Thamesmead Town (0) 0
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 Musengey 29
Headcount: 45
Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 42/1,818
Tonbridge Angels’ Academy side character was sternly tested to the full as they were pushed from the first to the final whistle by a Thamesmead Town side that were physically imposing.
After a year’s absence, the heart has most surely grown fonder for the FA Youth Cup and following the Angels’ Preliminary Round win at Ramsgate (whilst on holiday) hopes were that they could progress to the Final Qualifying Round as their predecessors had, two years ago.
Thamesmead started well with Jerrell Watkins seeing a shot deflected wide and maintained their momentum into the first 25 minutes with efforts from Cole Gordon and Benjamin Fridd that failed to find the target. But, despite this, it was the Angels that went closest with a shot from Saul Mesungey that rattled the right hand post.
Tonbridge started to find their feet in the game following Mesungey’s effort and when the winger sent away Ned Snowdon-Lewis away it took a good save from Nathan Murray to preserve the goalless scoreline.
A clinical finish from Mesungey from 15 yards after the ball hand dropped at his feet gave Tonbridge the lead after 29 minutes.
Thamesmead certainly were not going to lie down but were wasteful with shots from Luca Phillips-Safari and Fridd sailing over the bar and into the undergrowth behind the goal.
Murray excelled in the Thamesmead goal just prior to the break denying Jacob Lambert with a great save at the near post.
The second period was light on chances, heavy on attrition as Thamesmead fought to restore parity and Tonbridge resiliently held on.
Joe Roberts made fine stops to thwart Fridd after 66 minutes and his save from Mason Burstow after 78 minutes was out of the top drawer.
A shot after 81 minutes from George Oldfield seemed destined to nestle into the corner but curled away past the post.
A monumental eight minutes of added time were played with the central defensive pairing of Harry’s Lewis and Hudson standing tall (metaphorically) as the home side threw everything, including their goalkeeper, forward but to no avail.
This was a brave, resilient effort that deserves to earn the Angels’ lads a next round tie at Longmead.
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