Match preview: Tonbridge Angels (H)

Tomorrow, the Wood are in action at the Mangata Pay UK Stadium Meadow Park for the final time this year, welcoming Tonbridge Angels with kick-off at 15:00.

Last season for the Angels

It was a midtable finish for Jay Saunders’ men last season as they ended the campaign in 14th, one point below Weston-super-Mare in 15th and two points above Weymouth in 16th. The Angels would wrap up their 2023/24 with a 2-2 draw at home to St Albans City.

Form guide

Tonbridge currently sit third in the Vanarama National League South form guide after picking up four wins, suffering one loss and playing out one draw over the course of their previous six league outings. Late last month, the Angels welcomed Hemel Hempstead Town to Longmead and came away from the tie with a 2-0 victory.

This was followed by a trip to Welling and, despite the Wings going down to 10 men, the Angels were unable to find a winner after coming back from 2-0 down with the game ultimately ending in a 2-2 draw. In their final November outing, Jay Saunders’ side would return to winning ways in a narrow 1-0 victory over Weymouth, courtesy of a second half goal from Jeremy Santos.

A struggling Enfield side came next for Tonbridge. However, it would be a Tuesday evening to forget for the Angels as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Towners. Jay Saunders’ side would then respond to the defeat with two victories, the first coming in a 2-1 win over Aveley. The second of those wins came in their most recent outing, at home to Chesham, with a first half goal from Trevan Robinson securing all three points for the Angels, helping Jay Saunders’ men further close in on the play-offs.

Last time we met

Our last meeting with the Angels came under Ian Allinson back in March of 2014, and it certainly produced a scoreline to remember. The Wood came away from the Meadow Park tie with a 7-0 win, courtesy of goals from Callum Reynolds, Kudus Oyenuga, Graeme Montgomery, Lee Angol and a Junior Morais hattrick.

One to watch

Top scorer for the Angels so far this campaign, Sean Shields began his career at Tottenham Hotspur, spending eight years in their academy. Born in Enfield, he represented Northern Ireland U21s through his father. After 71 appearances and 13 goals for St Albans City, he joined Dagenham & Redbridge in 2013.

This was followed by a loan back to the Saints as well as to Ebbsfleet United, where he made 116 appearances over five seasons. The attacking midfielder later played for Weymouth before becoming a fan favourite and award-winner at Longmead.

The Wood

Luke Garrard’s men have been in a rich vein of form in recently, winning all of our last five games in all competitions. Back-to-back away wins followed our 0-0 draw at home to Torquay United, starting with a Kwesi Appiah brace that securing all three points in a 2-1 win at Bath City.

Then, after finding ourselves two goals down after 45 minutes at Chelmsford City, we came back to secure victory with goals from Jayden Richardson and Lee Ndlovu. Kwesi Appiah would then get himself on the scoresheet in our three games that followed.

Our number 14 bagged the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory at home to Eastbourne Borough in the Isuzu FA Trophy, a hattrick in our 3-0 derby win over St Albans and a brace in our last outing, with Lee Ndlovu scoring the other in a 3-0 win at home to Chesham.

Pre-match interview

Ticket information

Ticket information for tomorrow afternoon’s fixture can be found here.

Can’t join us tomorrow afternoon?

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