Cray Valley PM U18 5 Tonbridge Angels U18 0

Match 20/23/2143 - Thursday, 25th August 2023 - Isthmian Youth League

Cray Valley PM U18 (4) 5 Woods 3 Flockton 7 Eyin 18 Turner 23 Chukwujekwu 77
Tonbridge Angels (0) 0
Attendance: 55

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 71/787
Weather: 20degC., humid

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s endured a nightmare start to their season as naive defending saw them 4-0 down in the opening 23 minutes.

Cray Valley PM were last year’s champions for good reason, not needing any sort of a helping hand and on this showing have the potential to repeat their achievements this season.

But, to their credit, the Angels youngsters showed, especially in the second half, a great deal of spirit to limit the home side to just one further goal.

The afternoon’s storm had drifted north leaving a warm, muggy evening at kick off. Cray Valley kicked down the slope in the first half and were ahead after just three minutes when a shot from Emmanuel Eyin came back off the bar to Riley Woods who drilled the ball into the far corner from the left hand angle of the six yard box.

After seven minutes, Cray doubled their advantage when a free kick lofted into the box saw Liam Hutchings effort saved by Toby Underwood but the rebound was tucked home from close range by Stanley Flockton.

Things went from bad to worse for the Angels after 18 minutes when, playing out from the back, the ball was lost giving Eyin the simplest of chances to make it three.

The ball was, once more given away cheaply on the edge of the box and Malachy Turner was on hand to take advantage and slot home past Underwood to make it four after 23 minutes.

Those 23 minutes of chaos left the Tonbridge contingent fearing a rout but a lot of heart for the rest of the season can be taken from the resilience shown after such a torrid opening.

A surging run from defence into the Cray Valley half from skipper Will Puffette certainly raised the spirits despite the free kick that he had earned being struck over the bar by Reuben Etherington.

The Angels still had to defend for long periods in the early part of the second half but a shot from Teddy Cooney wasn’t too far wide and a free kick from Ben Martin-Coward forced the keeper into a good save.

A defence splitting pass saw Arinze Chukwujekwu finish past Underwood for Cray Valley’s fifth after 77 minutes as the Angels actually enjoyed their best spell in the game.

A consolation goal would have been a just reward but the goalkeeper denied Cameron Honavar and Etherington and in the final act of the game substitutes Ethan Mgbeze and Logan Wallace combined for the latter’s header to drift agonisingly wide.

Manager Dom Welsh commented after the game that it had been a “really poor start to the season, all accountable for the first half performance. We applied ourselves well in the second half but too many mistakes gave away a huge deficit early on, we learn and move on.”

Cray Valley PM U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 92/22/2099 - Thursday, 23rd March 2023 - Isthmian Youth League

Cray Valley PM U18 (1) 1 Knight 17
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 1 Lambert 10
Attendance: 29

Admission: £4
Mileage: 80/6,467

The Under-18’s produced a brave performance to come away from Cray Valley, potentially the eventual champions, with a hard earned and well deserved point.

The point lifted the hosts to league’s summit and set up an intriguing clash next week against the reigning champions Sutton Common Rovers, that could well decide the destination of the title.

On a miserably wet evening, manager Dom Welsh drafted in 16 year-old Noah Mills at left back with 15 year-old Fin McLeod up top and another 15 year-old in Harry Johns on the bench.

Kicking up the slope in the first half on a pitch that had held up remarkably well given the conditions of the last couple of days, the Angels started brightly and were ahead in the 10th minute when a free kick from 20 yards was drilled into the bottom corner by Max Lambert.

Sadly for the Angels the lead didn’t last too long and Cray were on level terms after 17 minutes when Oliver Knight drove a shot home from 12 yards after goalkeeper Matt Larkin had saved well an initial effort from Alex Jones.

It was a measure of the defensive performances of Will Puffette and Tom Green that Larkin was not asked to make another save of note during the first 45 minutes. At the other end of the field, Cray goalkeeper, Aidan Wicks saved from McLeod whilst Cameron Honavar shot over.

Defences ruled the evening as neither goalkeeper was seriously tested during a hard fought second period. Cray Valley’s best chance came after just three minutes when Sinayomi Abiola met a corner with a powerful header that cleared the bar.

After 53 minutes, Felix Waring brought a good save out of Wicks and the keeper was brought in action again saving from Sam Firman with a follow-up effort from Honavar blocked.

The last half-hour was a midfield battle in which the Angels youngsters stood up well to the task with no great alarms or Larkin needing to make a single save.

Dom Welsh felt that his side’s performance was “up there with the best of the season” whilst highlighting the youthfulness of his team against, and we will find out next week, possibly the best team in the league.

Cray Valley (PM) Under-18 4 Tonbridge Angels U18 1

Match 25/21/1890 - Thursday, 26th August 2021 - Isthmian Youth League

Cray Valley (PM) (3) 4
Tonbridge Angels (1) 1 London
Attendance: 90

Admission: £3
Programme: None
Mileage: 76/1,339

A joyous return to the Isthmian Youth League after a four year absence was not to be as the Angels’ Under-18’s found themselves 3-0 down after just 15 minutes but they gave good reason for optimism by remaining competitive for the next 75 minutes.

Manager Dom Welsh had several players unavailable and had to mix his squad with Academy players, some of whom had played only 24 hours previously.

Cray Valley are expected to be one of the better sides in the division and certainly displayed a level of performance of a team that has been together for a number of seasons.

The Angels could not of got off to a worse start conceding a poor goal after just 47 seconds when a under hit back pass to goalkeeper Matt Larkin allowed Flint David-King to intercept and round the keeper before slotting into the unguarded net.

Tonbridge’s first chance came after five minutes when Max Cormack headed over but the home side doubled their lead after 11 minutes when a clearance rebounded into the path of Harry Day who finished well from around 12 yards.

The Angels produced an immediate response but were desperately unlucky when a great effort from Cormack rattled the crossbar.

Sadly, on 15 minutes the hill that the Angels needed to climb became a mountain when a right wing cross found an unmarked Noah Joyce who finished from just inside the box.

It was a cruel start to life at this level, but to their credit, Tonbridge regrouped and worked hard to get themselves back in the game. This they did after 25 minutes when Josh McArthur’s direct run and cross was partially cleared to the edge of the box to the waiting Harry London who fired home.

Two chances just before the break fell to Cameron Wootton whose header was comfortably saved and a free kick in a good position that was fired over the bar by Ethan Knight.

The second period, with the Angels now kicking down the slope was a much more even contest with far fewer chances for both sides.

But any hope of a Tonbridge comeback were finally extinguished when Larkin misjudged a cross into that corridor of uncertainty, leaving Harry Hopper to head home.

London shot over with four minutes to play and Larkin made a fine save, turning the ball over the bar from a close range effort.

Dom Welsh said after the game that he was pleased with his side’s efforts after that disastrous opening 15 minutes and congratulated his hosts, whom he expects will be among the front runners this season.

There were plenty of Tonbridge supporters in the attendance of 90, thank you for your support.