Maidstone United Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 16

Match 110/22/2117 - Wednesday, 26th April 2023 - National League U19 Alliance

Maidstone United Academy (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels Academy (5) 16 Green 2 Velvick 16,17 Hermitage 40,48,51,54,58,75,83,89,90 Rutherford 42 Vowles 54 Saunders 77,84
Headcount: 20

Admission: Pass
Programme: None
Mileage: 19/7,823

Tonbridge Angels Academy retained their National League Under-19 Alliance title with a one-sided romp at the Gallagher. From the first minute to the last, they dominated their hosts, Maidstone United, with top scorer Ben Hermitage recording a treble hat-trick.

Academy manager Tommy Parkinson hailed his side as a “fantastically talented group who fully deserve the league title” which has now been won for three successive seasons. He also described the performance as “ruthless” which it was almost in the extreme.

The Angels were ahead after just two minutes when a shot from fully 30 yards from skipper for the day Tom Green cannoned down from the underside of the crossbar to cross the line and given on the direction of the linesman.

Maidstone remained competitive in the open quarter hour forcing Nat Gibb into a smart save but after Hayden Velvick scored when sent clear by Billy Robbins and, a minute later, Velvick finished after first Hermitage saw his shot saved with the follow-up from Shea Brennan striking a post, the traffic became as one-way as the county town’s traffic system.

All credit to the Maidstone goalkeeper, for whom sadly we have no name, who almost single-handedly kept the half-time score at five with goals added from Hermitage on 40 minutes and Fyn Rutherford two minutes later.

Leo Vowles, back from a lengthy injury, was introduced at the break and in the space of 12 second half minutes, the score went from five to 10 as the home side were taken apart.

A 20 yard shot from Hermitage made it six after 48 minutes and Vowles set him up for his first hat trick three minutes later. His fourth came courtesy of a Robbins pass and a brilliant team goal involving Robbins, Josh McArthur and Hermitage ended with Vowles firing into the bottom corner.

Two more Hermitage goals (his fifth and sixth) took the score into double figures on 58 minutes and all the time, the Maidstone goalkeeper was performing heroics.

In fact, he held back the tide until 15 minutes from the end despite losing his centre half to a red card. But he was helpless as Hermitage tucked home a cross from substitute Alex Shave and a volley from Will Saunders that made it a dozen.

Robbins produced another great pass for Hermitage to make it 13 despite the best effort of the goalkeeper who also saved a minute later but couldn’t deny the follow-up from Saunders.

There was one little cherry that would have topped the cake and that would have been a goal for the industrious Robbins, who has never scored for the elite side. Having earlier hit the post, with three minutes remaining, he rattled the crossbar as all looked on in anguish as if the winning goal had been missed!

Hermitage completed his treble hat-trick in the final couple of minutes with an audacious back-heel for his final goal.

Champions again!

Maidstone United Academy 1 Tonbridge Angels Academy 2

Match 110/21/1974 - Monday, 21st March 2022 - National League Under-19 Alliance

Maidstone United Academy (0) 1 Jeche 90+4
Tonbridge Angels Academy (1) 2 Hartley 17 Duncan 60
Headcount: 35
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 20/6,353

Tonbridge Angels Academy produced a masterclass in defending and two moments of quality to emerge from the Gallagher Stadium with maximum points in their top of the table clash with hosts, Maidstone United.

Maidstone might well point to a greater share of possession but a resilient back line restricted the home side to just one meaningful effort on goal that required Tonbridge goalkeeper, Nat Gibb to turn the ball over the bar before they struck a final minute consolation goal.

Central defenders Joe Tyrie and Tom Green produced a magnificent effort ably assisted by their full backs, Josh McArthur and Leo Vowles.

Maidstone’s sole moment to test Gibb came in the 11th minute when good work from Jack Muir set up a shooting opportunity for ex-Angel Nathan Jeche but his effort was capably turned over the bar and, from the resultant corner, Max Proven headed harmlessly over the bar.

The Angels went ahead after 17 minutes when a superb through ball from Luca Woodhouse sent Fin Hartley clear and the cool-headed striker finished well past the advancing Maidstone goalkeeper, Harley Earle.

Maidstone dominated the first half in terms of possession but a 20 yard effort from Proven that sailed over and efforts from Jeche and full back Ayo Tijani that were comfortably dealt with by Gibb were as good as it got for a side that made their frustration all too apparent.

First half efforts from Ben Twist and Elliott Duncan worked Earle but were comfortable saves.

The second period opened with Tonbridge showing greater attacking intent and Earle was stretched within the first minute, saving low to his left from Twist.

A cross across the face of goal from Ben Hermitage begged a touch and the midfielder was denied at the goalkeeper’s feet after being sent clear by Hartley as the Angels enjoyed a period of ascendancy that was rewarded with a second goal on the hour when Hermitage played the ball through to Duncan who raced clear to slot past Earle.

Substitute Billy Kent was enjoying himself on the left wing producing runs that were desperately defended for corners.

As Maidstone searched for a way back into the game, skipper Alfie Giles was instrumental in most of what they created and a 71st minute cross brought a heart-stopping moment but nobody managed to get on the end of it and Tyrie needed to be at his resilient best to deny Giles at the expense of a corner.

A minor disagreement saw Maidstone’s Morgan Todd and Joe Tyrie into the book as frustration boiled over. Duncan and Kent both had late opportunities to put the game to bed in the last five minutes and with the clock entering the last minute of time added, Jeche produced a shot from 20 yards that found the net via the underside of the crossbar to deny the Angels defence a well deserved clean sheet.

Manager Tommy Parkinson praised his team’s performance: “A fantastic win against a very strong Maidstone team. We defended brilliantly all game and had two moments of quality to win the game.“

Tonbridge moved two points ahead of Maidstone at the top of the table with three games in hand and now need to consolidate their place with another away game on Wednesday against Charlton Athletic Trust.

Maidstone United Academy 1 Tonbridge Angels Academy 6

Match 61/20/1864 - Wednesday, 9th June 2021 - Kent Academies Cup

Maidstone United Academy (0) 1 83'
Tonbridge Angels Academy (4) 6Lambert 30,89 Lewis 40,45+3 Kent 44 Wootton 63
Headcount: 20

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 19/3,344

Tonbridge Angels said a fond farewell to their third year scholars with a rousing victory at the home of our A26 neighbours, Maidstone United. Ned Lewis, who will be taking up a scholarship in the United States, and Jacob Lambert signed off with a brace of goals each whilst Harry Hudson and Sam Babayale, who depart for University, along with Harrison Mayhew can reflect on three outstanding years at the club with a solid defensive showing.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Angels fielded seven first year students and three Under-16’s in this performance of virtual domination.

Such was the control that the visitors had on the game, it was added time in the first half before goalkeeper Matt Larkin, drafted in from the Angels’ Under-16 Kent Youth League side, had any sort of save to make.

It was a very warm lunchtime kick-off at the Gallagher with the Angels, fast out of the blocks and producing chance after chance with Lambert ruling the roost in midfield. Lambert forced the first save of many from the Stones’ keeper within the first minute. Ben Hermitage wasted a very good chance after five minutes and the keeper pulled off a blinding save to thwart Billy Kent and so it continued, Tonbridge versus the Stones’ goalkeeper until the half-hour mark when finally the custodian was beaten.

A lofted through ball from Lewis sent Lambert clear to deftly lob the advancing goalkeeper to put the Angels into a deserved lead. This actually sparked the home side into life but a couple of attacks failed to employ Larkin.

Three quick goals in the last eight minutes put a scoreline on the board far more in keeping with the pattern of the game. After 40 minutes, Lambert supplied the pass for Lewis to score from 10 yards and, four minutes later, a well executed cross from Hermitage gave Kent an easy close range header to make it 3-0. Three minutes into time added, Lewis added his second when latching on to a cross from the right, his first shot was well saved but he was on hand to convert the rebound.

After what one would imagine a stern half-time talk, Maidstone made a better fist of the second period but continued to be dominated by the visitors with Lewis and Kent bringing saves and Ben Twist seeing his shot cannon down from the underside of the crossbar.

The fifth goal arrived on 63 minutes when Hermitage set up substitute Cameron Wootton who, once again, needed the benefit of a second attempt as the goalkeeper saved his initial shot.

Larkin showed his potential and desire to keep a clean sheet making two good saves in quick succession before a brilliant run from Keiarn Corner set up Wootton but his shot was smothered by a fine defensive block.

Sadly, Larkin’s debut was not to be celebrated with a clean sheet when, seven minutes from time, he was beaten when the ball was bundled home after saving the initial attempt.

Jacob Lambert said his final goodbye to Academy football with a characteristic finish in the final minute to round off an impressive display that obviously delighted Tommy Parkinson, who said after the game that it was an outstanding performance and on the departing scholars: “All have been a credit to themselves and their families, they have come on leaps and bounds as players over the three years and more importantly become top people who will all have bright futures.”

Maidstone United Development 3 Tonbridge Angels Development 7

Match 48/20/1851 - Wednesday, 31st March 2021 - Friendly

Maidstone United Development (0) 3
Tonbridge Angels Development (3) 7 Ruck 2 Lazell 2 Kent Ogunbameru Williams
Attendance: BCD

Admission: Pass
Programme: None
Mileage: 30/2,830
One small step, for the first time in three months the shirt came out of the wardrobe, the minibus wheels rolled out of Hugh Christie with a team of excited young footballers onboard. Football is nearly back.

Maidstone United Academy 0 Tonbridge Angels Academy 4

Match 65/18/1658 - Wednesday, 28th November 2018 - National Academy

Maidstone United (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (2) 4 Owen 1 Hudson 22 Bartlett 50 Williams 63
Headcount: 28

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 20/3,878

For any Tonbridge Angels supporter, a 4-0 drubbing of arch-rivals Maidstone United at whatever level and at the Gallagher, is cause for celebration. But for Academy manager Tom Parkinson, whilst applauding a fantastic result against an established Academy fielding second and third year students, he felt that his team could have been better. He felt that their quality was not good enough and ball retention could have been a lot better.

Parkinson could not have been any more pleased with the way the Angels’ youngsters started the game. With less than a minute on the clock, a free kick won on the left hand angle of the 18 yard box, was fired into the bottom corner by Charlie Owen, a midfielder making his first appearance for the Academy.

Also making a first start were Ola Williams, a tall central defender and, in goal, Lewis Mitchell formerly of the Angels’ Under-18 side, who stepped in for the injured Joe Roberts and Tommy Taylor.

Whilst Tonbridge dominated the early possession it was not without a scare when, after 12 minutes, Maidstone's Charlie Deinnger crashed a left-sided free kick against the bar.

From a corner, Williams steered a header wide but the Stones’ aerial difficulties were exposed again on 22 minutes when a Sam Slipper corner was converted by a far post header from Harry Hudson.

Maidstone came back into the game in the last quarter-hour of the half. Maidstone's Matt Hathaway had the ball in the net, but was ruled out for offside and after a 30 yard shot had only been parried to a waiting Jamie Sherlock, Mitchell did well to smother his shot from close range.

Tonbridge reasserted themselves in the opening stages of the second period with Jacob Lambert hitting the bar and Ned Lewis seeing his shot from the rebound saved.

But, after 50 minutes, some excellent wing work from Charlie Dumas ended up with him standing-up a cross that left Rhys Bartlett with a close range header to effectively wrap the game up for the Angels.

To remove any doubt, the visitors added a fourth after 63 minutes when a Slipper free kick from the right was met with a glancing header by Williams.

Harry Hudson, once more exposed Maidstone’s frailty in the air, but steered his header wide. Despite Maidstone’s late search for a consolation that brought Mitchell’s only meaningful save of the half, the Angels eased their way through to the end of the match and a well-deserved three points.

Tonbridge Angels: Lewis Mitchell, Regan Bowden, Luke Taylor (Zak Wolvey 46), Sam Slipper (Harrison Mayhew 66), Ola Williams, Harry Hudson, Jacob Lambert (Saul Masungey 60), Charlie Owen, Rhys Bartlett, Charlie Dumas, Ned Lewis (Nick Ithier 79).