Tonbridge Angels U21 3 Tunbridge Wells U21 2

Match 63/18/1656 - Wednesday, 21st November 2018 - Suburban League South

Tonbridge Angels U21 (2) 3 Welsh 4,18 Toussaint 73
Tunbridge Wells U21 (2) 2
Headcount: 40

Admission: Free
Team sheet: None
Mileage: 38/3,476

For the first time this season Jack Frost was biting into the grass before kick-off which was a bit of a shame as midweek Suburban League fixtures are a rarity and the opportunity for Tonbridge Angels supporters who spend Saturday’s on the road with the senior side to watch the Under-21s was possibly passed up as the cold was a deterrent.

Those people who quite understandably chose the warmth of their living room missed a good, open game that both sides fully contributed to.

Near neighbours Tunbridge Wells may sit in a lowly position in the table at present but they may well have gone home thinking they were worth a point.

Tonbridge got off to a flyer when a pass from Stevie Panayi allowed Dominic Welsh to cut in from the left and bury a shot into the the far corner of the net after just four minutes.

The Wells got themselves on level terms when the Angels’ goalkeeper, Ethan Collen flapped at a cross under pressure which allowed Matt Coleman to stab the ball home from close range.

Such was the open nature of the game, the Angels were back in front two minutes later when Welsh, cutting in from the left, scored from the edge of the box.

Tunbridge Wells were well up for the challenge and Collen did well to tip over the top an effort from Tom Anstee.

Not to be denied the visitors went into the break on level terms when a shot from outside of the box from Harry Forster took a deflection that left Collen helpless.

Welsh might well have gone into the dressing room for his half-time cuppa with a hat-trick under his belt had his 44th minute strike not come back off the post.

The second half continued in much the same vein but without the goals of the first with both sides testing the goalkeeper and also guilty of wasting opportunities.

Tonbridge got their noses back in front after 73 minutes when Welsh stood up a cross for Dominic Toussaint to head home.

During the second period it was good to see Academy players Ned Lewis, Jacob Lambert and Saul Masungy all get minutes whilst Sam Slipper was a starter.

Tunbridge Wells fought hard to the finish but the Angels managed the game well in the closing stages to send the 40 or so people that braved the elements well satisfied with their evening’s entertainment.