Frankie Baker Brace Fires Tonbridge Angels Past Folkestone Invicta in Kent Derby

Tonbridge Angels: Frankie Baker (77', stoppage time)

A goalless, cagey Kent derby finally broke open in the last quarter of an hour, substitute Frankie Baker scoring twice to send Tonbridge Angels past Folkestone Invicta and up to fifth in National League South, just four points off the top. Alan Dunne made one change from the side that fought back to a draw at Chelmsford City on Saturday, bringing Jaden Brown into midfield for Bullas.

Neither side carved out a clear chance in an even first half dominated by corners, Angels' best openings falling to Reynolds - denied by a good save from Folkestone keeper Ted Collins on 10 minutes, then setting up a blocked Babajide effort seven minutes later. Folkestone's only clear first-half chance, from a worked corner routine, saw Pigott spoon it over the bar. Dunne freshened things up at the break, sending on Baker and Pavey for Reynolds and Gardner, but the game stayed tight until the closing stages - Folkestone's biggest chance of the match coming on 75 minutes when Mason fired wide at the near post.

Two minutes later, Brown drove forward from midfield through the heart of Folkestone's defence and slipped the ball through to Baker, who took a touch to steady himself before finishing into the top-left corner. Angels then had to survive a spell of heavy Folkestone pressure and committed defending before killing the game off in stoppage time: a clearance from Akehurst sent Baker clear, he laid the ball off for Babajide, whose shot was blocked, the rebound fell to Bullas and was also blocked, before it broke for Baker himself to finish from close range.

Brown, whose late run set up the opener, deflected credit onto his strike partner afterwards: "if I haven't run enough, I haven't played well." The win takes Angels to fifth, one point behind Salisbury, who visit the Yeomans Community Stadium this Saturday, 31 October.

Angels (3-4-3): Harness; Sutcliffe, Beeden, Akehurst; Tanga, Brown (Bullas), Corne (Thompson), Korboa (McDonald); Babajide, Reynolds (Baker), Gardner (Pavey). Subs not used: Hockey, Lintott.

Form (last 5 league games): ✗✓✓−✓

Next match: Saturday 31st October 2026 | Yeomans Community Stadium | Tonbridge Angels - Salisbury Source and photographs: tonbridgeangels.co.uk. Images: Dave Couldridge. League table: thenationalleague.org.uk.