide.

It is on occasions like this that you have to admire the fortitude of the parents who get up each Sunday morning to drive their offspring to wherever and then spend the next couple of hours on the touch line getting soaked through to the skin.

Chances opened up in the second half and, thankfully, the rain relented. Kennington had one of their spells either side of the hour mark creating three good chances with Matt Larkin saving well with his feet and the Kennington supporters thought they had their noses in front as the net rippled but the shot had hit the side netting.

The winner came on 83 minutes from a move of pure quality. Fin Wolvey knocked a superb crossfield pass to the right from where Luca Bradley produced a pin point cross to the far post where he found Rocky Burke whose precise shot nestled in the net just inside the far post.

Dom Welsh was happy to earn a place in the Third Round commenting: “I think we probably had 70%+ in terms of possession but failed to break down 11 behind the ball, which is natural and never easy. They played direct, on the break and created some chances as we had to push players forward. We said at half time that one goal wins it. It’s never easy when teams put everyone behind the ball but I’m pleased with the clean sheet and into the next round.”

Tonbridge Angels 0 Oxford City 2

Match 50/21/1914 - Saturday, 30th October 2021 - National League South

Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Oxford City (0) 2 Harmon 47 Iacuifano 60
Attendance: 706

Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 38/2,800

I’ve never used this blog to call out referees, it’s a tough job that very few of us would want and at non-league level they have to make decisions without the comfort blanket of another man sitting watching the game on a screen. But it is on these decisions games can be won and lost and I’m afraid Mr Aji Ajibola did Tonbridge Angels no favours.

We have seen a lot of Ajibola over the last few years and we take some history with him into every match he takes and it rarely ends well.

Did Tonbridge deserve to take something out of this game against high-flying opponents Oxford City, probably (possibly). Did Ajibola’s decisions influence the result, almost certainly.

Tonbridge made no changes from last time out at Billericay with new loan signing, Jake Hutchinson from Colchester United, on the bench.

Tonbridge dominated the first half with it taking until the 37th minute for the visitors to register their first attempt on goal.

Doug Loft was controlling the midfield and he set up the opening chance for Joe Turner who struck narrowly over after 15 minutes.

The next chance came on 27 minutes when Ibrahim Olutade headed wide and five minutes later, the same player just failed to get onto a Jamie Fielding cross.

On 40 minutes, Oxford literally laid their bodies on the line as successive efforts from Turner, Olutade and Loft were all blocked but the game entered the break scoreless.

A failure to take chances often comes back to haunt (very apt on Halloween weekend) and so it was within two minutes of the restart. A long ball into the left channel saw Joe Iaciofaro collect the ball, he turned inside Tom Parkinson, and backheeled to defender George Harmon who fired in an unerring shot into the far corner.

The first of the controversial decisions from Mr Ajibola came on 55 minutes when Fielding and Tom Parkinson both needed attention following a clash of heads. Parkinson eventually needed to be substituted but Fielding had to leave the pitch following treatment. Whilst the Angels were a man short, and with the referee not allowing the player to return to the pitch, Elliot Benyon and Iaciofaro combined for the latter to score from inside of the box. Why Fielding wasn’t allowed to return is a mystery, especially as later in the game with an Oxford player having to leave the field following injury, the referee was heard to say, “shout when you are ready to return.”

In fairness, Oxford were a much better side in the second half and Tonbridge didn’t create the clear chances that they had in the first period. Hutchinson came off the bench to have a great opportunity in front of goal but couldn’t sort out his feet and then, with a minute of ordinary time remaining Ricky Modeste had a goal chalked off for offside that, to be frank, nobody could understand.

Referee’s don’t win or lose matches, but they can certainly influence the outcome.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 1 VCD Athletic Academy 2

Match 49/21/1913 - Thursday, 28th October 2021 - National League U19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 1 Hartley 22
VCD Athletic Academy (0) 2 #5 50 #11 76
Headcount: 16

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 28/2,762

The Angels Academy slipped to a disappointing defeat to a hard-working VCD Athletic on Thursday afternoon.

In the midst of half-term, Tonbridge were short of some regular starters with Luca Woodhouse a significant miss, but we have to guess that the visitors encountered similar problems.

The first 20 minutes were fairly even although the better chances were created by the Angels. A teasing cross from Leo Vowles narrowly missed Cameron Wootton’s slide at the far post and on 16 minutes, the VCD goalkeeper performed heroics as he kept out an opening attempt from Vowles as he cut in from the left and then managed to parry follow-up shots from Wootton and Ben Hermitage before the ball was cleared to safety.

Tonbridge got their noses in front after 22 minutes when a punt out from defence was headed on by Wootton leaving Fin Hartley to outpace his marker before drawing the goalkeeper and sliding the ball into the bottom corner.

In fairness, Tonbridge were the better side in the first half and had they taken their chances they could have gone into the break two or three goals to the good with Joe Tyrie putting a header wide and a corner from Ben Twist coming directly back off the bar with the resultant rebound being scrambled to safety.

After an early second half chance for Wootton went begging, VCD took a grip of the game and were not to relinquish it for the remainder of the game.

VCD worked really hard, pressed from the front and in the second half showed more energy than the Angels were able to give. Their equaliser came five minutes into the half when the centre half met a right-sided corner with a towering header that gave the Angels goalkeeper, Nathan Carter absolutely no chance.

After several near misses for VCD with very little in the reply from the Angels, the visitors took the lead after 76 minutes when the ball somewhat fortuitously deflected into the path of the VCD left winger who clinically finished.

It was a jolt that did prompt a response from the Angels but they were not able to break down the visitors resilient defence.

Manager Tommy Parkinson whilst disappointed with his own team’s performance was fulsome in his praise for the visitors: “It was boys against men for the majority of the time today. VCD worked exceptionally hard, won every tackle, header, first ball, second ball and well deserved their win today.”

Glebe Under-18 3 Tonbridge Angels Under-18 4

Match 48/21/1913 - Wednesday, 27th October 2021 - Isthmian Youth

Glebe Under-18 (1) 3 Rhodes 37,83 Boyce 64
Tonbridge Angels Under-18 (3) 4 Wolvey 9,29,58 (2 pens) Saunders 32
Attendance: 33

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 64/2,734

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s withstood a last ten minute onslaught from Glebe to record their first Isthmian Youth League win of the season. The Angels had led 4-1 after 58 minutes courtesy of a Finlay Wolvey hat-trick, but this was never a game that was going to be over until the final whistle.

Manager Dom Welsh was justifiably proud of his team, commenting after the game: ““Honestly made up for the boys tonight! Absolutely huge task to take any points from the game and they delivered a gritty performance! Very proud of my team!”

His team were down to the bare bones with only 12 players available and having to play a striker, Will Saunders, at centre half alongside an Under-16, Rory Kavanagh. Both put in sterling performances.

Tonbridge took a ninth minute lead through Wolvey who took a pass 20 yards out to drive in a fierce shot that the Glebe goalkeeper could only help into the net.

The Angels dominated the opening half-hour and went 2-0 up when Ethan Knight was felled as he dribbled along the bye-line following a short corner routine. Wolvey firmly struck home the resultant penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Three minutes later, it was 3-0 when Saunders met a right sided corner to plant a solid header past the goalkeeper.

If Tonbridge thought the game had been put to bed they were given a rude awakening when Ernest Rhodes seized upon a rebound after the Angels goalkeeper Matt Larkin had saved a close range effort.

Glebe exerted full pressure to reduce the deficit before half-time and Larkin was at his brilliant best to turn over a shot from Finlay Boyce that was heading for the top corner.

Glebe maintained the momentum into the second half and it took a great saving tackle from Saunders to maintain the score line.

Against the run of play, after 58 minutes, George Theis broke clear and was brought down by the advancing Glebe goalkeeper for another penalty from which Wolvey completed his hat-trick in the same manner as his first spot kick.

The comfort of a three goal lead was not to last long as, six minutes later, Boyce latched onto Larkin’s parrying save to score from close range.

When, nine minutes from time, a free kick from Rhodes found its way into the net through a crowded penalty area, it set up a grandstand finish from the home side that was met with some desperate, but brave, defending that somehow withstood an extra four minutes of added time that included a fine, low save from Larkin.

Billericay Town 0 Tonbridge Angels 1

Match 47/21/1912 - Saturday, 23rd October 2021 - National League South

Billericay Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Modeste 27
Attendance: 866

Admission: £10 Senior
Programme: £3
Mileage: 98/2,670

A little over 12 months ago on a wet Tuesday night, Tonbridge historically won at New Lodge for the first-ever time. Sadly, the event was only celebrated by a few club officials as matches continued to be played behind closed doors as the country battled with the pandemic.

Nice though it was to be part of that small group that witnessed Tom Beere wrapping the game up four minutes from time, it felt wrong that our supporters who had seen so many disappointments at this ground over the years could only watch on from the albeit comfort of their homes via the live stream.

So we fast forward to the present, the United Kingdom, let’s face it, is still in the grip of the pandemic but without the restrictions and supporters are able to travel, on the day a torturous journey to Billericay in the hope that the magic of 6th October 2020 could be recreated.

And with a little bit of Ricky Modeste’s magic, recreated it was.

Steve McKimm has managed to re-acquire the services of Adam Lovatt from Sutton United for a couple of months and he went straight into the team whilst the absence through injury of Craig Braham-Barrett saw Modeste line up in the unusual position of wing back.

The opening 20 minutes saw little in the way of goalmouth action with Joe Turner pulling a shot wide and from a free kick a deflection took the ball narrowly wide for a corner.

In the meantime, Billericay were offering very little of note and, in the 26th minute, Modeste was found on the left wing by Lovatt in a bit of space to advance a couple of yards before curling a shot into the far top corner with the home goalkeeper, Bailey Vose, literally clutching at thin air.

Tonbridge went on to largely dominate the remainder of the half with a couple of half chances falling to Tommy Wood and Modeste.

The second half very much began with the Angels starting where they left off. Ibrahim Olutade was proving a real handful for the Billericay defence and when Wood was bundled to the ground after 57 minutes there was a strong claim for a penalty but this was waved away by the referee.

Half-chance after half-chance continued to fall the Angels way and the nagging thought began that eventually this was going to bite us on the bum as, something of this nature just always happens at Billericay.

The home side literally hadn’t had a single shot on goal as the game went into the last 10 minutes and they started to build a little bit of pressure and, so it was that the moment that never fails to arrive at New Lodge came on 87 minutes when a hopeful ball into the right channel saw the Tonbridge goalkeeper, Jonny Henly advance and, on the decision of the linesman after consultation with the referee, bring down the Billericay player for what appeared to be a very soft penalty decision.

Kweku Lucan stepped up, but his shot was weak, his aim was poor and Henly was able to fall on the ball to save with relative comfort.

In the five added minutes there were some heart stopping moments as Sonny Miles cleared away from the line and with one last gasp effort, Henly was forced into his best save of the match to preserve the points and give the travelling support the joy that they were denied 12 months ago.

Tonbridge Angels Academy 2 Camberley Town Academy 0

Match 46/21/1911 - Wednesday, 20th October 2021 - NLA League Cup R2

Tonbridge Angels (0) 2 Wootton 55 Wallis 64
Camerberly Town (0) 0
Headcount: 15

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/2,572

A stiff wind influenced the game at Larkfield on Wednesday afternoon, such was its strength that both sides found it easier playing against the wind than having it at their backs with the slightest of over hit passes carried out of play.

Camberley tested Nat Gibb in the opening minute whilst Billy Kent shot wide and a trio of Tonbridge corners eventually came to nothing.

Both goalkeepers were kept busy with the Camberley custodian making a fine save at his near post to deny Luca Woodhouse after 20 minutes. Neither side was particularly taking control of the game and a chance per side might have given one or other the lead.

From a 28 minute corner, Kian Austin’s header struck the cross bar and, six minutes later, Gibb needed to be at his best to save low at his near post.

The chance for chance continued into the later stages of the half with the Camberley ‘keeper saving from Woodhouse and Gibb turning away an effort on target.

The second period saw Tonbridge take a greater control of the game with the wind against them. Cameron Wootton had an effort saved before, after 55 minutes, he was on the end of a move that saw Josh McArthur’s cross fired into the bottom corner.

Nine minutes later, the Angels gave themselves a bit of breathing space when Joe Wallis glanced a header at the near post into the net.

Tonbridge largely controlled the closing stages with substitute Mason Nicholls’ shot clearing the bar; Wallis bringing a save from a corner and a Will Saunders header drifting narrowly wide.

At the final whistle, the second half performance had given the Academy a comfortable passage into the third round of the National League Under-19 Alliance League Cup with the draw yet to be made.

Tonbridge Angels U18 2 K Sports U18 2

Match 45/21/1910 - Monday, 18th October 2021 - Isthmian Youth

Tonbridge Angels (1) 2 Theis 45,57
K Sports (1) 2 Gardiner 13 Coiling 81
Attendance: 60

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/2,534

An exquisite finish from K Sports Harry Coiling, seven minutes from time, earned the visitors a point from a competitive match at a rain soaked Longmead Stadium on Monday evening.

The opening 10 minutes were a good indication of the way the game was going to unfold as an even contest. K Sports’ Mitchell Smith had the opening shot on target with Fin Wolvey testing Taite Holtam for the Angels. But, after 13 minutes it was the K’s that opened the scoring when Mackenzie Gardiner cut in from the left and from an acute angle fired into the bottom corner.

K Sports drew confidence from the goal and Coiling drew a good save from Matt Larkin with Toby Henley completing the clearance. Coiling was proving a real handful and on the half hour he capitalised on a defensive error but his shot narrowly cleared the bar and five minutes later he drew loud appeals for a penalty that was waved away by the referee.

Tonbridge eased their way back into the game in the closing five minutes with Wolvey firing a free kick over and Rockie Burke forcing the K’s goalkeeper into a good save. But the equaliser came on the stroke of half-time when good work from Sam Grant ended with his cross finding George Theis running in at the far post to touch in.

K Sports had the better of the exchanges in the early part of the second period with Larkin saving well but it was the Angels who took the lead after 57 minutes when a free kick into the box from Joe Wallis saw Theis glance a header past Holtam.

A spectacular shot from around 35 yards from K’s Toby Sargent only just cleared the bar, but after 81 minutes, the Angels thought they had won the game when great work down the right from Burke ended with substitute Hayden Velvick’s shot being partially spilt by the keeper with Theis tucking home the rebound. But the referee disallowed the goal having deemed that the Holtam had retrieved the ball and the Tonbridge centre forward had kicked it out of his hands.

Two minutes later, the scores were level again when the ball was given away by Tonbridge and Coiling fully capitalised with a lob from the right hand angle of the 18 yard box over the head of a stranded Larkin.

Tonbridge pressed hard for a late winner with Burke bringing a brilliant save out Holtam but it was not to be and, in fairness, a draw was a fair result.

Manager Dom Welsh felt that the game could have gone either way and despite the quality of the second goal he was disappointed at the manner in which the ball was turned over. He felt his side are making steady progress despite their inexperience, with 10 first year’s starting and another on the bench alongside two under-16’s with only one second year starting.