Tonbridge Angels U18 (5) 7
AFC Whyteleafe U18 (2) 2
Headcount: 45
Admission: Season Ticket
Mileage: 38/4,177
ONE LAST STEP REQUIRED!
Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s took one more step towards retaining their Isthmian Youth League East title with a surprisingly comfortable win over AFC Whyteleafe.
Last week’s reverse fixture was a tightly contested win for the Angels that could have gone either way and when the Surrey side took a 2-1 lead after 22 minutes much of the same was expected.
But the U18’s stepped up a gear and three late first half goals took the game away from the visitors.
After a bright opening from Whyteleafe, the Angels took the lead on seven minutes when Mackenzie Richardson was sent clear by River Ballach, he saw his initial shot parried back into his path by the goalkeeper to finish at the second attempt.
The lead was only to last five minutes when an uncharacteristic mistake from Jacob Hunt allowed a tap in for the equaliser and following a free kick, a header put the visitors in front.
Stung into a response, Richardson struck the underside of the bar before Ballach’s cross was finished at the far post by Robert Penman on the half-hour.
Ballach added a goal to his two assists when his cross-cum-shot sailed over the keeper’s head into the far corner to put the Angels in front.
The Angels youngsters were now dominant and two goals in first half added time saw them enter the break with a comfortable lead. Richardson set up Callum Fincham for the fourth and with the last kick of the half, Penman added his second.
Despite it being one-way traffic into the second period, it took until the 68th minute to add a sixth when Penman completed his hat-trick from a tight angle.
Three minutes from time substitute Kyler Barton added a seventh to set up the finale at Haywards Heath next month whilst expecting Cobham to win their remaining two games.
As the youth season begins to wind down, perhaps this is a good time to reflect on the progress made in the youth programme at the Yeomans Community Stadium.
Five years ago, I stepped down from the board at Tonbridge Angels, frustrated that the previous U18 set up had seen its demise and the prospect of regaining control of the club’s Kent Youth League teams from Tonbridge Juniors seemingly impossible.
Under the club’s chair, Sophie Purves, who shared my frustration, the 3G pitch was laid which firstly allowed the reinstatement of the Isthmian U18 side, and subsequently this season, the KYL sides returning to our badge that has already brought a title for the U16’s; a potential title and a Cup Final for the U15’s; at worst a runners-up spot for the U14’s and a solid season after a shaky start for the youngest group at U13.
The next stage of the development sees the Academy brought in-house completing the pathway from U13 through to the senior team. It has been a while since Sonny Miles made that journey, but now, the pathway is in place for someone to emulate his achievement.
There is much more to be done in both the boys and girls programme, but the Sophie and her board have shown the desire to further the set-up and Tonbridge Angels will be a stronger and better club for it.
Picture: Emma Wheeler
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