Match 32/25/2375 - Wednesday, 29th September 2025 - FA Youth Cup First Round
Merstham U18 (2) 6
Tonbridge Angels U18 (0) 1 Wallace
Attendance: 250
Admission: £2
Mileage: 38/2,093
Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s run to the FA Youth Cup First Round, for the first time in 21 years, came to a shuddering halt at Merstham with a comprehensive defeat.
Merstham, who last season reached the Fourth Round, earning a trip to Stamford Bridge, had a bit too much for the Angels, who nonetheless contributed to their own downfall, uncharacteristically defending poorly on the night.
At times, the quality that the hosts displayed were testament to their identity as a Volenti Academy team and part of the Crystal Palace development programme, shone through and when the Angels went behind after just three minutes when a cross from the right was stabbed home by Tojayo Dada, the game was to be an uphill battle from that moment.
The Angels lads battled hard to get themselves back into the game, hitting both the post and the crossbar, but their momentum was further set-back on 28 minutes when Marley Sablier scored from close range.
Tonbridge further cursed their luck when they had a goal disallowed for a somewhat dubious offside decision.
Into the second period, the third goal was always going to be the important one, Fiachra Pritchard fired over and a couple of corners were won, but it was the home side that found the goal on 58 minutes when a long ball forward split the defence allowing Kobe Frazer to finish clinically past the advancing Jacob Hunt.
The Angels continued to press hard with Mackenzie Richardson bringing a save from the goalkeeper, but they were caught on the break again, as Sablier latched onto a defensive error to finish into the bottom corner and effectively close out the game on 65 minutes.
Logan Wallace pulled a goal back to offer the briefest of hope of a comeback before a well-worked goal made it 5-1.
Frazer made the scoreline a harsh 6-1 with a smart finish, capitalising on a poor clearance.
Despite its unfortunate ending, the Under-18’s should take great pride in their run that took them past Cray Wanderers, Hollands & Blair and Welling United.
Dom Welsh said afterwards: “A really difficult one to take tonight, I actually feel we didn’t play as badly as the score suggests. We made too many basic errors in key moments. We hit the bar twice, and had a goal disallowed at a crucial moment in the game. One thing’s for sure it’s been a fantastic run to get to the first round, something that’s not been achieved in a very long time and I am very proud of the boys for doing so.”
Showing posts with label Merstham U18. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Merstham U18. Show all posts
Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Friday, 24 February 2017
Merstham U18 4 Tonbridge Angels U18 2
Match 97/16/1404 - Thursday, 23rd February 2017 - Ryman Youth League
Merstham U18 (3) 4 Transwest 15, Pateman o.g. 23, Omlore 32, Obazee (pen) 76
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 Sollis 35,46
Attendance: 53
Entrance: £3 Senior
Team Sheet: Free
Mileage: 90/6,816
Tonbridge Angels Under-18s fell to their first defeat of the season on a contentious evening at the Moatside, home to Merstham Football Club.
If eyes were being cast towards the 10th April meeting with Maidstone as a title decider, Merstham are very much in what will be a very interesting end to the season with all fourof the leading clubs (Ashford being the fourth) having to play each other.
This was a night when poor officiating evened itself out as both sides fell victim to some bad decisions.
Jay Stubberfield was forced to reshuffle his pack with Henry Ikeije, Liam Smith and Will Jump all unavailable, Louis Pateman and Lewis Mitchell turning out just 24 hours after playing for the reserves.
Both sides set out their attacking intention within the first five minutes. Merstham’s impressive left back, Rhys Davies set up Ross Obazee who scooped the ball over the bar from close range after two minutes whilst Sid Sollis struck a post from a free kick after five minutes.
Merstham’s goalkeeper Lachlan Greenwood made a fine save from Sollis following a Tommy Chapman free kick before the hosts opened the scoring after 15 minutes. Jack Fenton conceded a foul on the edge of the box from which Anwar Transwest cracked a well placed shot past the despairing Lewis Mitchell.
Another free kick given away by the Angels led to Merstham’s second goal after 23 minutes. A well flighted free kick from Sam Johnson glanced off the head of Pateman into his own net.
Merstham’s tails were up and they went three ahead just past the half-hour mark following a dreadful decision by the referee. Nat Lofthouse would have been proud to seen Emmanuel Omlore bundle Mitchell into the goal as the keeper looked to collect a corner but the referee somehow saw it as a fair challenge.
Tonbridge immediately found a lifeline when Sollis struck a 20 yard free kick powerfully past the Merstham keeper and might have been right back in the game three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Ziyad Ghali. Sollis’s spot kick was too close to the keeper, who got down well to save low to his left.
Tonbridge made a half-time substitution with Guy Taylor replacing Harvey Killick and it paid dividends after just 24 seconds of the second half when Sollis picked up a rebound after Taylor’s initial shot was saved. The fact that Taylor was clearly offside showed the referee had no bias.
Tonbridge were pressing hard for the equaliser, Pateman fired in a shot from 25 yards and after 56 minutes had a goal chalked off as Taylor touched in from an offside position after Ghali’s shot was saved.
Mitchell saved well from Davies and Sollis had two efforts blocked in quick succession as the game swung from end to end.
Merstham restored their two goal advantage after 76 minutes when the referee awarded a penalty for handball against Ryan Gallifant, when the defender could hardly get out of the way of a ball driven at him. Obazee converted from the spot.
In the 82nd minute, the hosts were reduced to 10 men when they had Johnson sent off following a second yellow card.
Tonbridge continued to search for something out of the game and when a almighty scramble in the Merstham box was finally cleared, Obazee was laid injured on the goal-line. He was unable to continue leaving the hosts with nine men to see out the remaining seconds. Sollis sportingly helped the stricken Merstham man away. Two goals, a missed penalty, a booking and ending the night as a stretcher bearer, all in an evening’s work for the irrepressible Sid Sollis.
The Under-18s are next in action on Monday evening when they entertain Raynes Park Vale.
Pictures: Lisa Fenton
Merstham U18 (3) 4 Transwest 15, Pateman o.g. 23, Omlore 32, Obazee (pen) 76
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 2 Sollis 35,46
Attendance: 53
Entrance: £3 Senior
Team Sheet: Free
Mileage: 90/6,816
Tonbridge Angels Under-18s fell to their first defeat of the season on a contentious evening at the Moatside, home to Merstham Football Club.
If eyes were being cast towards the 10th April meeting with Maidstone as a title decider, Merstham are very much in what will be a very interesting end to the season with all fourof the leading clubs (Ashford being the fourth) having to play each other.
This was a night when poor officiating evened itself out as both sides fell victim to some bad decisions.
Jay Stubberfield was forced to reshuffle his pack with Henry Ikeije, Liam Smith and Will Jump all unavailable, Louis Pateman and Lewis Mitchell turning out just 24 hours after playing for the reserves.
Both sides set out their attacking intention within the first five minutes. Merstham’s impressive left back, Rhys Davies set up Ross Obazee who scooped the ball over the bar from close range after two minutes whilst Sid Sollis struck a post from a free kick after five minutes.
Merstham’s goalkeeper Lachlan Greenwood made a fine save from Sollis following a Tommy Chapman free kick before the hosts opened the scoring after 15 minutes. Jack Fenton conceded a foul on the edge of the box from which Anwar Transwest cracked a well placed shot past the despairing Lewis Mitchell.
Another free kick given away by the Angels led to Merstham’s second goal after 23 minutes. A well flighted free kick from Sam Johnson glanced off the head of Pateman into his own net.
Merstham’s tails were up and they went three ahead just past the half-hour mark following a dreadful decision by the referee. Nat Lofthouse would have been proud to seen Emmanuel Omlore bundle Mitchell into the goal as the keeper looked to collect a corner but the referee somehow saw it as a fair challenge.
Tonbridge immediately found a lifeline when Sollis struck a 20 yard free kick powerfully past the Merstham keeper and might have been right back in the game three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Ziyad Ghali. Sollis’s spot kick was too close to the keeper, who got down well to save low to his left.
Tonbridge made a half-time substitution with Guy Taylor replacing Harvey Killick and it paid dividends after just 24 seconds of the second half when Sollis picked up a rebound after Taylor’s initial shot was saved. The fact that Taylor was clearly offside showed the referee had no bias.
Tonbridge were pressing hard for the equaliser, Pateman fired in a shot from 25 yards and after 56 minutes had a goal chalked off as Taylor touched in from an offside position after Ghali’s shot was saved.
Mitchell saved well from Davies and Sollis had two efforts blocked in quick succession as the game swung from end to end.
Merstham restored their two goal advantage after 76 minutes when the referee awarded a penalty for handball against Ryan Gallifant, when the defender could hardly get out of the way of a ball driven at him. Obazee converted from the spot.
In the 82nd minute, the hosts were reduced to 10 men when they had Johnson sent off following a second yellow card.
Tonbridge continued to search for something out of the game and when a almighty scramble in the Merstham box was finally cleared, Obazee was laid injured on the goal-line. He was unable to continue leaving the hosts with nine men to see out the remaining seconds. Sollis sportingly helped the stricken Merstham man away. Two goals, a missed penalty, a booking and ending the night as a stretcher bearer, all in an evening’s work for the irrepressible Sid Sollis.
The Under-18s are next in action on Monday evening when they entertain Raynes Park Vale.
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