Still searching for their first home league win of the season, Tonbridge Angels entertain Hemel Hempstead Town in a National League South match behind closed doors at The Longmead Stadium on Saturday.

Their two-nil home defeat at the hands of resurgent Braintree Town on Tuesday means that they have only collected one point out of their three home games so far this season. However, three victories on the road means that the Angels are only five points outside the play-offs having played one game fewer than most of the teams above them.

Visitors Hemel Hempstead are just one place behind them, level on points, but they have played two games more. Like the Angels, their form has also been better away from home with their three victories coming at Braintree, Bath City and Hampton and Richmond Borough. 

Their last outing was last Saturday when they were held to a one-all draw at home to Dulwich Hamlet with both goals coming in first half stoppage time. Danny Mills put the Hamlets ahead but loanee Nathan Cooper responded with an immediate equaliser. 

On Tuesday, Tonbridge’s meeting with Braintree came at a bad time. The Iron had lost all of their first seven games but a management change with Ryan Maxwell bringing in eight new players resulted in their first victory at home to Concord Rangers.

With new found confidence, the Iron visited Kent and played their part in a tight even first half that finished goal-less. Six minutes after the break Johnvill Renee gave Jonny Denly no chance with a shot into the bottom corner. The game was made safe when former Angel Tom Derry beat the offside trap and finished clinically.

When Hemel visited in the corresponding fixture last season, the Tudors rans out two-nil victors through a Liam Nash brace, both scored in the first seven minutes of the second half. Few players from that Hemel side are still at the club and Steve McKimm, the Angels manager, will be pulling out all the stops to reverse that result. 

Picture supplied by Wes Filtness.