Maidstone United U18 3 Welling United U18

Match 86/24/2325 - Tuesday, 25th March 2025 - Isthmian Youth League

Maidstone United U18 (2) 3
Welling United U18 (0) 1 Craggs
Attendance: 54
Admission: £3
Mileage: 20/6,013

In years to come, I might wonder why I attended an Under-18's game at fierce rivals Maidstone United and even wanted them to win! So the explanation is that coming into this game, if Welling United won all of their remaining games they would be crowned the Isthmian Youth League East champions. One slip up and the door would be open for our, as in Tonbridge Angels, Under-18's to win their first title since 2017. Two excellent first half goals and a robust second half defensive performance gave the home side the points, which incidentally, keeps their own hopes of the title alive. It was a strange experience, celebrating in a reasonably restrained manner, Maidstone's goals. Thanks Maidstone, but I don't want to do it again!

Maidstone United U18 3 Tonbridge Angels U18 3

Match 38/24/2277 - Tuesday, 5th November 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Maidstone United U18 (2) 3
Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 3 Manwait 50 Penman 66 Larkin 68 (pen)
Attendance: 55
Admission: £3
Mileage: 20/2,464

As the 5th November fireworks exploded into the night sky behind the Genco stand, a cracker of a game unfolded.

Last time out, manager Dom Walsh had some harsh words following their home defeat against Sutton Common Rovers, but coming back from 2-0 and 3-1 down and to be denied a win by a missed penalty, this time he was fulsome in his praise: “That was a credit to both sides, an absolutely top game of football. From 2-0 and 3-1 down, the boys battled well, playing some fantastic football in the second half.”

The first half seemed to carry a hangover from the last game as whilst Maidstone were good, the Angels were not really at the races. From the outset the home side were on the front foot and completely dominating proceedings with both wingers posing problems for a harassed Angels defence. After a quarter hour, #19 should really have scored, putting the ball wide and from a corner, River Ballach was needed to clear from the line.

Tonbridge had a good chance on 19 minutes when a quickly taken free kick by Callum Fincham put Finachra Pritchard through but the Maidstone goalkeeper was quick off his line to smother the ball at his feet.

But, it was no surprise when Maidstone went ahead on 27 minutes when the #9 pounced on an error to put them one-up and when a couple of passes ripped open the Angels defence for #9 to score again, it looked like the evening might be a long one.

The Angels lads responded well towards the back end of the half with the goalkeeper saving well from Jack Gallacher and, just before the break he was brought into action again to deny Robert Penman.

Dom Welsh introduced Alfie Gilder as a second half and the formation change quickly had an impact after the goalkeeper had saved well at his near post from Penman, the resultant corner led to a loose ball in the penalty area that was seized upon and driven home by Ashvir Banwait.

The route back into the game was seemingly abruptly halted a minute later when the Stones #11 drove the ball into the top corner that left Josh Hanson helpless.

But that never-say-die spirit returned to the team, driven on by skipper Adam Larkin.

On 66 minutes, Penman robbed the dallying goalkeeper to place the ball into an unguarded net and two minutes later, the Angels were on level terms when Penman was brought down by #5, who saw a red card for the offence, for Larkin to thump home the spot kick.

Despite their man disadvantage, Maidstone were still dangerous but now on the break and #9 hit a post before the Angels were awarded a second penalty, six minutes from time, this time after Pritchard had been brought down. Larkin’s penalty cleared the bar and despite an added time effort from Noah Millis that was saved, the spoils were deservedly shared.

Dom Welsh added: “The second half change brought out the best in us. I thought that was the best we’ve played in a long while, even before they went down to 10 men.”

Maidstone United U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 15/22/2022 - Tuesday, 23rd August 2022 - Isthmian League Youth

Maidstone United U18 (0) 1 Gavin 74
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 McLeod 9,48
Attendance: 85

Admission: £2 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 20/1,377

The Angels Isthmian Youth League side got off to a winning start at the Gallagher thanks to a brace from Fin McLeod and a stunning penalty save from Matt Larkin.

The duo will take the headlines, but this was a magnificent performance from Dominic Welsh’s team who, after controlling the game for an hour, came under immense pressure in the last 20 minutes as Maidstone fought to salvage something from the game.

The visitors took a ninth lead when Rocky Burke sent in a cross to the far post that was met with a header from McLeod that looped over the Maidstone goalkeeper, Tom Marshall.

Tonbridge created the better of the first half chances with Max Lambert steering a header wide and just failing to get a touch as he slid in to meet a teasing Vowles cross.

The home side had their moments with a shot that went into the side netting and Larkin saving from the livewire Jack Vine.

Tonbridge doubled their lead after just three minutes with a well worked goal that saw Lambert slipping a pass to McLeod to finish past the advancing Marshall.

The game became a backs to the wall effort for the Angels from an hour in after Lambert had been denied by a last ditch tackle.

After 62 minutes, Larkin produced a brilliant save turning away a shot to his left. But, from the resultant corner, the referee adjudged that there was a push and awarded the Stones a penalty. The Maidstone skipper, Joe Terry’s shot was well struck but Larkin read it correctly to make a stunning save.

Maidstone threw everything into the last 20 minutes but dogged Angels defending plus some wild shooting saw them survive until three minutes from time when a corner saw a header from Barney Richard come back from the crossbar with Tyler Jackson-Hunt scoring with a header from the rebound.

A healthy contingent of Angels supporters including a whole row of the Larkin family breathed a sigh of relief as a final header was safely gathered by Matt to herald the final whistle.

A delighted Dom Welsh said after the match: “We asked for grit, desire and determination and got it. It was a fantastic performance from start to finish. Backs against the wall and clinical in transitions, full credit to the boys putting the plan into perfect practice! They stood up and became men tonight.”

Maidstone United U18 5 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 58/21/1922 - Tuesday, 16th November 2021 - Isthmian Youth League

Maidstone United (4) 5 Sait 13 Flisher 19,28,32 Terry 60
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Lambert 19
Attendance: 103

Admission: £2 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 19/3,256

A first half in which Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s failed to cope with the height and power of an impressive Maidstone front pairing left the Angels with far too much to do in the second half when they competed far better.

Maidstone were arguably the best side that the Angels have faced so far this season, but as manager Dom Welsh lamented, “you cannot be conceding three goals from corners at this level”.

Tonbridge actually didn’t start badly and had their share of the game before going behind on 13 minutes when a lobbed pass over the defender found Tylar Sait who fired home from 12 yards past Matt Larkin.

The Angels responded well to the set back and were level four minutes later. A shot from Harry London from outside the box was only parried by Stones’ keeper Hugo Webb into the path of Max Lambert who made no mistake from the rebound.

Tonbridge needed to retain their foothold in the game for a period of time but the failure to deal with another corner saw Jaiden Flisher stab the ball home just two minutes later.

The match was very open and chances for both sides came thick and fast. Larkin saved well before Max Cormack saw his effort cleared from the line with follow-up attempts from Rocky Burke and London being blocked.

But, on 27 minutes, Tonbridge’s vulnerability from corners was exposed again as Flisher scored with an unchallenged header.

A superb through ball saw Flisher clear to fire past Larkin for his hat-trick on 32 minutes.

The other half of the dangerous Maidstone strike partnership, John Openibo saw Larkin save well and also put a header over the bar.

The second half saw Rory Kavanagh taking his place in the centre of defence with Shea Brennan moving into midfield and to a certain extent it stemmed the tide, but Maidstone rattled the crossbar and Larkin was pressed into action for several good saves.

A first time pass, best of the night, of absolute quality (from a player that deserves a name check but I can’t) split the Tonbridge back line and Joseph Terry ran on to score the Stones fifth on the hour.

Tonbridge’s substitutions, Will Saunders and Zach Garcia, brought a bit of stability for the final half-hour and whilst Maidstone continued to create chances, Tonbridge made some of their own with Lambert seeing his effort saved and they deserve credit for the way they stuck to the task to the bitter end.

But as Dom Welsh admitted after the game, “it had been a bad day at the office and beaten by the much better side on the night.”

Maidstone United U18 2 Tonbridge Angels U18 2

Match 75/16/1382 - Monday, 9th January 2017 - Ryman Youth League

Maidstone United (0) 2 Warden 52, Barton 70
Tonbridge (0) 2 Pateman 50, Watson 84
Attendance: 131

Entrance: £2 Senior
Programme: None
Mileage: 19/5,419


The two best teams in the Ryman Youth League emerged from this captivating encounter with their unbeaten records intact following a 2-2 draw at The Gallagher.

Jay Stubberfield has always maintained that his principle role at Tonbridge is to generate players for the senior side and with Liam Smith, Callum Taylor and Sid Sollis unavailable for the game as they are required by the first team at Needham Market on Tuesday, he can rightly feel he is fulfilling his mandate.

It is disappointing that a club of Maidstone United’s National League status cannot run to a team sheet, so largely, I can only refer to the Maidstone players by their position. Perhaps it is a credit to Tonbridge that there is always a team sheet available.

Two sides of similar quality largely cancelled each other out in a first half of very few clear cut chances. Maidstone’s centre forward was sent through after two minutes but horribly scuffed his shot wide. A minute later a great cross from Tommy Chapman was headed against a post.

Tonbridge marginally had the better of the opening 20 minutes that culminated with a long range effort from Chapman giving the Maidstone goalkeeper a nervous moment.

Henry Ikeije went into the referee’s book after 34 minutes and was given a stern talking-too a minute later following a foul.

The home side finished the half the stronger with a bustling run from the centre forward and a long ball into the box found the head of Sid Warden who headed over.

Tonbridge took the lead five minutes into the second period when a cross into the box was headed on by Ollie Baker into the path of Louis Pateman who swept the ball into the net from eight yards.

The lead was short-lived however as the hosts were level within two minutes. A swift counter-attack saw a through ball from the Maidstone right winger into Warden who drove it past the advancing Lewis Mitchell.

Tonbridge conceded a dreadful goal after 70 minutes to go 2-1 down. A goal kick from the goalkeeper travelled the length of the pitch with the Maidstone substitute, Tom Barton, running unchallenged and slipping the ball past a hesitant Mitchell.

Barton may well have wrapped the game up a minute later when he once more ran clear but this time placed his shot narrowly wide of the left hand post.

If any fault lay at Mitchell’s feet for the second goal he redeemed himself with a brilliant save, clawing a shot from the inside left out of the top corner.

All credit though to the Angels who responded well in the last 15 minutes following the double substitution of Kunle Bakare and Guy Taylor for Jack Cussen and Chapman.

A cross-cum-shot from Ryan Gallifant looked overhit but required a tip over from Maidstone goalkeeper.

Tonbridge made their final substitution with six minutes remaining with Connor Watson replacing Jack Bray and the move immediately brought a dividend. Richard Frempong laid the ball back from the edge of the box to Watson who took aim and drove a shot from 25 yards into the top corner with the goalkeeper getting a firm hand to the ball but failing to keep it out.

There was a heart-stopping moment in the final minutes when the home side hit a post but the Angels held out for a well-deserved point.

Jay Stubberfield breathed a sigh of relief and said that it had been a tough night with a whole squad of under-17s, so were much younger than the Maidstone side. His one criticism was that at 1-0 they lost concentration and he would have liked to have seen his side retain possession better in those final five minutes.