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Tonbridge Angels 2 - 2  Sevenoaks Town

Colin Blewden and Chris Hollyoak’s under 18’s dropped two more valuable points, this time against neighbouring and much improved Sevenoaks Town on Sunday morning, despite twice coming back from behind in a lacklustre 2-2 performance.

With cold blustery conditions prevailing, the kick-off was delayed for almost an hour, after the hapless match official was struck to the ground by a stray football before the match even started. With the Air Ambulance gone, surely the morning’s excitement wasn’t over already? Not with a stand-in referee…

A first minute interception and through-ball from Liam Herbert almost give Elliot (Rambo) Harland a chance to draw ‘first blood’, but the unorthodox striker was unable to connect, giving the visitors an early let-off and the chance of having three early strikes of their own in an uncomfortable ten-minute spell.

More valuable touches from Herbert ensued, but the closest Angels could get, was a long throw from Luke Blewden, which got as far as the side netting. Unsurprisingly, it was the visitors that struck first, although needing two attempts to get the better of goalkeeper Olly Stell on his league debut. Perhaps the Angels were unlucky not to make amends, when the pace on Stell’s upfield drop-kick was just too much for Harland, with the opposing keeper only having to step off his line to deny the Angel’s frontman.

Once again, Herbert became the supplier in the next assault, as he picked out Olly Funnell, whose curling shot was held by the Sevenoaks’ keeper, amongst a spell of several off-sides from Angels’ anxious strikers.

An unprecedented thirty minutes passed before the Angels had their first corner of the match, one that the keeper dropped, but managed to regain and use to start a rapid breakaway, culminating with a long shot that was securely held by Stell. With much of the play dead-locked in midfield, chances were getting fewer over the next fifteen minutes, until Nick Hollyoak picked out Harland, whose sublime 25-yard strike dragged the Angels back into the game, to bring the sides level at 1-1 as the interval beckoned.

A slow start to the second half, with Sevenoaks taking the first initiative with a shot delivered straight at Stell, followed by a low penetrating corner that Mike Holden done well to clear. Funnell was unlucky not to put the Angels in front after winning a bustling duel with the keeper, only to see his goalbound effort cleared from the six-yard box by a well-placed defender. Luck was something that the irrepressible Sonny Miles had run-out off, after having a valid claim for a penalty denied when he was brought down inside the eighteen-yard box.

Industrious Hollyoak was next to threaten, as his well-flighted ball was plucked out the air by the Sevenoaks’ keeper and was launched upfield to be headed past Stell to give the visitors the slender advantage again.

Another scoring chance went amiss after Herbert’s run down the flank and centred cross was headed wide by Harland, before Town had their own chance, sending a ball flashing past outstretched Stell and the far post. With twenty minutes left, a tactical substitution followed, seeing Matt Knight and Josh Biddlecombe replacing Harland and Miles, with Funnell being dropped into central midfield (to replace Miles, who is still irrepressible).

The introduction of Knight and Biddlecombe added fresh pace to the frontline as the Angels looked to salvage the game, against a team they had soundly beaten 3-0 earlier in the season. But it was Stell who was brought into action next as he left his line to clear the ball; with dependable Will Jagger left in the six-yard box to deal with the next shot as it rifled in.

Hollyoak continued to impress as his next effort was swept into the visitors’ goalmouth, with no one there to convert what was a perfect goal-scoring opportunity. But the persistence of Hollyoak eventually paid off as he single-handedly burst through and robbed the visiting keeper to record his second and most controversial goal of the campaign; resulting in a full pitch-side inquisition as to whether he was offside. Fair play to the stand-in match official, who had to unnecessarily argue and justify his decision against his own linesman and assistant manager before awarding the goal.

With minutes left, it was a late ‘challenge’ on Biddlecombe that marred the end of the match, with the striker being kicked in an incident, that will be remembered far longer than Hollyoak’s equaliser that spared the team’s blushes.

Liam Herbert was unanimously declared ‘Man of the match’ with Nick Hollyoak in close contention.

A spokesman for the club commented “Under the morning’s circumstances and the conditions the match was played in, a draw was a fair result.”

Goal Scorerers:  Elliot Harland and Nick Hollyoak

Man of the Match:  Liam Herbert

Crockenhill 1 - 1  Tonbridge Angels

Friendly

Managers Colin Blewden and Chris Hollyoak took full advantage of a ‘free’ Sunday to give all sixteen squad players a run-out in a hastily arranged mid-season friendly against KYL Central Division’s high-flying Crockenhill at the renowned Wested Meadow ‘stadium’.

Another dominant start by the Angels saw two early corners and an early offside decision against fleet-footed Josh Biddlecombe, whose next effort was blocked before being taken down for a fifth-minute penalty just inside the eighteen-yard box.

With an unprecedented general reluctance throughout the team to take the spot-kick, Sonny Miles eventually stepped forward to face the in-form Chris Roberts, who denied the usually irrepressible midfielder.

Striker Matt Knight continued to put Roberts under pressure, driving narrowly wide of the target before the home side replicated the effort after ten minutes with their first attack of the match. Further dominating play from the Angels gave Luke Blewden the chance to put the Crocks under pressure, with a deep penetrating throw-in that Miles headed to the awaiting Roberts. As the Angels continued to build up play along the ‘lower’ touchline, a slide-rule pass from Joe Adams found Knight, who at first was thwarted by Roberts in Crockenhill’s goal. But Blewden immediately put striker Knight back on the route to goal, with the forward clinically striking the ball past advancing Roberts to net his seventh goal of the season.

The battle between Roberts and Knight continued, with Roberts blocking the prolific striker at the near post, with Biddlecombe and Adams both having follow-up shots blocked in the panic-stricken penalty area.

With thirty minutes gone and the Angels still holding a slender lead, Ally Hamilton was briefly brought into action, coming out to deal with a loose ball in what had been an unusually quiet half for the custodian. Following an injury on midfielder Nick Hollyoak, Angels produced a string of late first-half substitutions, interspersed with further attacks on goal from Blewden and Elliot Harland, before an injury-time effort after an exchange between Knight and Adams, saw Knight’s on-target strike beaten by the crossbar.

Further half-time substitutions saw Olly Stell replace Hamilton in the Angels’ goal, and Jake Miller handing the right-back position over to Mike Holden, who flashed a warning shot over the Crocks’ crossbar in the opening minute of the second half. Crockenhill followed with their first attempt of the half, firing their initial shot straight at Stell, before a defensive error allowed the home side to pull level, after a deep-flighted ball rebounded off the far-post into the path of Crockenhill’s Joe Plant, who duly headed home from close range.

This prompted a rude-awakening for the Angels, who immediately stepped up a gear, with a single-handed corner-winning attempt from Will Jagger, and an affray of low shots and threatening low balls through the six-yard box by Blewden, Holden and Harland respectively in an attempt to regain the narrow half-time lead.

A spell of frustration brought a string of free-kicks, with Olly Funnel, Biddlecombe and Miles all putting Roberts under fire in Crockenhill’s goal, with Jagger coming closest to break the deadlock, heading Funnell’s corner inches over the crossbar, a feat which Holden was to repeat only minutes later. A late breakaway attack by Crockenhill ended as Harland tracked back to repel the move in the Angels six-yard box, sparing any embarrassment that a rogue goal against the general run of play might have brought.

With composure regained, it was two further assaults from the Angels that could have brought a richly deserved win. First, with Knight turning impeccably on the spot and firing Miles’ through-ball narrowly wide of the target, and the second and final chance coming from Miles himself, sending a last-minute free-kick dipping dangerously low over Roberts’ crossbar, after Biddlecombe had been brought to ground yet again.

Matt Knight was unanimously awarded ‘Man of the Match’, with Mike Holden and Joe Adams being in contention for their contributions.


Goal Scorerers:  Matt Knight

Man of the Match:  Matt Knight

Erith Town 1 - 2  Tonbridge Angels

Colin Blewden and Chris Hollyoak’s under 18’s side bounced back triumphantly after three successive drawn matches, to beat Erith Town 2-1 on Sunday, and gain three valuable points on a partly-frozen South London pitch.

With two key midfielders being unavailable, the Angels, currently sitting in fifth place with games in hand, kicked-off on the difficult playing surface, knowing that three points were essential in order to keep them in touch with the League’s leaders.

A first minute through-ball from Joe Adams, allowed Matt Knight to shoot, with the home-side keeper spilling to concede an early corner. But Erith soon found composure and sprang to life with several attempts of their own, the first requiring Adams to make a well-timed clearance from the six-yard box, the remainder being adequately dealt with by the defensive trio of Liam Herbert, Nat Janks and the dependable Will Jagger.

With the Angels only having an Adams shot deflected, they remained under almost constant pressure, forcing several headed clearances from Janks, and a string of outstanding saves and blocks by the vociferous Ally Hamilton in Tonbridge’s goal, before a lone striker slipped past two defenders to give Erith a slender lead. A nervous spell followed with Town almost doubling their advantage, after a cruel deflection off Janks fell into the path of a striker, who could only fire wide of the goal and the advancing Hamilton .

An early indication of ill-feeling sprang to light as, the match official had to intervene between two opposing players on the edge of the Angels’ penalty area, before Luke Blewden sent a speculative shot across the face of the target at the other end. A much incensed Angels side, now looked to negate the deficit, with Olly Funnell single-handedly moving up through the midfield, to drive the Angel’s first on-target shot at Town’s keeper. A foul on the troublesome Matt Knight gave Funnell another opportunity, but the ball skidded inches wide of the post.

A further attempt from the left flank, saw wing-back Chris Page launch the ball into the clutches of the Erith keeper, before Town broke away, again firing wide of Hamilton’s goal. Knight remained persistent as the interval approached, with Janks seeing his own upfield effort being captured by Town’s busy keeper, with Jagger being only to pleased to hear the half-time whistle, after being ‘hit below the belt’ in the final ‘assault’ of the half.

After the break, Knight rapidly resumed his normal service, battling through the defence, but losing his footing on the melting surface, as he was about to pull the trigger. Further pressure followed with Josh Biddlecombe having his volley blocked from Blewden’s deadly long throw-in, and Funnell’s opportune lob dropping just wide of the target with Town’s keeper still stranded off his line.

Eight minutes into the half, after a foul on Blewden, Funnell’s pinpoint free-kick found the head of Knight, who duly obliged and headed home his eighth goal of the campaign to level the scores. Angels then missed the opportunity to take the lead, when a free-kick for an off-the-ball incident was again sent flashing past the post by Funnell.

By now, both teams could see the chance of three valuable points, and stepped up the play accordingly, in a match that was certainly heating up quicker than the pitch. As Knight was shooting at one end, Hamilton was pulling off saves at the other end, not too mention the industrious Biddlecombe constantly being brought to the ground. The young Angels’ striker is still coming to terms with not collecting an award in last Sunday’s BAFTA (Best Actor For Tonbridge Angels) ceremony, despite a late clutch of nominations from the entire Crockenhill squad!

With Mike Holden replacing Jake Miller on the hour-mark, the match entered the final third, producing what could be described as the ‘liveliest spell of football’ to date, especially when protests arose when a penalty was awarded after Knight’s latest encounter in the box. Eventually, after several minutes of unjustified dispute, Funnell stepped up to convert the spot-kick for his fifth goal of the season, and in particular, his third against Erith Town in the current campaign.

Midway through the half, Elliot (Rambo) Harland was brought into the affray to assist Knight up front, with his own inimitable style, but Town showed a plausible never-say-die attitude; not just looking to pull level again, but to actually win the match. Along with this new-found directive, came the attribute of having to hotly contest every refereeing decision that went against them, not to mention countless assaults on the Angels’ goal, ones that Herbert and Jagger competently dealt with.

Apart from a late assault on Town’s goal, which saw Harland’s header from Funnell’s free-kick cleared, Erith continued to look for some form of salvage, with Pagey denying them late in the game, clearing a certain goal-bound shot at the near post, and Hamilton pulling off another superb block in the follow-up play.

Despite claims of time-wasting in the dying seconds as Jagger strolled amiably to collect the ball off the next pitch, the now compassionate match-official had heard enough griping, and merely stopped his watch until Jagger’s return, and then blew for time as the ball re-entered the field of play.

Ally Hamilton was unanimously declared ‘Man of the match’ for an outstanding performance, with Matt Knight and Will Jagger in close contention.

Goal Scorerers:  Matt Knight and Olly Funnell (Penalty)

Man of the Match:  Ally Hamilton

Tonbridge Angels 2- 1  Ramsgate

John Ullmann Memorial Cup - 3rd Round

Colin Blewden and Chris Hollyoak’s under 18’s fought back to overturn a first-half deficit, to overwhelm Ramsgate 2-1 in a hard-fought third round match in the John Ullmann Memorial Cup at Longmead on Wednesday evening.

Despite a confident start from the visitors, it was Matt Knight who threatened first, bursting through the defence to send a swirling shot into the keeper, only to be ruled offside. Then, with little between the two sides, Ramsgate broke away, delivering their first goal-bound attempt into the arms of the awaiting Oliver Stell in the Angels’ goal.

With only ten minutes showing on the clock, Angels’ striker Josh Biddlecombe received an unwelcome booking for playfully chipping the keeper after being deemed offside, in a sheer and cheeky display of one-upmanship; one worthy of being nominated for the night’s BRIT (Biggest Rogue In Tonbridge) award. Ironically it was the opportune chipping of the keeper at the other end that gave the ‘sea-siders’ a kick-start, as an invading striker latched onto a short clearance and launched it back over an astounded Stell in the Angels’ goal.

In a brief spate of end-to-end play, Ramsgate twice tried to extend their slender lead, whilst Tonbridge threatened with Biddlecombe’s shot being deflected up for Luke Blewden to head into the keeper as Chris Page moved in looking for any spillage. The incensed Biddlecombe continued to pose a threat, blasting his next shot against the unsuspecting crossbar, before Olly Funnell rounded the keeper, only to be beaten by the pace of his own handy-work as the ball slid out of play.

Knight continued the assault single-handedly, taking on the whole defence much to the delight of a small but dedicated following of fans in the Betterview Stand, before releasing to Biddlecombe, who frustratingly swept the ball past the target.

A string of free-kicks and corners from Funnell, still left the Angels chasing the game, with Knight and Blewden both heading inches wide of the goal. This late spate of attacks brought a sense of panic into Ramsgate’s defence, highlighted when Page’s defence-splitting through-ball had the visiting keeper leave the eighteen-yard box to clear the ball from the paths of the rapidly advancing two-pronged attack of Knight and Biddlecombe.

After Funnell had flashed a late first-half free-kick past Ramsgate’s goal, the visitors ended the half with a sudden breakaway and a sequence of corners, but were unable to build on their fortunate lead, thwarted by a solid and organised defensive display from Liam Herbert, Will Jagger and Nat Janks.

After the interval, the Angels continued to push forward, with Knight firing into the advancing goalkeeper, when perhaps he could have done better. Further chances from Funnell and Joe Adams failed to find the much needed goal, before Biddlecombe latched on the ball, ran through the defence with astounding pace, and confidently slotted home his fifth and most long-awaited strike of the season to bring the scores level.

With the game now having the distinct possibility of extra time and penalties, substitutions commenced, with Nick Hollyoak making a welcome return from a short injury spell, before Biddlecombe’s pinpoint cross picked out unmarked Mike Holden who headed home with fifteen minutes left. Further substitutions for the Angels saw the introduction of Elliot Harland and Jake Miller, to line up against a Ramsgate side that had very little to offer apart from a rare second-half shot, that was fired wide of the target.

A surge of injury time pressure from the Angels saw Blewden fire wildly over the crossbar, and Biddlecombe flash a final warning past the Ramsgate goal, before time was eventually called, with the Angels tentatively looking forward to the next round.

Josh Biddlecombe was declared ‘Man-of-the-Match’ for his welcome return to the scoresheet, and for adding a ‘flash of colour’ to the evening’s performance (even if it was yellow), with Mike Holden in close contention.

The Angels entertain Fisher Athletic on Sunday, in a return to KYL action.

Goal Scorerers:  Josh Biddlecombe and Mike Holden

Man of the Match:  Josh Biddlecombe

Tonbridge Angels 2- 2  Fisher Athletic

Colin Blewden and Chris Hollyoak’s under 18’s remain in fifth spot in the league with a firm eye on the leaders, after grabbing a valuable point from an exciting 2-2 draw against a strong Fisher Athletic side on Sunday morning.

If anything, this was a slower Angels’ start than of late, with the visiting Fisher Athletic testing goalkeeper Oliver Stell several times in the opening minutes, before in-form striker Josh Biddlecombe grabbed his second goal in four days, to bring his season’s tally to six. Biddlecombe now joins a small but elusive group of Angels that have scored in two or more consecutive matches.

After the ‘shock’ goal, Athletic continued to keep Stell under fire, before Matt Knight had a rare first-half attempt, with a low shot delivered directly to the visiting keeper.

Fisher continued to push forward, almost pulling level when a pinpoint cross from the touchline was headed into Stell’s side-netting. The scare was enough cause for the Angels to raise their game, with wing-back Mike Holden seeing his goal-bound effort spilled and recovered on the second attempt, and Olly Funnell’s threatening corner beating an untidy defence, only for substitute Sonny Miles being unable to get a clear shot on goal in a panic-stricken penalty area.

Despite only being on the pitch for two minutes, Miles continued to remain the centre of attention, for a late and unceremoniously clumsy challenge that surprisingly only received a stern verbal caution, giving the unsuspecting victim a few valuable seconds to recover.

Proving that two heads are better than one, it took the combined aerial skills of Elliot (Rambo) Harland and Nick Hollyoak to clear Fisher’s next onslaught, before a deep-flighted free-kick from Will Jagger was chested down by Luke Blewden for Miles to fire wide of the target.

With a slender lead and only seven minutes to the interval, the Angels were shocked to concede from a penalty for a dubious attempt to block a player, that saw Holden receive his second unjustified yellow card of the season.

Incensed by the equaliser, Athletic looked to capitalise on their newfound luck, only to be shutout by Stell, diving low to smother an on-target shot in the closing stages of the half.

Two attempts in the opening minute of the second half saw Funnell attempt to lob the keeper from the kick-off, and Biddlecombe firing inches wide of the target before being declared offside. Next, it was Miles who threatened, firing into the back of the net (on the next pitch), before a series of series of half-chances at both ends.

Funnell flashed a free-kick inches past the upright, while Blewden headed Holden’s cross to the waiting Athletic keeper, while Fisher responded with a succession of corners, one of which was spectacularly cleared by Miles, who was in action moments later, curling a screaming free-kick onto the opponents’ crossbar.

Athletic responded by slipping past an Angels’ defender and sending a dangerously low cross into the six-yard box, which was met by precision to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. This was the first of two cruel blows, the second coming minutes later after Blewden dropped spectacularly to the ground, after being caught by a misguided toe-punt that awkwardly missed both his legs!

With Chris Page replacing the aching Blewden, the Angels looked to get back on track, with Funnell flighting a dangerous goal-bound free-kick, which was tipped over for a corner, which Pagey and Adams both attacked before being cleared upfield. An intense spell of midfield play from the Angels followed, with Adams and Biddlecombe both tormenting the visitors’ defence; with Adams closing down the keeper in his own formidable style, before Biddlecombe’s shot was directed into his path, giving the midfield dynamo a shot which was somehow deflected onto the crossbar.

The brief appearance of Pagey as an attacking midfielder gave the Angels the added dimension of aerial attack, as he headed Holden’s cross over the target on his first assault. Pagey was then somehow denied as his next headed effort was tipped over the crossbar by a reflex save for a corner, producing another Funnell-Page combo, which this time was securely held by the relieved goalkeeper.

A late tactical substitution saw Nat Janks brought into central defence, allowing ‘Rambo’ to replace Adams in midfield, bringing a fresh assault, which saw yet another foul on Biddlecombe.

The resulting free-kick remained uncleared, with Pagey collecting the ball on the edge of the eighteen yard box, taking it to the goal-line before cutting in an acute cross into the goalmouth. The awaiting Holden pounced but had his shot pushed into the path of Jagger, who made no mistake at close range, scoring his second goal of the campaign.

The stunned Athletic replied by hemming the Angels back in their own half for a short but intense period, but the re-organised defence held tight, and eventually pushed the play back into midfield. This allowed a late flurry of attempts for the strengthening Angels, with Biddlecombe, Harland and Page all having further efforts before the performance was brought to an end.

Joe Adams was nominated as ‘Man of the Match’ after three consecutive outstanding performances, with Mike Holden in close contention, not forgetting a short but impressive ‘cameo’ performance from Chris Page.

A spokesman for the Club commented: “The Angels remain unbeaten in the league since the 3-0 reverse against Fisher last October, so this was a very creditable performance. The penalty gave Fisher a life-line which they managed to build on, but the players dug deep and fought back, and had the opportunities to take all three points.”

Goal Scorerers:  Josh Biddlecombe and Will Jagger

Man of the Match:  Joe Adams