Hugh Christie 1 Abbey School 3

Match 116/23/2239 - Friday, 17th May 2024 - Kent Schools FA Academies League Cup Final

Hugh Christie (Tonbridge Angels) (1) 1 Richardson 35
Abbey School (Dover Athletic) (2) 3 Marapara 17 Hatcher 28 Young 52
At Herne Bay
Estimated attendance: 200
Admission: £8
Mileage: 74/7,964

Despite a valiant effort, Tonbridge Angels Academy found a powerful Dover Athletic side a touch too strong in the Kent Schools FA Academies League Cup Final at Herne Bay.

Dover, who play a level higher than the Angels, fielded a strong side that included Archie Hatcher and Henry Young who have both been members of the Crabble’s first team squad and Hatcher will trial this summer at Blackburn Rovers.

Tonbridge started the game brightly forcing a couple of corners and having an early opportunity when Hayden Velvick sent Mackenzie Richardson clear but his effort was narrowly wide.

In response to that scare, Dover had a decent chance before Tim Marapara gave them the lead after 17 minutes after winning a challenge in midfield and striding forward to score from the edge of the box.

Dover continued to dominate and when Hatcher fired a free kick into the top corner from 20 yards the Angels faced an uphill battle.

But battle on they did and, on 35 minutes they were back in the game when Noah Millis crossed from the right for Mackenzie Richardson to finish.

Early in the second half, Tonbridge struck a post and Leo Vowles and Ollie Thomson linked well to go close but it was Dover that extended their lead after 52 minutes when a cross from the right found Young who swept the ball home from 18 yards.

The Angels worked hard to find a way back into the game and were on the wrong end of a couple of dubious refereeing decisions that might have offered an opportunity from the penalty spot and Josh McArthur went close but Dover had the quality to see the game out and lift the trophy.

Herne Bay 0 Tonbridge Angels 7

Match 14/18/1607 - Saturday, 28th July 2018 - Pre-Season Friendly

Herne Bay (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (5) 7 Turner 12,80 Beere 15 (pen),60 King 20,29,45 (pen)
Attendance: 131

Admission: £3 Senior
Team Sheet: Free
Mileage: 84/645

Tonbridge Angels eased to a comprehensive win on the East Kent coast at a blustery Winches Field, home of Herne Bay.

There were two absentees from Tuesday evening’s game at Faversham. Craig Stone’s son has had hospital surgery and Alex Read was unwell.

Steve McKimm replaced Read with Liam King, who has recently departed Walton Casuals, and the striker will have impressed with a first half hat trick.

The Angels opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Tom Beere pulled the ball back from the left side bye-line for Joe Turner to steer the ball home from close range.

Two minutes later, Tonbridge were awarded a penalty when Tommy Whitnall was brought down. Beere stepped up to confidently finish from the spot.

The visitors were now in total control of the game with Beere hitting a post before King opened his account with a goal from a narrow angle that was helped in by the Herne Bay goalkeeper who allowed the ball to creep in under his body.

After half-an-hour, Turner was the provider with a cross from the right that was turned into his own net by Herne Bay’s Nick Reeves, under pressure from King. One for the dubious goals panel to clear up, but as King was to put away a 45th minute penalty, no one is going to deny him his hat-trick!

On the hour, a woeful pass across the face of the Herne Bay penalty area was intercepted by Beere who beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation to add the sixth goal.

Herne Bay had a brief period when they might have salvaged some consolation but Jonny Henly was equal to a Connor Cox effort and Reeves headed wide.

The Angels wrapped up the scoring when substitute Sam Jones, from the Development squad, set up Turner to fire in the seventh of the afternoon.

With five minutes remaining, Jared Small set up Turner but his shot struck the left hand post.

This was a first visit to Herne Bay in the lifetime of this blog and, I believe, a first visit for Tonbridge since 1993. Despite Winches Field looking like it has seen little change from 25 years ago, it is a tidy ground with a sizeable main seating stand and cover at both ends of the ground.