Tonbridge Angels U18 2 Raynes Park Vale U18 2

Match 83/15/1288 - Monday, 4th April 2016 - Ryman League U-18

Tonbridge U18 (2) 2 Kwayie 5, Austin 11
Raynes Park Vale (1) 2 Harland-Goddard 42, Blanco 56
Headcount: 40

Entrance: £1
Programme: None
Mileage: 36/6,060

Last Wednesday I reached one of life's milestones, I was made redundant. It was sad departing my Bermondsey workplace after 20 years but with just three months to go before reaching State Pensionable Age, it wasn't a bad time to be leaving. I now found myself in a little bit of limbo, am I retired; semi-retired or just unemployed? What I do know that is that I have evenings my hand throughout football's defining month of April and I intend packing in as many games as possible! It took more than a little convincing to the wife that three games this week was NOT setting out as I mean to continue!

This Ryman League Under-18's fixture was significant in terms of who might finish runners-up to champions-in-waiting, Corinthian.

I've always enjoyed football at this age group, playing at being a scout and seeing a player who you think might just make it and having a smug sense of achievement when that player moves upwards successfully. There were a couple of players that stood out, one from each side, but unfortunately, one of those lads ultimately let himself down.

For Tonbridge, there has been a stand-out player all season, Tashi-Jay Kwayie, who has scored over 40 goals for Tonbridge Reserves and the Under-18s. Unable the furnish the Raynes Park Vale players by name through lack of a team sheet, but until he got himself stupidly sent off, their Number Four was very good.

Tonbridge took their lead after five minutes with their very first attack. Kwayie, swiftly intercepted a pass and sent Regan Corke away down the right hand side. The winger's measured cross found Kwayie, who had continued his run into the box, and touched in from close range.

Raynes Park Vale continued to have the majority of the possession but found themselves two down after 11 minutes. A poor Vale clearance was returned in the direction of Kwayie who was in an offside position. As the Vale defence hesitated waiting for a flag, Kwayie stood still and Jordan Austin sped past to the loft a shot over the stranded goalkeeper.

Despite their disadvantage, Raynes Park Vale continued to press and were fully deserving of their goal three minutes before the break. A poor clearance from a free kick saw the ball quickly returned into the six yard box, falling to Archie Harland-Goddard who scored from close range.

Ten minutes into the second half the south Londoners were level. A free kick from the number four into the box found the head of Jamie Blanco, looping the ball over the diminutive goalkeeper, Kieran Hounsell.

A poor challenge a minute later from Jack Cussens on another player brought a indignant response from RPV's number four who eventually talked himself into the book with some four letter volleys directed at the referee and Cussens. The very next time Cussens was near the ball, the Vale man kicked out at him, earning him a second yellow within a minute.

After 70 minutes an effort from Jean-Pierre Alexander was chalked off to deny the Angels a winner and at the other end a Vale substitute (15) directed a header against a post when it seemed easier to score.

A good evening's entertainment, there are parts of this retirement business I could get used to!