Tonbridge Angels U18 4 Herne Bay U18 2

Match 96/22/2103 - Sunday, 2nd April 2023 - Kent Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 4 Rayner 6,11,61 (pen) Doughty 80
Herne Bay U18 (1) 2
Headcount: 40

Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/6,939

Tonbridge Angels Kent Youth League Under-18’s bade farewell to Longmead Stadium with a good performance and a solid win against a decent Herne Bay side.

I’ll have to leave the politics to one side, but next season Tonbridge Angels will not be represented at Under-18 level in the Kent Youth League for reasons that, personally, I cannot fathom or accept.

If the team wanted to make their point on the pitch they could not have wished for a better start going ahead after just six minutes. After forcing the visiting goalkeeper into a good save in the first minute, Tom Borders robbed a dwelling defender to set up George Rayner for a touch home at the far post.

Five minutes later the same two combined again to double the Angels lead. Borders drove from the middle of the field before releasing Rayner to cut in from the left and bury a sublime finish into the far corner.

Having made such a good start, Tonbridge allowed their opponents to work their way back into the game and after Jay Blake had made a good save, low to his left, Herne Bay reduced the deficit on 23 minutes with a well taken header, if slightly fortuitous in its making. A tackle in the box saw the ball loop up into the air for the Herne Bay striker to head over a stranded Blake.

This provided the encouragement that Herne Bay needed and they dominated the rest of the half forcing Blake into a couple of good saves but coming closest in the 41st minute when they rattled the bar from a free kick.

Whatever was said in the Angels dressing room during the break had the desired effect and they came out to take the game to their visitors from the outset. Six minutes into the half, the goalkeeper saved well from Borders and a couple of minutes later a free kick from Byron Doughty took a wicked deflection that could have gone anywhere.

Blake had to make a rapid adjustment to save well but, just past the hour, Rayner completed his hat trick from the penalty spot after he had been brought down.

Herne Bay were offered a route back into the game when they were awarded a spot kick after 69 minutes, but a poorly taken penalty was easily saved by Blake.

Tonbridge searched for the goal that would make the game safe with Devonte West bringing a good save and Doughty firing over before the latter was sent clear to finish well with ten minutes remaining.

With the very last kick of the match, Herne Bay pulled another goal back with a well taken free kick but it was the Angels who ran out deserved winners.

Hopefully, these talented youngsters will find a new homes and the dedicated coaches, Stefan Velvick and Jacob Wright deserve to find another touchline from which to nurture another batch of talent.