Tonbridge Angels U18 4 Chatham Town U18 0

Match 61/23/2184 - Monday, 11th December 2023 - Isthmian Youth League

Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 4 Waring 33,49 Puffette 39 Larkin 68
Chatham Town (0) 0
Attendance: 44
Admission: £3 Senior
Mileage: 38/4,540
Weather: 4degC, at least it was dry

Dom Welsh’s Under-18’s produced their most complete performance of the season to demolish Chatham Town.

Welsh hailed his team after the game replying to the observation that they are really starting to look a team, working hard for each other, not allowing complacency to set in just because you’re winning 4-0. He said: “I think that’s the biggest thing this season. It’s a TEAM. On the pitch and off the pitch, which adds 10% to our game. We are really enjoying it. Standards are high and results keep coming.”

The results are certainly coming, five unbeaten; just one defeat in 11 and looking forward to a League Cup Quarter Final in the new year. There’s a lot to like about this team.

The first 15 minutes gave every indication that the game would be tight and keenly fought with neither side having an opportunity. But with Felix Waring pulling the strings in midfield, the Angels began to dominate with Cameron Honarvar going close on a couple of occasions.

It was still past the half-hour mark before the Angels finally made a breakthrough with a goal straight off the training ground. A corner from the right saw the usual assembly of attackers and defenders at the far post for the expectant cross from Reuben Etherington, instead the ball was played short to Waring who stole in at the near post to fire home. “It was worked on in training last week, all very well worked”, said Welsh.

A second goal before the break also came from a training ground corner, that was flicked on by Ben Martin-Coward for skipper Will Puffette to head home from close range,

A fast start to the second half saw Martin-Coward shoot wide before a shot from Etherington saw the ball rebound from the goalkeeper for Waring to fire home.

In recent weeks we have reported on the heroics of Toby Edwards in the Angels goal, but he was largely unemployed as his defenders dealt with a lightweight Chatham front line.

On the hour, substitute Fin McLeod struck a post and, a couple of minutes later, was denied by a last ditch challenge from Chatham’s Riley Ingram, who was doing his best to stem the tide.

The game was put to bed on 68 minutes when a poor clearance from the goalkeeper allowed Adam Larkin to finish well into the bottom corner.

Waring was denied his hat trick in the 87th minute when the Chats keeper, Liam Sheriff, did well to touch a 20 yards shot onto the crossbar.

Dom Welsh reflected: “it was another excellent performance tonight with two outstanding periods either side of the break. A clean sheet is very pleasing and it is satisfying to see the progress being made by the likes of Sam Gerard and Rory Kavanagh since they have become regulars in the team."

Whilst Cray Valley and Sutton Common sit behind Welling United and the Angels with several games in hand, next week sees the top two go head-to-head to see who goes into the Christmas break as the top of the table team.