Ashford United U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 40/22/2047 - Monday, 31st October 2022 - Isthmian Youth League

Ashford United U18 (0) 1 Stanley (pen) 61
Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 2 Puffette 37 Firman 44
Attendance: 54

Admission: £3s
Programme: None
Mileage: 40/3,082

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s dug deep in the second half to preserve the points at a wild, rainswept Homelands.

Dom Welsh has needed to utilise his squad to the full with games on successive days. Four players were also in the starting XI against Phoenix Sports in the Kent Cup on Sunday, whilst all five substitutes on that day were starters on Monday evening.

The game was a hard fought contest throughout with the Angels moving into a 2-0 half-time lead before Ashford United fought back strongly in the second period.

The Ashford goalkeeper was gainfully employed in the early stages turning over a header from Max Lambert from a Johnny Walker cross after three minutes and then saving from Cameron Honavar.

Ashford fought back and this time it was Matt Larkin’s time to excel with a save but also had fortune on his side as a header rattled his crossbar.

After 23 minutes, a surging run from midfield by Felix Waring set up Lambert, but once again the Ashford goalkeeper saved brilliantly.

The game was end to end before the Angels took the lead on 37 minutes when the ball fell to central defender Will Puffette on the edge of the box to drive in an unstoppable shot that any striker would have been proud of.

A minute later, the Angels might have gone two up but Waring saw his shot saved but a minute before the break a well struck shot after winning possession by Sam Firman doubled the visitors advantage.

Half-time brought a huge deterioration in the weather with monsoon-type conditions, driven by a howling gale, sweeping across Homelands. If the weather changed, so did the home side and they took the game to their visitors from the outset.

An early corner was headed over and a shot from 20 years cleared the bar before, just past the hour, following a corner, the referee pointed to the spot for holding. Whilst it looked a soft decision from a distance, the 16-year-old official had had an outstanding game and there was no reason for dispute.

Stanley Oldfield sent Larkin the wrong way and the home side were back in the game.

A rare mishandle from Ashford’s goalkeeper, who was superb throughout, nearly saw the ball creep in at the near post, but for the last 20 minutes it was all Ashford as they sought an equaliser but Larkin and basically his whole outfield team defended bravely, limiting their opponents to a couple of half chances.

Dom Welsh proudly said of his team after the game: “Not pretty but very much job done, played the pitch and the conditions well, dealt with every bomb thrown at us! A really important three points against an Ashford side that were much better than when we played them in the FA Youth Cup with a lot of different players. They were very direct and I thought we dealt with it well. We had an excellent 15 minutes before half time which ultimately won us the game.”

Ashford United U18 0 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 18/22/2025 - Wednesday, 31st August 2022 - FA Youth Cup PR

Ashford United (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (2) 2 London 12 Walker (pen) 30
Attendance: 124

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/1,619

Tonbridge Angels eased their way into the First Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup with a 2-0 win at Ashford United. The Angels scored two first half goals and withstood a spirited second half performance from the home side.

An electrifying run from Harry Day right from the kick off was ended with him being brought down in the box for the award of a penalty after just 17 seconds. Harry London’s penalty was well saved by the goalkeeper, Sonny Dixon, to preserve the early parity of score.

Tonbridge’s goalkeeper, Lewis Wilkins, was called into action after five minutes, turning away a shot from Matisse Thompson at his near post. But the visitors were dominating the early stages and took a deserved lead after 12 minutes when a long ball forward from Will Puffette sent London clear to open the scoring with a composed finish.

Buoyed by their lead, the Angels totally dominated the rest of the first half with the goalkeeper saving well from London; Hayden Velvick hitting a post and good strike from Billy Robbins from 20 yards that was narrowly wide before the Angels finally extended their lead on the half-hour. Josh McArthur was brought down in the box for a second penalty award that was converted by Johnny Walker, who sent the keeper the wrong way.

Tonbridge might have put the game to bed when a good move ended with Day having his shot blocked before Wilkins was pressed into action twice in the final minutes of the half as Ashford served notice that they were still in the game.

The home side should have reduced the deficit after two minutes of the second half when they were awarded a penalty but Wilkins read Luke Prior’s intention and saved comfortably to his left.

This did herald a spirited second half from the home side that saw Wilkins save well on a couple of occasions and another effort that only found the side netting.

The visitors were not without their chances to put the game beyond doubt with Day shooting over after some fine work by Leo Vowles and substitute Will Saunders working the goalkeeper.

The Angels saw the game out largely on the front foot to thoroughly deserve their place in the next round.

Tommy Parkinson commented after the game that his team were not at their best, especially in the final third but gave Ashford credit for fighting to the end.

Ashford United U18 2 Tonbridge Angels U18 4

Match 38/16/1346 - Thursday, 13th October 2016 - Ryman Youth League

Ashford United (1) 2 Williams 23 Howland 63
Tonbridge Angels (2) 4 Fenton 2 Ikeije 45+2,59 Bakare 55
Attendance: 42

Entrance: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/3,253

Manager Jay Stubberfield made six changes to his side to give game time to his squad ahead of next week’s FA Youth Cup tie against Maidstone United and was very satisfied with the outcome beating Ashford United 4-2.

Henry Ikeije delighted on the Homeland’s 3G surface with his quick feet that proved too much for his opponents who constantly brought him down for free kicks.

Ikeije might have given the Angels the lead after just 12 seconds when sent through on goal but was denied by the Ashford goalkeeper, Wharton, saving bravely at his feet, injuring himself in the process. It was the first of a series of fine saves from the home keeper.

Tonbridge did go ahead though after just two minutes when Jack Fenton shot low into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

The visitors were forced to make an early substitution when Louis Pateman was injured. Before they could get James Tansil on the pitch and reorganise the back line the home side equalised with a shot from their left back Williams.

Richard Frempong produced a mazy run that ended with him being unceremoniously brought down on the edge of the box for a free kick that came to nothing followed by a shot from 20 yards brought an acrobatic save from Wharton.

In first half added time, Tonbridge regained the lead when Ikeije latched onto a loose clearance to fire in from around the penalty spot.

Tonbridge made a half-time substitution with Frempong being replaced by Jack Cussen.

After 55 minutes a solo run and shot from Kunle Bakare increased Tonbridge’s lead to 3-1.

Four minutes later the game was over as a contest when, following a corner that was returned to the taker, the second cross found the head of Ikeije who steered it into the net.

Ashford pulled one back just after the hour when Lewis Mitchell spilt a shot and the rebound was tucked home from close range by Howland and a couple of minutes later they also hit a post.

Tonbridge’s disciplinary problems of last week’s cup tie against Dover were put into context when a late booking for Connor Watson was the only blot on the copybook. This was for an accumulation of fouls, a punishment that could have been easily have been dealt for the treatment of Ikeije.

Jay Stubberfield said after the game that he was probably more pleased with this performance, given the changes, than he was with the 5-0 routing of the same opponents earlier in the season and singled out Ikeije for his performance.

Tonbridge’s FA Youth Cup tie against Maidstone is at Longmead next Wednesday.