New arrivals and improving form as Tonbridge Angels prepare for new season

Tonbridge Angels will begin the new National League South season with a significantly reshaped squad after a busy summer at the Yeomans Community Stadium. Manager Alan Dunne has added experience across the pitch, retained several important members of last season’s team and used seven pre-season friendlies to assess new signings, trialists and different combinations.

The Angels finished their preparations with four wins, one draw and two defeats, scoring 11 goals and conceding eight. However, the results only tell part of the story. Several performances improved noticeably after half-time, while a number of trialists were given opportunities as Dunne continued to make decisions over the final shape of his squad.

Tonbridge ended pre-season positively with three victories from their final three matches. A 3-1 win over Dulwich Hamlet was followed by a 4-2 comeback against Eastbourne Borough, before Bunmi Babajide scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory away to Wingate and Finchley on Saturday, 1 August.

The Angels opened their friendly programme at home to Biggleswade on 11 July. A trialist scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory, with several summer arrivals making their first appearances for the club.

Nathan Harness, Harvey Lintott, Jephte Tanga, Lexus Beeden and Sam Corne were among those involved, while Tonbridge also fielded a number of unnamed trialists. The match provided an early opportunity for the players to build fitness, develop relationships and begin adapting to their new teammates.

A more difficult test followed against National League side Sutton United, who won 2-0 at Longmead. Tonbridge then suffered a second consecutive defeat when Cray Wanderers recorded a 1-0 victory at Flamingo Park.

The Angels responded with a 2-2 draw against Sittingbourne. Goals from Harry Gardner and Jephte Tanga helped Tonbridge avoid another defeat, although the team was still searching for greater consistency as the competitive season moved closer.

A recurring feature of Tonbridge’s pre-season was their ability to improve significantly after the interval. That was particularly clear against Dulwich Hamlet, who led at half-time before the Angels scored three goals during a ten-minute spell.

Bunmi Babajide struck twice, while a trialist scored the other goal in the 3-1 victory. Lamar Reynolds played an important role in the turnaround, pressing the visiting goalkeeper into an error for the equaliser before later creating Babajide’s second goal.

The pattern continued against Eastbourne Borough. Tonbridge fell two goals behind but produced four second-half goals to secure a 4-2 victory.

Tanga began the comeback with a low angled finish before Ethan Sutcliffe equalised from close range. A trialist then completed the turnaround, with Harvey Lintott adding the fourth following a Bailey Akehurst corner.

The final friendly brought a more controlled result. Babajide scored shortly after half-time as the Angels defeated Wingate and Finchley 1-0 in north London, completing their summer programme with three consecutive victories and a clean sheet.

One of the biggest themes of Tonbridge’s summer has been the arrival of five players who represented Maidstone United last season or have a previous connection with the Stones.

Goalkeeper Nathan Harness was among the first new signings. The 26-year-old joined after making 35 appearances for Maidstone and gives Dunne a permanent senior option in a position that had previously been filled largely through loan agreements.

Former Maidstone captain Sam Corne followed soon afterwards. The midfielder made 236 appearances during seven seasons with the Stones and played a central role in their National League South title success and memorable FA Cup run.

Corne brings extensive experience, leadership and knowledge of the local football scene. His arrival is expected to make him an important part of Tonbridge’s new-look squad.

Lamar Reynolds also joined the Angels after spending last season with Enfield Town. The forward previously played for Maidstone and scored their opening goal during the famous FA Cup victory at Ipswich Town in January 2024.

Wide player Jephte Tanga became another former Stone to make the move along the A26. The 22-year-old contributed seven goals and ten assists last season and offers pace and flexibility on either side of the attack.

The fifth former Maidstone player to join was defender Lexus Beeden. Standing at 6ft 4in, Beeden strengthens Tonbridge’s aerial presence and can operate in central defence or at right-back.

The number of players moving between the two clubs gives further interest to the first league meeting of the season, which is scheduled to take place at Longmead on Tuesday, 8 September.

Tonbridge’s recruitment has not been limited to former Maidstone players. Harvey Lintott joined from Eastbourne Borough after making 35 appearances last season.

The right-sided defender began his career at Gillingham before moving to Northampton Town, where he gained Football League experience and was part of a promotion-winning squad.

Frankie Baker has also returned on a permanent basis after initially joining Tonbridge on loan from Millwall in January. The young striker scored six goals in 24 appearances during his temporary spell and impressed with his work rate and willingness to develop.

The club retained Bailey Akehurst, Bunmi Babajide, Ricky Korboa, Jordon Thompson and Bradley Williams following the end of last season. Tonbridge also offered new terms to Naz Bakrin, Tobi Omole, Kyle Smith and Matty Warren, while talks continued with Jordan Higgs and Sean Shields.

Tom Leahy, Marcus Sablier, Martell Taylor-Crossdale and Scott Wagstaff were listed among those leaving. Loan players Frankie Baker, Alfie Pavey, Matt Rowley and Ethan Sutcliffe were initially due to return to their parent clubs, although Baker subsequently completed a permanent move back to Longmead.

Bunmi Babajide was one of Tonbridge’s standout performers during the closing stages of the friendly programme. The forward scored twice against Dulwich and then struck the winner at Wingate and Finchley.

His pace and direct running caused problems in several matches, while his late burst of goals arrived at an ideal time before the start of the league campaign.

Tanga also made an encouraging early impression, scoring against Sittingbourne and Eastbourne while regularly threatening from wide positions. New forwards Reynolds and Baker were involved in creating chances even when they were not on the scoresheet, giving Dunne several different attacking options.

The continued use of trialists suggests that the squad may not yet be completely settled. Several unnamed players scored or impressed during the friendlies, giving the manager plenty to consider before finalising his plans.

Tonbridge begin their National League South campaign away to Braintree Town on Saturday, 8 August, with kick-off at 3pm.

The Angels then welcome Torquay United to the Yeomans Community Stadium on 15 August before travelling to Dover Athletic for their first Kent league fixture of the season three days later.

Friendly results should always be treated carefully, especially when managers are rotating their teams and assessing trialists. Tonbridge’s pre-season was not flawless, with defeats against Sutton United and Cray Wanderers and several performances which only came to life after the interval.

However, the response during the final three matches was encouraging. The Angels scored eight goals, recorded three victories and demonstrated that they could recover after difficult starts.

Dunne now has a squad containing a mixture of retained players, younger talent and experienced additions who already understand the demands of National League South football. The real test begins at Braintree, but Tonbridge will enter the season with improving form and greater competition for places across the team.

Read the latest club updates on the Tonbridge Angels website.