Tonbridge Angels Academy 5 Whitstable Town Academy 1

Match 22/26/2449 - Wednesday, 9th September 2026 - National League U19 Alliance

Tonbridge Angels Academy (3) 5
Whitstable Town Academy (1) 1
Attendance: 10
Admission: Free
Mileage: 38/1,192

NEW DAWN

Tonbridge Angels comfortably won their opening National League U19 Alliance game, their first since becoming an in-house Academy, beating Whitstable Town at the Yeomans Community Stadium.

Dom Welsh, Academy Team Manager, commented after the game: “A dominant performance and a fantastic start to the season. Plenty of positive football and opportunities to score more but an excellent opening day for the new Academy.”

In the opening 15 minutes, the Angels youngsters should have been a couple of goals to the good having seen the ball cleared from the line in the first minute and a shot from Akshar Santhosh that rattled the crossbar. So it was something of a surprise when Whitstable took the lead on 17 minutes when a free kick from #8, awarded after a foul on #9, who was a handful, found the net coming down off the underside of the crossbar.

The Angels regained their composure and struck the woodwork a second time when a rasping shot from Robert Penman was touched onto the bar by the goalkeeper.

The equaliser came on 25 minutes when Mackenzie Richardson slid a pass for Penman to tap home from close range.

Just past the half-hour, Penman finished clinically into the bottom corner to put the Angels in front but were given a warning shot when another free kick from #8 struck the bar.

The woodwork was being significantly overworked as Callum Fincham hit a post on 41 minutes but, a minute later, the Angels advantage was doubled as Deller-Miles was left, unchallenged in the six yard box, to head home.

Alfie McGuire was required in first half added time as #9 sprinted clear but the goalkeeper saved at his feet.

Half-time substitute Logan Wallace added goals four and five, after 49 minutes when sent clear by Richardson and six minutes later when hooked in a cross from Akshar Santhosh.

Tonbridge dominated through to the end, but Whitstable showed resilience to keep the score at five although Penman gave the woodwork another rattling with a header.