Angels manager Jay Saunders has been at the helm since May 2022, having previously worked minor miracles by leading Maidstone United up from Isthmian South to the National League in four seasons, clinching promotion to football’s fifth tier in 2016.. Described as a hugely committed whole-hearted individual during his playing days, Saunders has gone on to replicate that spirit in the dugout. His three-year tenure at Margate from May 2019 was badly hit by the Covid pandemic, with the club eventually agreed to let him pursue his managerial career at a higher level with Tonbridge. Since making that move, he has now firmly established The Angles in the sixth-tier, and such has been their progression in recent times, that the side’s focus s now firmly fixed upwards, rather than down. How have they been doing? Tomorrow’s hosts are entrenched in a mid-table position, with their thirteen wins, eleven draws and twelve defeats seeing them occupy 10th position, 12 points off the Play-Off zone, but a mammoth 18 points away from the dreaded relegation places. With just ten games remaining in 2024/25, it would be a big ask for Saunders’ men to make the post-season action, however having recorded wins over promotion candidates Dorking and Weston-super-Mare already this term, it’s clear the Angels are more than capable of mixing it with best the division has to offer. Player to watch 
Winger Sean Shields has been an impressive performer since arriving at Longmead following a brief spell with Isthmian League South side Rayners Lane. Having begun his career in the youth ranks at Tottenham Hotspur, it was in non-League circles that Sean eventually gained experience of first-team football, with two spells at Potters Bar Town bookending a stint with Rushden & Diamonds. A highly successful three year stay at St Albans paved the way for a move to then-EFL outfit Dagenham & Redbridge, before a move to Ebbsfleet heralded 116 league appearances and 15 goals. Five years with the Fleet saw Sean go out on loan n no less than six occasions, with Maidstone, Boreham Wood and Notts County just some of the clubs to benefit from his services on a temporary basis. After two years with Weymouth, Shield’s career took on a somewhat nomadic existence once again, with switches at Barnet, Scunthorpe and Rayners Lane all taking place within a year, before he made Tonbridge his new home last year. Played for both 
Ryan Hanson’s spell at Plainmoor never quite hit the heights it promised, however the popular midfielder has quickly established himself as a key member of Jay Saunders’ squad. Hanson switched Devon for Kent last year, having been at Plainmoor since arriving from Dover in the summer of 2022. After seeing his pathway to the first-team at Crystal Palace and Hull City blocked, a move to hometown club Dover saw his form culminate in being awarded the captain’s armband, and after an eye-catching performance against The Gulls, former United manager Gary Johnson wasted little time in unveiling Hanson as one of his raft of pre-season recruits some eighteen months ago. Ryan wasted little time in showing the Yellow Army what they were missing out on at Longmead twelve months ago, as he delivered a Man of the Match performance in a 4-1 win for the hosts. Previous Encounter 
Torquay United 2-1 Tonbridge Angels | National League South | Saturday 2nd December 2023 United’s previous two visits to the Longmead Stadium have both ended in defeat, including a 2-1 FA Trophy reverse back in 2021/22. With the Plainmoor encounter ending goalless earlier this season, Torquay’s only success against Tonbridge came at the same venue last term. On that occasion, Dillon De Silva’s early goal gave United an early advantage, before that was cancelled out just short of the hour mark by Francis Mampolo. Brad Ash struck soon after to put The Gulls back in front though, and that’s the way it stayed until full-time.The post NEXT UP | Tonbridge Angels (A) | 08/03/25 (3pm KO) first appeared on Torquay United.Source: https://torquayunited.com/next-up-tonbr ... 25-3pm-ko/
