MATCH PREVIEW: THE ANGELS
Back To League Action
Wanderers will be seeking their first back to back league wins of the campaign on the road at Tonbridge Angels this Saturday as we return to National League South action. The 2-1 victory over Billericay Town a fortnight ago at Meadowbank ensured Wanderers went into the first cup break of the season with the winning habit restored after a run of three games without doing so, as the opening six league games concluded with an equally split return so far; two wins, two draws and two defeats. Last weekend's FA Cup second qualifying round victory away at Burgess Hill Town kept a hold of the winning habit, Wanderers victorious in Sussex with a comfortable 0-4 victory. Luke Moore opening the scoring with a brilliantly executed half-volley midway through the first half, before an excellent individual goal from Bobby-Joe Taylor and close range finishes from Ed Harris and Callum Kealy in the second period rounded out the comprehensive win, setting up a tie next weekend at home to step 3 opposition Weston-Super-Mare.
Marc White was able to bring Jason Prior back into the side last weekend, and will be looking to do the same with James Tilley and Matt Briggs on Saturday as they return from cup tie and injury absence respectively. Alfie Rutherford is likely to be at least another week away from his return as the collective injury situation continues to improve after such a frustrating start, timely heading into a busier looking October run of fixtures.
Angels Looking To Get Back On Track
Promoted to the National League South at the same time as Wanderers, 'The Angels' have shared the similar frustration so far of competing in two 'incomplete' campaigns during their first experience of football at this level. Manager Steve McKimm has worked with the same core group of players that got the club promoted through what was a convoluted play-off system two years ago, and heading into their third campaign at this level the manager has supplemented the squad with experienced heads during the summer. Defender Craig Barham-Barrett and forward Ricky Modeste both came in from Dartford having enjoyed numerous spells at various clubs across the National League, well travelled midfielder Doug Loft also joining from Billericay, and like last Saturday's game we re-unite with another popular former Wanderer in full back JJ O'Sullivan, who joined the club in the close season after playing at Horsham last term. Young striker Ibrahim Olutade was another summer arrival from Maidstone and currently leads the way as the club's top scorer so far with two goals, the forward having previously enjoyed a fruitful loan period down the road at Leatherhead not so long ago.
After beginning the campaign with two straight league defeats, 'The Angels' then went on an impressive run defeating Hungerford and drawing with Dartford and Hampton & Richmond Borough. The cup break didn't go well for them last weekend, however, as they suffered a 0-5 home reverse to Hayes & Yeading. Returning to league action this weekend Steve McKimm and his side will be very much eager to get back on track and look to pick up where they left of.
The side's last met at Meadowbank back in November, a Jason Prior hat-trick inspiring Wanderers to a 4-1 victory on the day. Prior opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour and Wes Fogden very quickly added a second. Alex Akrofi's finish halved the deficit before Prior bagged his second just before half-time, securing the hat-trick and killing the game off not long after the restart.
Daniel Stobbart