THIS WEEKEND’S MATCH PREVIEW – TONBRIDGE ANGELS (HOME) KO 3.00 PM

Christmas must be close for there are Angels among us at Champion Hill this Saturday.

With Steve McKimm’s Tonbridge side currently lying in sixth just a point off the playoffs and two adrift of Dulwich Hamlet in 4th spot, this weekend’s Ryman League Premier Division clash promises to be one of the afternoon’s most enticing encounters. The Angels have four games in hand of the Hamlet and with points at a premium in the increasingly crowded race for the Isthmian crown, both teams will be keen to bag what will certainly prove to be a vital win come season’s end.

The Angels were quick out of the blocks when the first whistle blew back in mid-August making a strong start as new faces Andre McCollin (signed from Kingstonian) and Damian Scannell, late of this parish found the net along with long-time Longmead favourite Nathan Elder, Wingate & Finchley round beaten 3-0 on match day one. Three further wins followed before a last gasp leveller at Met Police ended the Angels 100% record at Imber Court. However, they continued to prove tough opposition, remaining unbeaten until mid-Stemmer when a trip to Bognor Regis Town saw them return home pointless as did their following outing, a madcap 3-5 reverse at Merstham’s Moatside Stadium.

Still Tonbridge remained ensconced in the top three of the Premier Division, though their continued pursuit of FA Cup glory would see the Angels pushed out of the playoff places. As they were dispatching phoenix club Hereford from that competition, winning 4-2 in front of crowd of 1112 at the Longmead to set up a Fourth Qualifying Round with Kentish rivals Dartford, results in the league sent the Angels down to 6th spot. Unfortunately, their National League South opponents proved too strong at the last qualifying round of the FA Cup. With the Longmead Stadium packed to the rafters, the Darts found their target with unerring accuracy to progress. With only a goal separating the clubs at halftime, two goals in as many minutes just after the break put daylight between the Angels and their demons and the dream was dead.

League form seemed to stutter as the battle for the FA Trophy broke up the schedule. Tonbridge were on the end of a 4-0 trouncing up at Wingate & Finchley, had the annoyance of a replay to get past Southern League Division One Central side Ashford Town (Middx) in the FA Trophy before facing divisional rivals Kingstonian thrice in ten days The K’s definitely had the better of that one. Alan Inns’ early goal settled the league encounter at Longmead, Tommy Whitnell’s first half opener at Kingsmeadow was cancelled out by Joe Turner’s leveller in the FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round and back in Tonbridge founded it a happy hunting ground as Turner bagged a quick-fire double after Elder had struck first for the hosts.

After all that cup kerfuffle, it was time to focus on the promotion chase once more. Away to title chasing dark horses Needham Market, the Angels’ championship challenge was resurrected. Luke Blewden struck inside the first 120 seconds and from there that moment was no looking back for Tonbridge. Nathan Elder popped up with number two to make the long journey home from Suffolk seem significantly shorter. It seemed as if Merstham’s visit to Longmead would provide more points, even after Dan Hector had nibbled into a 2-0 halftime lead for the Angels, given them by Alex Akrofi and Tom Phipp. But in stoppage time a scuffed shot on a soggy pitch from Lanre Azeez slipped past ‘keeper Anthony Di Bernardo to pickpocket a share of the points for Merstham.

That late lightning would strike again when Tonbridge travelled to Donkey Lane to face Enfield Town. Leading by Luke Blewden’s deadeye drive home in 11th minute, the Angels seemed set for the points after the Towners second half threat had petered out. However, with four minutes of stoppage time already played, the hosts’ skipper Mark Kirby bundled home a corner to make it one apiece at the final whistle.

The visit of highflying Bognor Regis Town must have filled the home fans with Rocks perched atop the table but with winger Nick Wheeler in superlative form, setting up all four goals, the Sussex side were blown away by a whirlwind display from the Angels. Nathan Elder bookended the scoring with goals in the 13th & 80th minutes. In between, former Dulwich defender Mitchell Nelson, newly arrived on loan from Welling United, marked his debut with a goal as the hosts built up an unassailable 3-0 lead at the break to set up a 4-1 victory.

However, that purple performance was not carried through in their next two games. Against Divisional One North Romford the Angels had to rely on the lottery of penalties to inch past the Essex side, that despite fielding a strong first team squad missing only Elder and Scannell. At one point the Angels trailed 2-0 before goals from Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson and Mitchell Nelson made it all square at full time, playing their Get Out of Jail card in the subsequent shoot out. Vital points were dropped last Saturday as Max Worsfold scored twice for Staines Town in the first hour. Luke Allen managed to narrow the gap with a quarter hour remaining but Jack Turner’s penalty save five minutes later, an incident that saw Swans’ skipper Tommy Brewer dismissed for the second match in a row, left Tonbridge pointless.

The visit of a Canvey Island side seemingly in freefall, giving away goals as if Christmas had come early, provided a welcome win for the Angels in midweek. Just after the interval, with neither side having gained the upper hand, a second yellow card for Gulls’ skipper Tambeson Eyong changed swung the pendulum in the Angels’ favour. As Tonbridge upped the tempo they finally broke the deadlock just after the hour mark as Luke Blewden shot home. However, it was not until the last few moments that Tonbridge would cement their win, Alex Akrofi finishing off a one-on-one opportunity with 2 minutes remaining before Damien Scannell found the back of the net with a long-range effort from almost the half way line with Canvey ‘keeper nowhere to be seen.

This Saturday’s game takes place at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD, kicking off at 3.00pm. Main turnstiles will be open from 1.15 pm with the Greendale turnstiles open shortly after. Guests and officials are asked to enter via the Health Club reception as may Season Ticket holders on presentation of their Dulwich Hamlet Season Ticket.

Admission prices:

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions
• NB: Concessions cover Seniors - 60+, Teenagers (13-19), Unemployed (JSA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), NHS Staff, Blue Light Services, Serving Members of the Armed Forces and Full Time Students. (Please bring a form of valid ID for your concession as you might not be admitted without that)
• Under 13s FREE accompanied by a paying adult

Tickets can be purchased on line by clicking here

Programmes: £2