Ravens Wood 1 Hugh Christie 1

Match 79/18/1672 - Wednesday, 9th January 2019 - Kent SFA Academies League

Ravens Wood (0) 1
Hugh Christie (0) 1 Snowden-Lewis 71
Attendance: Me!

Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 70/4,684

The Wednesday stop on the minibus tour of Kent Schools took in Ravens Wood School which is situated a goal kick away from Holmesdale FC.

Six Academy lads were sitting their A level Law examination, which meant a later kick-off but also brought the benefit of the Development squad being strengthened by four of the Elite squad players.

At this level there is a huge variance in the quality of refereeing with sometimes, as in this occasion, the home team’s PE teacher taking on the whistle. That doesn’t necessarily mean that a FA qualified referee is going to be better but when you throw in a substitute from each side running the line, the potential for chaos is obvious. And so it was.

The referee took exception to any bad language that was heard on the field and certainly did not take kindly to any appealing from the sidelines. That Hugh Christie were the only side with a coach on the line inevitably meant that only one side took the admonishment.

Ravens Wood put seven past Hugh Christie early in the season and clearly felt that a repeat performance was within their scope with an early opportunity touched over the bar by Joe Roberts but the Tonbridge side had an immediate reposte with the Ravens’ goalkeeper, who went on to have a very good game, saving at his near post from Saul Masungeyi.

Ravens Wood dominated the first period forcing several corners and asking Roberts to make a couple of decent saves with Tyler Richardson also clearing from the line.

For good measure the Ravens' goalkeeper saved from Adam and Ned Snowden-Lewis.

Hugh Christie improved as an attacking force in the second period with Musengeyi twice testing the goalkeeper.

But it was the home side that opened the scoring after 67 minutes when a right-sided corner was headed home without much of a challenge.

But the Tonbridge response was positive with Brad Needham bringing a very good save out the goalkeeper before Musengeyi broke down the right hand side and laying on the perfect cross for Snowden-Lewis to fire into the bottom corner.

The game had the makings of a really good finish with both sides having very good chances before the referee called a halt to the game eight minutes early despite appeals from the sidelines. The referee gave his reasons for the early finish that in normal circumstances could only be considered an abandonment but these were as confusing as a good many of his decisions.