Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Horsham U18 1

Match 11/24/2250 - Monday, 5th August 2024 - Pre-Season Friendly

Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Fabimafobee 77
Horsham U18 (1) 1 York 20
Headcount: 54
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/422

Pre-season is about gaining fitness, making mistakes and learning from them and, for 45 minutes at Longmead, Tonbridge Angels U18’s were being dealt a lesson by their Horsham counterparts. The visitors kept the ball, passed the ball and showed a greater intensity than their hosts and were well worth their lead at the break.

Dom Welsh, U18’s manager, admitted a few harsh words were spoken during the break and his charges took his words onboard and produced a second half polar opposite to the first.

A very quiet opening 20 minutes ended with Horsham taking the lead when Scott Smith brought the ball out of defence into the centre circle before releasing a great pass into the inside right channel for Jack York to run clear before despatching a good finish into the bottom corner.

Gaining confidence from the goal, Horsham took control of the game and thoroughly dominated their hosts. Several chances fell to the visitors including an effort from the centre forward that struck a post.

The half-time talking-to had the desired effect and the home side emerged a more positive side on the front foot. A lovely flighted free kick to the far post from Teddy Cooney begged a touch and Tolu Fabimafobee brought a save from the Horsham goalkeeper.

On 74 minutes Ashton Lucas saw his shot turned over the bar and from the resultant corner, Ash Banwait was denied by a superb save.

But the pressure finally told as a long ball forward from Ed Dyer sent Fabimafobee clear into the box from where he coolly finished.

Tonbridge pressed hard for a winner with a corner that saw the goalkeeper making a double save and a shot from Adam Larkin stretching to goalkeeper to a low save. Harry Barton had his shot saved with four minutes remaining before just failing to turn home a cross in the final minute.

Dom Welsh was pleased with his side’s second half reaction in a very competitive friendly and as with any preseason knows there is plenty of work still to be done.