Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 3 Able 16 Redwood-Sawyerr 52 Elms 76
Erith and Belvedere U18 (2) 2 Lassey 10,19
Attendance: 160
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/1,410
FA YOUTH CUP JOURNEY BEGINS
Tonbridge Angels progressed to the FA Youth Cup Second Qualifying Round with a thrilling comeback victory against a competitive Erith and Belvedere side.
Much like the FA Cup for their senior counterparts, the First Round is the holy grail for non-league clubs that enter through the qualifying rounds or even a preliminary round.
Although the competition dates back to 1952, Tonbridge Angels didn’t enter the competition until 1960 after Harry Haslam had formed the JACs that produced players such as Malcolm McDonald and Tony Burns, but with money tight (as usual) and with Haslam moving on to Luton Town, the JACS were folded.
In 1990, under the guidance of Phil Emblem, the youth programme was revived and in 1999, coached by present-day director Geoff Curtis and Mike Bender, Tonbridge Angels reached the First Round of the FA Youth Cup for the first time where they were drawn to play Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park. They returned to Longmead Stadium with a very creditable 2-2 draw after being 2-0 in front, but were unfortunately beaten 3-0 in the replay.
A year later the main draw was once again reached with the Angels again given an away draw this time against Football League opposition in the shape of Bristol Rovers. For over an hour, Tonbridge did more than hold their own, but once they conceded on 68 minutes, the full time fitness of the league club took over and they eventually prevailed by 4-0.
The Angels now had a rich vein of first round appearances and 2001 saw them visit Yeovil Town, who were managed by Gary Johnson and had his son Lee in their side at Huish Park, but once more the second round eluded them, after leading 1-0 at half-time, they lost 2-1.
In 2004, the first round was reached with a visit to Leyton Orient where a Tom Reeves penalty at Orient was the only reward in a 3-1 defeat.
The Youth programme at the club took a backward step and it was not until 2025, 21 years later, that the club secured a place in the first round. On the face of it, a draw at Merstham appeared an opportunity to progress to the second round but, it was not what it appeared. Merstham were just the badge holders for the Volenti Academy, part of the Crystal Palace development programme who had progressed to a tie at Stamford Bridge and the fourth round the season previous. Dom Welsh’s team had little luck, striking the woodwork twice and having a goal disallowed in a 6-1 defeat.
In the intervening years there have been some classic qualifying games including in 2016 an epic 5-5 draw with Maidstone United, with the visitors going through on penalties and in 2021 a visit to Aldershot Town that brought a performance that was to be proud of, but a 2-0 defeat.
Erith and Belvedere’s U18’s compete in the Kent Youth League, not necessarily a level below, but were far from overawed by the occasion and went ahead after 10 minutes when Joseph Lassey cut in from the left to fire a shot into the top corner past a despairing Alfie McQuire.
Their lead was to last for six minutes when Lennon Able nodded home from close range converting a cross stood up from Harry Ejje.
To complete a frantic opening 20 minutes, Erith restored their lead when Lassey repeated his run, this time burying his shot low into the corner.
The visitors will be regretting a golden opportunity after 22 minutes to double their advantage when following a determined run from Jayden Thomas, Lassey inexplicably cleared the bar from very close range.
The game was open, end to end, with the visiting goalkeeper, Riley Butt saving well to deny Ejje.
The second half was more structured and Tonbridge benefited from the change in application. After 52 minutes, Xavi Elms set up Anselm Redwood-Sawyerr to equalise and after dominating the second period the home side were awarded a penalty after substitute Alfie Murray was brought down.
Harry Bingham took the responsibility for the spot kick and saw his shot parried out by Butt, but Elms reacted quickest to the rebound to score.
The first round remains a journey away but the first steps have been taken.
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