Tonbridge Angels Academy 8 Eastbourne Borough Academy 2

Match 52/22/2059 - Wednesday, 7th December 2022 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (3) 8 Velvick 12,54,58 Saunders 34 Hermitage 38,65,77 (pen) Tyrie 57
Eastbourne Borough Academy (1) 2
Headcount: 15

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/3,850

The Academy produced a ruthless second half performance to maintain their 100% start to the league season with hat tricks from Hayden Velvick and Ben Hermitage.

Velvick increased his season’s total to 19 in 10 games whilst Hermitage has 11.

Although the Angels led by 3-1 at the break, there was little to suggest that they would run away with the game in the second period.

Whilst the Angels dominated, Eastbourne defended well after a shaky start in which the home side opened the scoring after 12 minutes. A long ball into the left channel from skipper Joe Tyrie found Velvick, who cut in from the left, skipping a couple of challenges, before finding the far corner from an acute angle close to the bye-line.

Tonbridge continued to have the majority of the play with Hermitage bringing a save from the goalkeeper and Josh McArthur firing over before a surging run from Leo Vowles ended with a blocked shot that rebounded to Will Saunders who drove the ball home.

Eastbourne quickly responded with a fine shot from 20 yards after 36 minutes but the Angels restored their advantage two minutes later when McArthur set up Hermitage to score from 10 yards.

Tonbridge opened the second half on the offensive and within the first quarter-hour had taken the score to 6-1. After 54 minutes, Saunders sent Velvick clear to slip past the advancing keeper and Tyrie rose highest to head home from a corner after 57 minutes. A fine move involving Vowles and McArthur, saw Velvick springing the offside trap to make it 6-1 after 58 minutes.

Tonbridge showed little sign of taking their foot off the pedal although Nat Gibb was pressed into action turning over a shot before a typical Vowles surging run and cross presented Hermitage with a goal from close range after 65 minutes.

Josh McArthur was brought down in the box for Hermitage to convert from the spot and complete his hat trick.

Credit to Eastbourne who continued to battle away and were rewarded when a substitute scored with five minutes remaining.

Tommy Parkinson commented: “A really good attacking performance from the squad and some fantastic goals scored! We go into Christmas with eight wins from eight.”