Tonbridge Angels vs Dulwich Hamlet

A subdued first half saw Tonbridge fail to impose themselves on a sweltering afternoon. Manager Alan Dunne later described his side as "too passive" and "on the back foot." Summer signing Jephte Tanga struck the post with a curling effort on 39 minutes, but Dulwich took the lead two minutes later, going into the break 1-0 up.

Whatever Dunne said at half-time worked immediately. Two minutes after the restart (47'), Lamar Reynolds pressed the Dulwich goalkeeper into a mistake, and Babajide was on hand to turn in the loose ball for the equaliser.

Angels then took the lead when a trialist met a Bailey Akehurst free-kick to score. The third arrived swiftly after: a trialist found Reynolds, who slipped in Babajide. The forward twisted and turned before calmly finishing to complete his brace and the scoring — all within a 15-minute period.

Reynolds' pressing forced the error that led to Babajide's 47th-minute equaliser, two minutes into the second half. That swung momentum decisively. From a passive first half, Tonbridge became aggressive, front-foot and expansive. Dulwich, who had held firm until the interval, had no answer to the intensity shift.

• Bunmi Babajide (Tonbridge Angels) — Two goals in a 15-minute second-half burst (47', ~60'). Clinical finishing, the first from a pressing error and the second after a mazy run. Player of the match.
• Lamar Reynolds (Tonbridge Angels) — Instrumental in the turnaround. His pressing forced the Hamlet goalkeeper's mistake for the equaliser, and he provided the assist for Babajide's second.
• Bailey Akehurst (Tonbridge Angels) — Delivered the free-kick that the trialist converted for the 2-1 goal.
• Jephte Tanga (Tonbridge Angels) — Hit the post in the 39th minute with a curling effort in a lively first-half cameo.

Tonbridge's three goals in 15 second-half minutes (47'–62' approx.) tell the story of a game that flipped entirely after the interval. The Angels managed 0 shots on target of note in the first half and conceded the opener. After the break, they converted three chances from open play and a set piece. Dulwich's attacking output after the 47th minute was minimal, with Tonbridge's defence untroubled for the final half-hour.

Tonbridge continue their pre-season build-up to the 2026-27 National League South season, which kicks off away at Braintree Town on 8 August. The Angels had previously drawn 2-2 with Sittingbourne (21 July) and beaten Biggleswade 1-0 (11 July) before this win. Dulwich Hamlet, who compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division, next faced Dorking Wanderers on 28 July.

Dunne acknowledged the patchy nature of pre-season, telling Angels Media: "It's been a patchy pre-season. Ten weeks off for the boys is too long and we've had a few injuries to contend with." He confirmed the club may add a further friendly to give minutes to returning players Frankie Baker, Cole Bowery and Cole Palmer.

A textbook game of two halves. Dulwich were the better side before the break; Tonbridge were relentless after it. The 15-minute spell that decided the match was the Angels' best pre-season football so far, but the passive first half will need addressing before the real season starts on 8 August.