Ravensbourne 2 Hugh Christie 2

Match 63/19/1785 - Wednesday, 8th January 2020 - Academies League Premiership

Ravensbourne (1) 2
Hugh Christie (0) 2 Twist 49 (pen) Masungeyi
Headcount: 13

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 82/4,791

This week’s postponement of the first team’s game at Burgess Hill was something of a blessing as a flu bug that has swept through the Academy had affected several players.

With this, and a similar situation affecting the Bromley Academy, a stronger squad was taken to Hayes Lane for a Development fixture against Ravensbourne as manager Tom Parkinson sought to shake the post-Christmas lethargy out of his squad’s legs.

This was very much in evidence in a first half in which they struggled to come to terms with a small pitch at the rear of the main stadium and a physically bigger opposition.

Goalkeeper Charlie Martin had already been called on to make a save before a cross from the right to the far post was met with a towering header to put Bromley in front after nine minutes.

Bromley continued to press for much of the opening half-hour with the Angels failing to create any real threat. Martin was needed again to make a save from the Bromley goalscorer who was posing a constant threat.

Tonbridge created their first opportunity on 33 minutes when a well worked move between Luke Taylor and Saul Masungeyi ended with the Bromley goalkeeper making a good save turning the ball away for a corner, from which Harrison Mayhew headed narrowly wide.

Martin made a splendid save in the final minute of the first half, clawing an effort out of the top corner to preserve just a single goal deficit at the break.

A few home truths during the break saw Tonbridge open the half in a much more positive manner but it was a bit of a gift when Leo Deere was needlessly brought down for a penalty which was successfully converted by Ben Twist after 49 minutes.

A surging run and a cross across the face of goal from Taylor might have put the Angels in front a minute later, as might an effort for Bromley that Martin did well to touch over, but from the resultant corner, a tall central defender was allowed to steal in at the near post to put the home side back in front.

A good effort from Masungeyi on the hour was the precursor to an equaliser four minutes later when good work on the right set up the striker to sweep in an effort at the near post.

Both goalkeepers were kept fully employed in the remainder of the game, Martin saving well on a couple of occasions whilst the Bromley keeper denied Jacob Lambert and Taylor in a frenetic finish to a competitive game.

Parkinson was less than impressed with his side’s lacklustre performance and emphasised the need to improve both fitness and performance levels in the coming weeks if they are to continue to head the National Alliance table.

Ravensbourne 2 Hugh Christie 0

Match 57/19/1779 - Wednesday, 18th December 2019 - Academies Championship North

Ravensbourne (1) 2
Hugh Christie (0) 0
Headcount: 20

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 70/4,364

If Rhys Bartlett could wish for anything for his Development squad it would be that Santa Claus delivers them a package of self-belief. In their last game of the year at Bromley’s Hayes Lane they were the equals of their hosts but came away with a 2-0 defeat in a competitive game. On occasions this squad beat themselves before they start and if they had just a little more faith in their own ability they would be winning games like this one but goalkeeper Josh Watfa at least had the satisfaction of backing up his first clean sheet of the season last week with a fine penalty save.

Ravensbourne 1 Hugh Christie 3

Match 74/18/1667 - Wednesday, 19th December 2018 - Kent SFA Academies League

Ravensbourne (1) 1 #10 15
Hugh Christie (1) 3 Hudson 27,82 Musengyi 78
Headcount: 20

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 70/4,402

The Christmas break has arrived for the Academy teams and they can reflect on their first four months as being highly encouraging. The Elite squad, whose game at Burgesss Hill had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, have finished the period unbeaten in the league and sitting in fourth place in the table with games in hand on those above and also can take pride from being the only team to have taken a point from leaders Dover Athletic. Meanwhile, the Development team who endured a uncomfortable start to the season with a couple of seven goal defeats, have following this victory at Bromley’s Hayes Lane against Ravensbourne, back-to-back wins and are now breathing down the necks of a couple of schools that are just a point above them at the foot of the table.

The Burgess Hill postponement allowed a few Elite members to strengthen the Development team. A right wing cross from Saul Musengeyi set up a seventh minute opportunity for Leo Deere with the Ravensbourne goalkeeper saving at his feet and five minutes later Ned Snowden-Lewis set up a chance for Musengeyi but he shot wide. However, it was the Bromley side that opened the scoring after a quarter-of-an-hour when, Dylan Manning, who proceeded to take just about every dead ball kick, floated an inch-perfect free kick into the box to find the head of one of his strikers who made no mistake from six yards.

Tonbridge had to work hard to get themselves back into the game but did so, after 27 minutes, when a corner from Sam Slipper was only parried back into the danger area from where Harry Hudson got the final touch with a close range header.

Bromley reasserted themselves and saw a header come back off the crossbar and further chances brought the Angels’ goalkeeper, Joe Roberts into action.

Bromley’s Manning and the Angels’ Slipper were like a couple of quarter-backs with their dead ball accuracy causing each defence concern.

Tonbridge opened the second period strongly with Deere and Brad Needham going close whilst Roberts needed to be at his best saving low to his right and, after nearly an hour, he dived bravely at the feet of a Bromley striker who stayed down after the challenge. A five-minute stoppage followed as the stricken player was returned to the dressing room on a stretcher.

The game had an ebb and flow with neither side dominating but it was the visitors who got their noses in front with 12 minutes remaining when a fine through ball from Adam Barden, thankfully free from his role as the smallest ever stand-in goalkeeper in previous games, sent Musengeyi clear to powerfully shoot past the helpless Bromley keeper.

Tonbridge effectively put the game to bed with eight minutes remaining when a Slipper corner was met with a powerful header from Hudson, who despite his disadvantage in height, invariably wins headers in those situations.

Now in control of the game, Tonbridge might well have increased their lead with Needham firing wide and Snowden-Lewis denied by a good save, low to his left, from the Bromley goalkeeper.

Three Academy players recently graced the Tonbridge first team friendly against Dartford and several more have trained with the first team and have also appeared for the Under-21 Suburban League side. With that, everyone is rightly proud of the progress being made.