West Kent Clean Sweep: Fagan and Tanga Take August's National League South Awards

West Kent swept both of National League South's individual awards for August, with Maidstone United's Craig Fagan winning Manager of the Month and Tonbridge Angels winger Jephte Tanga taking Player of the Month - the division's own write-up noting it "wasn't quite a Maidstone double" only because Tanga, who left the Stones for Longmead over the summer, pipped the club that let him go.

Fagan's award recognises a flying start to his first full season in charge after stepping up from George Elokobi's assistant. Maidstone shook off an opening-day defeat at Farnborough to beat Walton & Hersham, draw with Folkestone Invicta, then close out August with three straight wins - over Dorking Wanderers, Salisbury and Hampton & Richmond Borough - scoring nine goals in a week to sit top of the table. He saw off Lee Allinson (Dagenham & Redbridge), Jay Saunders (Folkestone Invicta) and Scott Rogers (Weston-super-Mare) for the panel's vote.

"I'm delighted to receive the award, but it's as much for my management team as it is for me," Fagan said. "They put in an incredible amount of work behind the scenes, and I simply couldn't achieve anything like this without their support, knowledge and commitment." He was equally quick to credit his players: "They've worked hard, taken on board what we've asked of them and shown a fantastic attitude. This is a united effort across the whole group, and the award belongs to everyone."

Tanga's five goals in August included a brace on the opening day at Braintree Town and the winner at Dover Athletic, enough to hold off Dover's Decarrey Sheriff and Weston-super-Mare's Louis Britton for the award. It caps a strong first month in Angels colours for the 22-year-old since his move from Maidstone. "I want to thank God for blessing me with this award," Tanga said. "I also want to say a massive thank you to the gaffer and my teammates for giving me the confidence to go out and perform." Angels manager Alan Dunne called it "a massive achievement" and "fully deserved": "He's worked so hard for the team and it's a great accolade and recognition for Jephte personally and the club as a whole. I'm so pleased for him."

Both awards were announced on 10 September, a day after the two clubs met in the A26 derby at Longmead - a game Maidstone won 1-0, Tom Leahy's goal the only one Tanga's new side couldn't find an answer to. Source: maidstoneunited.co.uk