Tonbridge Angels Academy (0) 3 Stirman 56 Bartlett 72,75
Sutton United Academy (2) 2 #7 39, #10 45
Headcount: 10
Admission: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 36/7,076
A stunning second half comeback, courtesy of three superbly executed goals, brought to an end a highly satisfying debut season for Tonbridge Angels’ Academy in the National League Under-19 Alliance.
The 3-2 win, leaves them three points clear of their opponents Sutton United, who have two games remaining against lowly opposition that they would be expected to win comfortably and, thereby, depose the Angels from their present bronze medal position.
To quickly recap a season that started at The Crabble where, the Champions (and Champions-elect) Dover Athletic, were held to a 2-2 draw, one of just two points that they dropped all season. Perhaps, on the single occasion that they let themselves down, they were deposited out of the League Cup by Bromley but showed their resilience to return from Hayes Lane with a point in a goalless encounter a week later. A double was done over Maidstone United and there were high scoring wins over Dorking Wanderers, Whyteleafe and Burgess Hill whilst a mini-run in the FA Youth Cup was brought to an end, in an unfortunate manner, at Dulwich Hamlet.
Rhys Bartlett takes the goalscoring plaudits with an incredible 34 goals from 15 starts but this team is not a one-man band with Josh Stirman, Regan Bowden and Ned Snowden-Lewis all graduating to first team debuts whilst Harry Hudson and Harrison Mayhew have been the bedrock of a sound defence.
On a day when the early Spring sunshine was replaced with a howling wind, Sutton United enjoyed the first half playing with the prevailing conditions and, in fairness, exhibiting the quality of their National League status. They should have gone ahead after four minutes when s shot from their #10 (no names to put to numbers) crashed down from the underside of the bar, looking suspiciously like it had crossed the line but was ruled not to be the case by the linesman.
Whether it was the wind, Tonbridge barely got started in the first period and chances aplenty were created, and wasted, by their visitors. A jinking run along the bye-line from #10 ended with a shot into the side netting and Angels’ goalkeeper, Tommy Taylor excelled to tip over a shot from the #9.
So, it came as no surprise, when Sutton went in front after 39 minutes when a cross to the far post found an unmarked #7 who struck firmly into the bottom corner. Sutton doubled their lead going into the break when #10 brilliantly converted a free kick from the edge of the box, curling he shot around the wall and into the right hand corner.
The opening minutes of the second period suggested that nothing was about to change despite Tonbridge now enjoying the advantage of an ever-increasing wind. An early shot from #10 was deflected back to goalkeeper Taylor and #9 shot over when well placed.
But on 56 minutes a little bit of the Stirman magic turned the momentum of the game back towards the home team. A pass from the left inside to the midfielder saw him shift the ball a yard before curling a delightful shot into the top left.
Now the game had changed, Sutton players who had looked comfortable on the ball were being harried into mistakes and the Sutton keeper did well to save, low to his right from Stirman and dealt comfortably with an effort from Ned Snowden-Lewis.
But, after 72 minutes, a superb passing movement between Snowden-Lewis and Frank Kennedy ended with Jacob Lambert looping the ball into the air for Bartlett to volley an exocet past a despairing goalkeeper.
With the Angels, and Bartlett’s in particular, tails up, three minutes later the goal machine strode through challenges before rifling a shot into the net to give Tonbridge the lead.
Now it was about managing the game out to a conclusion and, bar one effort from #9 that was saved by Taylor, it was done with ease.
Sadly, with Academy age limits, we will be saying goodbye to Sam Slipper, Rhys Bartlett, Regan Bowden, Joe Roberts, Tommy Taylor, Jacob Lambert and Harrison Mayhew. We wish them well with their future careers whether that be within the Angels family or pastures new. But they can look back on this first Academy season with a great deal of pride.
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