East Grinstead Town U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 3

Match 23/24/2262 - Thursday, 12th September 2024 - Isthmian Youth League Cup 1st Round

East Grinstead Town U18 (0) 1
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 3 Larkin 22,46 Ballach 85
Attendance: 55
Admission: £2
Mileage: 60/1,011

Tonbridge Angels U18’s progressed from a tight Isthmian Youth League Cup First Round tie at East Grinstead Town with a 3-1 win that earns them a home draw against Lewes in the next round.

After taking a two goal lead, the Angels were pegged back with a goal from the home team and were under pressure until a stunning goal from River Ballach, five minutes from time eased the nerves.

On an evening when autumn certainly showed its hand and heavier coats were much in evidence, the Angels were always the better side but were met with a resilient East Grinstead side that also offered a threat through a hard working striker.

The home side had a first minute opportunity when Angels goalkeeper, Josh Hanson, ventured outside his area to a through ball that he didn’t quite clear with the rebound falling for a shot at an unguarded goal, but one that cleared the bar.

After the early scare, Tonbridge settled into the game and a fifth minute corner led to an effort from Adam Larkin that was deflected into the grateful hands of the goalkeeper.

The game remained very even until the 22nd minute when following initial work from Tolu Fabimafobee, Larkin drove a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The momentum swung Tonbridge’s way following the goal and chances quickly came for Harry Barton, who shot agonisingly wide and following a great bit of wing play from Barton, his cross was put over the bar from close range by Teddy Cooney.

Barton brought another very good save from the keeper on 39 minutes and with the final act of the half, a superb move involving Fabimafobee and Barton saw Callum Fincham’s finish come back from the underside of the crossbar as the Angels finished the half well on top.

The ascendancy was rewarded early into the second half when a quickly taken free kick from Fincham sent Barton clear to cross into the box from where Larkin powered home an unstoppable header.

Barton was once again denied by a good, low save before an East Grinstead goal was disallowed for a foul on Hanson but that gave the home side a lift and, just past the hour they halved the deficit when a cross from the ever-dangerous centre forward was touched home at the far post.

The game became end-to-end as East Grinstead desperately searched for an equaliser that seemed the most likely next goal until River Ballach stepped inside a challenge and curled his shot into the top corner from 25 yards.

A ridiculously long eight, that turned into eleven minutes, was safely managed by the Angels to earn their tie against Lewes which will be played at Longmead on Monday, 23rd September.

East Grinstead Town U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 5

Match 34/23/2157 - Thursday, 28th September 2023 - Isthmian Youth League Cup

East Grinstead Town U18 (1) 1 Tidy 45
Tonbridge Angels U18 (2) 5 Cooney 10,65 Honarvar 38,59 Firman 71
Attendance: 49
Admission: £2 Senior
Mileage: 60/1,828
Weather: 18degC., showers

The Angels Under-18’s produced an outstanding performance at East Grinstead Town to progress in the Isthmian Youth League Cup.

Manager Dominic Welsh said after the game: “Some performance that!”

Tonbridge started on the front foot with Cameron Honarvar and Sam Firman giving the hosts an introduction to the way their evening was to unfold. The East Grinstead defence had little answer to the pace of Honarvar and the guile of Firman. In the opening minute, Honarvar’s goalbound shot was deflected for a corner, from which skipper Will Puffette headed over.

East Grinstead’s goalkeeper, Ben Taylor, made good saves to deny Noah Millis and Teddy Cooney before the Angels went in front on 10 minutes when the two front men combined superbly to set up Cooney for a driven shot from around eight yards.

Felix Waring needed to leave the field for a brief spell following a head injury before returning to the fray with his head swathed, Terry Butcher style (thankfully without the blood) to rule the roost in midfield.

In the time of Waring’s absence, Toby Edwards had to make a decent low save from Daniel Spurle.

The game entered a phase when East Grinstead gained a toe hold with Edwards again tested by Alex Tidy and from the resultant corner, Tito Mendy headed onto the top of the crossbar.

But the Angels were still the dominant force and doubled their advantage on 38 minutes when a long ball forward from Rory Kavanagh was initially smothered by Taylor but the ball squirmed from his grasp allowing Honarvar to place it into the unguarded net from the edge of the penalty area.

East Grinstead pulled a goal back in first half time added when a linesman’s flag was overruled by the referee’s interpretation of the new offside rule. However, it was a very decent strike into the bottom corner from Tidy.

The goal did nothing but harden the Angels’ resolve and they completely dominated the second period with the only criticism being that they didn’t convert more of the numerous chances created.

After several near misses and goalkeeper saves, Tonbridge restored their two goal advantage on 59 minutes when Firman robbed a defender to set up Honarvar for a good finish.

Six minutes later, the game was virtually over as a contest when Evan De Silva set up Cooney to score at the second attempt and, on 71 minutes, substitute Fin McLeod sent Firman through to collect what was a richly deserved reward for a splendid evening’s work.

East Grinstead were offered the opportunity of a consolation when they were awarded a penalty following a foul but Tidy blazed his spot kick high and wide.

Dom Welsh added after: “Excellent performance tonight, we played some outstanding football throughout and kept the intensity high for 90 minutes.”

East Grinstead Town U18 3 Tonbridge Angels U18 0

Match 86/21/1950 - Thursday, 20th January 2022 - Isthmian Youth

East Grinstead Town U18 (1) 3 Burgess 30,72 McKenna 72
Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 0
Attendance: 39

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 62/4,605

The Under-18’s slipped to a disappointing defeat in their Isthmian Youth League game at East Grinstead. It was a strange game in which the Angels dominated the first half but went into the break a goal down and conceded two goals in a couple of minutes midway through a second half in which they literally failed to get going.

On another cold evening and on a hard, frost-bound pitch, the players studs sounded a bit like the hoofs horses charging past.

For the best part of the first half-hour, Tonbridge played some attractive football and created some good chances. Haydn Velvick saw a shot deflected to safety after eight minutes and on 21 minutes, East Grinstead managed to survive as firstly the goalkeeper saved well from Velvick; the follow-up from Fin Wolvey was blocked with the returned shot from Harry London narrowly going wide.

Four minutes later Wolvey attempted an audacious lob from the right but was thwarted as the goalkeeper touched the ball onto the crossbar and over.

But, it’s goals that win games, and with their first attack and a route one pass over the top that sent East Grinstead's Burgess clear to finish well past the advancing Matt Larkin.

Tonbridge continued to dominate the half but apart from a free kick from Wolvey, the goalkeeper was not really stretched.

If they Angels went into the break scratching their heads as to how they found themselves a goal down, they would be completely nonplussed as to why they “disappeared” in the second period.

Certainly the loss of skipper Harry London had a significant bearing on the second half performance in which the fluency of the first half hour was lost.

Chances were still created with the home goalkeeper, who had a very good game, saving well from George Theis after 53 minutes and brilliantly from Velvick, readjusting after a deflection on 67 minutes.

But, once more, a route one pass saw Tommy McKenna lob the ball over Larkin to double the home side’s lead after 67 minutes and two minutes later it was game over as Burgess cut in from the left to bury a shot into the far corner for 3-0.

It summed up the Angels frustrating evening when Velvick’s shot came back off the underside of the bar straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.

The Angels youngsters struggled in the last 20 minutes to gain any momentum and East Grinstead finished the game by far the stronger and might well have added to the score from several reasonable chances.

A disappointed Dom Welsh commented after the game, “it was a strange game and a very indifferent performance from us.”