Tonbridge Angels U18 1 Hastings United U18 2

Match 25/24/2264 - Monday, 16th September 2024 - FA Youth Cup First Qualifying Round

Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Richardson 9
Hastings United U18 (2) 2 Mavali 25,31 (pen)
Attendance: 96
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/1,087

The Under-18’s endured a frustrating evening that led to their exit from the FA Youth Cup at the hands of a resolute Hastings United.

Frustrating was certainly the watchword as Dominic Welsh explained after the game: “Frustrating, that’s probably the key word. I felt for the majority of the game, we were in good control bar the 10 minutes we concede two goals. We started the game well, got ourselves 1-0 up, controlled the game. But I think their first goal stopped a bit of momentum and then after that we lacked a little bit of control in the game, that was the key for us. Second half we did really well, just couldn’t find the back of the net, just frustrating really.”

The FA Youth Cup is an Under-18’s competition but Academy first year scholars, goalkeeper Andrew Norburn, William Brett, Mackenzie Richardson and Ollie Thomson were drafted into the squad with Academy manager Tom Parkinson taking his place alongside Dom in the dug-out.

As always, the FA Youth Cup brings out a few extra on the gate including a healthy contingent up from the East Sussex coast.

Early momentum was with the Angels with a early free kick from Richardson that was comfortably save and although Hastings went close with an effort from Arsham Mavali, the Angels were well worth their lead taken in the ninth minute. Richardson started and finished the move, that saw his initial pass to Nayan Grant open up space for a cross from Fiachra Pritchard to Richardson whose powerful header went in off the underside of the bar.

The Angels had chances to double their advantage through Callum Fincham whose shot was saved by Harry Howes and an even better save to deny Richardson.

So it was somewhat against the run of play when Hastings fashioned an equaliser on 25 minutes. A long ball out of defence sent Tyrone Miotshwa clear down the left to pull the ball back for Mavali to score from around the penalty spot.

Hastings turned the game on its ahead seven minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Noah Millis was adjudged to have pulled back Archie Baker inches inside the right hand corner of the 18 yard box. Mavali scored from the spot sending Norburn the wrong way.

Tonbridge made the vast majority of the running in the second half but came up against a side that defended deep, defended resolutely and denied the Angels a way through.

On 55 minutes, Thomson was through on goal but delayed his shot before being challenged and finally shooting wide and on 73 minutes, Alfie Gilder struck the outside of the post after good approach work from Jack Gallagher and Pritchard.

Pritchard brought the final save of the game from Howe at his near post as the visitors saw out a substantial amount of added time, not with ease but a steadfast determination.

Dom Welsh summed up: “Sometimes you come away from these games disappointed and feeling like you’ve not done enough but we feel like the only thing missing in that half is a little toe into the corner, coming off someone’s knee to go in or something like that, it didn’t fall tonight. Again, on another night, Alfie’s shot hits the other side of the post and ends up in the net.”