Eastbourne Borough Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 2

Match 94/22/2101 - Wednesday, 29th March 2023 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Eastbourne Borough Academy (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 2 Hermitage 19,72
Headcount: 21

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 66/6,571

The Academy edged ever closer to retaining their National League Under-19 Alliance title with a workmanlike performance against a resilient Eastbourne Borough side that battled to the final whistle despite playing for 55 minutes with 10 men.

Chatham Town maintained their relentless pursuit with a 5-0 win at VCD but this could come to an end after the Easter break should the Angels also beat VCD and the Chats lose to Maidstone United.

Whilst Eastbourne gave Tommy Parkinson’s lads a much sterner challenge than they did at Longmead back in December when the Angels ran out 8-2 winners, for much of the game they were well in control.

Tonbridge should have been in front within the first two minutes when Hayden Velvick set up Ben Hermitage for a tap-in at the far post, but the striker who came into the game with 34 goals to his credit, steered his close range effort wide of the post.

Hermitage atoned for his miss on 19 minutes when he was on hand to open the scoring after firstly, a Fyn Rutherford effort came back off the bar to Ashton Thomas whose shot was parried by goalkeeper, Finlay Tarrant, but only into the path of Hermitage who made no mistake.

Eastbourne worked hard to get themselves back in the game with Ollie Peterson proving a handful but their cause was not helped when Shea Brennan was brought down on the edge of the box as the Tonbridge midfielder was about to break through. The referee decided that the defender had been the last man and issued a red card, in fairness, it seemed a harsh decision.

Into the second period and with their man advantage, Tonbridge sought to capitalise but found a hardworking Eastbourne defence a tough nut to crack. Early in the half, after Kian Austin had sent Hermitage clear, penalty appeals were turned away as he was brought down and from a free kick Austin saw a header drift wide.

After 57 minutes, Chester Smith rescued a tricky situation with an interception to deny Peterson but the threat to the Angels goal was rarity.

Chances for the Angels, the keeper saving at the feet of Rutherford and a header over from Tom Green, came and went before they doubled their lead from the penalty spot after 72 minutes when Hermitage converted after Josh McArthur had been brought down.

Smith had a heart stopping moment when his clearing header narrowly went the right side of his own post and with nine minutes remaining, at the other end, McArthur rattled the bar after robbing a defender of the ball.

Tommy Parkinson commented that his side had not been at their best “by a long way” with decision making and quality letting them down. But he also gave credit to their hosts who had defended well and worked tirelessly despite going down to 10 men.

Eastbourne Borough Academy 1 Tonbridge Angels Academy 7

Match 89/18/1682 - Wednesday, 30th January 2019 - National Academies League

Eastbourne Borough (0) 1
Tonbridge Angels (3) 7 Lambert 22, Bartlett 29,54,58 Snowden-Lewis 34,63,65 (pen)
Headcount: 11

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 66/5,192

Twenty-five or so prospective students attended the Tonbridge Angels' Academy open evening on Wednesday with a view to making up next year’s intake. Those young men will have to aspire to a bar that has been set high by the group that have contested the Angels’ debut Academy season.

The overall aim of Tom Parkinson’s project is to produce players who might go on to earn first team football at Tonbridge, or anywhere else, whilst getting a solid academic education. League position might not be voiced as a priority but the reality is that this group have given themselves a serious chance of a top three finish, an outstanding effort.

This game was played at Eastbourne Borough’s first team stadium at Priory Lane and the Angels’ Academy side immediately revelled in the fine facility. Despite having put five past the hosts in the reverse fixture at the beginning of the season, an awkward encounter against the hosts who had shown improvement recently was expected.

But Tonbridge seized the initiative from the opening whistle and by the time they opened the scoring after 22 minutes, Ned Snowden-Lewis had cracked a fine effort against the crossbar and Leo Deere had the ball in the net only to be ruled out for offside.

So it came as no surprise when Jacob Lambert curled a good effort into the top corner to put the Angels one-up. Eastbourne literally had no forward momentum and only their goalkeeper stood between them and a first half pasting.

A wonderful move involving three or four swift-passing Tonbridge players down the left eventually opened an opportunity for Rhys Bartlett who fired in a great shot between the goalkeeper and his near post. A well taken goal that embellished the move that had presented the chance.

Deere hit a post and immediately afterwards another slick move this time between Lambert and Bartlett ended with Snowden-Lewis rounding the goalkeeper for the Angels third.

After 37 minutes with the head having been turned in just one direction, Eastbourne finally brought Tommy Taylor into action advancing to smother the ball at a forward’s feet and the Angels keeper needed to be alert to save at his near post five minutes later.

Normal service was resumed at the beginning of the second half with the Eastbourne goalkeeper saving from Bartlett and Deere before a Zak Wolvey cross from the right was converted by Bartlett. With that goal the hosts heads dropped and, following an embarrassing mix-up from a throw-in, Bartlett had a tap-in for his hat-trick and Tonbridge’s fifth.

Bartlett sent Snowden-Lewis clear for the sixth and two minutes later he was brought down for a penalty which he con converted himself to register his hat-trick.

Following a poor clearance, the Eastbourne inside-right was clear to register a consolation goal, much too the annoyance of Taylor.

No goals, but plenty of opportunities, were added in the final 20 minutes with Bartlett alone having five efforts on goal.

Tonbridge’s Academy moved up to third place in the table following Sutton United’s defeat at second placed Bromley.

Ned and Regan sign first team forms