Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Chapman 17
Greenwich Borough U18 (0) 0
Attendance: 37
Entrance: £1 Senior
Programme: Free teamsheet
Mileage: 38/6,375
Tonbridge Under-18s emerged from one of their less than impressive performances with a win that keeps them hot on the heels of league leaders Maidstone United who dropped points at Kingstonian.
In fairness, Tonbridge should have won the game at a canter, they created a multitude of chances throughout the game but, unfortunately, it wasn’t an evening when they were at their sharpest in front of goal.
At the other end of the pitch, they defended very well protecting a 16-year-old goalkeeper, Henry Lovering who wasn’t asked to make a serious save.
Tonbridge exerted considerable pressure on the Greenwich Borough defence and finally broke them down after 17 minutes. A fine run down the right from Henry Ikeije ended with a cross from the bye-line to a waiting Tommy Chapman, who tapped in at the far post.
The first half was almost completely one-way traffic and, to a degree, it became a bit of a stroll as Tonbridge struggled to maintain a high tempo.
Sid Sollis robbed Joe Shehiard and went clear but the Greenwich goalkeeper, McKenzie Foley saved at his feet. Sollis took a booking for his trouble for leaving a foot in.
At half-time a single goal was scant reward for 12 attempts on goal.
Sollis was replaced during the break by Jack Cussen and the substitute quickly had an opportunity which he steered wide of the far post.
The pattern of the first half was replicated in the second and, in a period of 10 minutes around the hour mark, it was difficult to believe that the scoreline had not been added to. Liam Smith brought a save out of Foley; Jack Bray drove a shot wide and Ikeije hit a post.
On 75 minutes, Greenwich served a minor reminder that there were two sides involved when Sam Evbugua finally asked Lovering to lay a glove on the ball.
Jay Stubberfield remarked "that it was a game in which you take the three points and move on. The lack of game time makes this period feel like a pre-season programme and the players were a bit leggy tonight, but that will stand us in great stead for the rest of the season."
The Under-18s next game is their Ryman League Cup semi-final against Woking which will be played on Monday at Knaphill FC, kick off 19:45.
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