Tonbridge Angels U18 3 Cray Wanderers U18 1

Match 23/25/2366 - Monday, 15th September 2025 - FA Youth Cup 1QR

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 3
Cray Wanderers (1) 1
Attendance: 82
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/1,645

Tonbridge Angels U18’s progressed in the FA Youth Cup on Monday evening with a hard-earned win over Cray Wanderers.

The Angels produced an excellent second half performance after an opening 45 minutes which reflected the 1-1 scoreline.

Dom Welsh reflected: “It was a solid performance against good opposition. We controlled the first half in terms of possession but lacked a threat and looked vulnerable, but without the error, we would have gone in ahead.”

Tonbridge took the lead on the half-hour, but prior to the opening goal, the game had been tit-for-tat in terms of chances. For Cray Wanderers, Samuel Robinson was a constant threat bringing saves from Jacob Hunt and also seeing an effort narrowly go wide, whilst the visiting goalkeeper, Kevin Kardell saved from Ashton Lucas and Robert Penman.

The Angels lead came from the penalty spot, stroked home by Mackenzie Richardson after Kardell had brought down Lucas as the was through one-on-one with the keeper.

Cray responded with an effort from Louis Edwards and a header from Leroy Adedoyin that perhaps should have brought them level. But, they were gifted an equaliser with five minutes remaining in the half when, playing out from the back, a misplaced pass from Hunt left Finlay Flint with the unguarded goal at his mercy.

Tonbridge took the game, in the second half, to their opponents, although Hunt needed to be at his best to turn over the crossbar a goal bound effort from Billy Wall. The Angels restored their lead, on 66 minutes, when a corner fell at the feet of substitute Nathaniel Waul, who fired through a crowd of bodies to fine the net.

Having survived another awkward moment via a poor back pass that went unpunished, the Angels wrapped up the game with eight minutes remaining when Fiachra Pritchard slid home a finish at the far post after good work from Penman.

The draw for the Second Qualifying Round will be made on Friday, 19th September.