Glebe U18 1 Tonbridge Angels U18 3

Match 108/23/2231 - Wednesday, 24th April 2024 - Isthmian Youth League

Glebe U18 (0) 1
Tonbridge Angels U18 (1) 3 Waring 5 Etherington 50,69
Attendance: 39
Admission: £2
Mileage: 64/7,661

The Under-18’s ended their season with a comfortable win at Glebe whilst saying farewell to several of their second years that are no longer eligible for the competition.

With the result having no bearing on league positions for either side, Dom Welsh and his players indulged in a little bit of fun, choosing their positions from a hat. Amazingly, eight of the outfield players picked their own positions with Will Puffette (goodbye) playing as the central striker and Cameron Honarvar (goodbye) filling the centre back position.

Dom said: “We had a bit of fun with it tonight and even then looked comfortable.”

Free from any real worries, the Under-18’s played with a relaxed freedom that was actually quite eye-catching and they went ahead after five minutes when Sam Firman (goodbye) and Felix Waring (goodbye) before the latter drove the ball into the bottom corner.

Puffette was enjoying his role as striker but found both the target and the goalkeeper hard to beat as he had chances to increase the lead.

Glebe steadied the ship and tested Toby Edwards (goodbye) with a save, low to his left after 21 minutes.

The Angels dominated the half and the only surprise was that their lead was not added too and Edwards was needed to perform some of the heroics that he has produced this season to deny the home side with three close range saves in a matter of seconds prior to the break.

Five minutes into the second half, Waring set up Reuben Etherington (goodbye) to double the lead before Glebe pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after the referee deemed a hand ball in the box.

Tolu Fabimafobee, with his tricky feet, opened up the Glebe back line for Etherington to add a third and final goal of the season after 69 minutes.

Dom Welsh, upon whom the responsibility now falls to replace apart from those already mentioned, Sam Gerrard (goodbye) and Ben Martin-Coward (goodbye), said afterwards: “A group I will truly miss working with, been an absolute pleasure, on and off the pitch.”

There is a sense of frustration, finishing third only two points off the champions Cray Valley and, if we indulge in “if only”, no we are not going there.

On a personal basis, thank-you to all of the parents that thanked me

for reporting but in return you have been a great set of parents, ever-present, always supportive and never demanding. You’ve been fantastic.

Glebe Under-18 3 Tonbridge Angels Under-18 4

Match 48/21/1913 - Wednesday, 27th October 2021 - Isthmian Youth

Glebe Under-18 (1) 3 Rhodes 37,83 Boyce 64
Tonbridge Angels Under-18 (3) 4 Wolvey 9,29,58 (2 pens) Saunders 32
Attendance: 33

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 64/2,734

Tonbridge Angels Under-18’s withstood a last ten minute onslaught from Glebe to record their first Isthmian Youth League win of the season. The Angels had led 4-1 after 58 minutes courtesy of a Finlay Wolvey hat-trick, but this was never a game that was going to be over until the final whistle.

Manager Dom Welsh was justifiably proud of his team, commenting after the game: ““Honestly made up for the boys tonight! Absolutely huge task to take any points from the game and they delivered a gritty performance! Very proud of my team!”

His team were down to the bare bones with only 12 players available and having to play a striker, Will Saunders, at centre half alongside an Under-16, Rory Kavanagh. Both put in sterling performances.

Tonbridge took a ninth minute lead through Wolvey who took a pass 20 yards out to drive in a fierce shot that the Glebe goalkeeper could only help into the net.

The Angels dominated the opening half-hour and went 2-0 up when Ethan Knight was felled as he dribbled along the bye-line following a short corner routine. Wolvey firmly struck home the resultant penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Three minutes later, it was 3-0 when Saunders met a right sided corner to plant a solid header past the goalkeeper.

If Tonbridge thought the game had been put to bed they were given a rude awakening when Ernest Rhodes seized upon a rebound after the Angels goalkeeper Matt Larkin had saved a close range effort.

Glebe exerted full pressure to reduce the deficit before half-time and Larkin was at his brilliant best to turn over a shot from Finlay Boyce that was heading for the top corner.

Glebe maintained the momentum into the second half and it took a great saving tackle from Saunders to maintain the score line.

Against the run of play, after 58 minutes, George Theis broke clear and was brought down by the advancing Glebe goalkeeper for another penalty from which Wolvey completed his hat-trick in the same manner as his first spot kick.

The comfort of a three goal lead was not to last long as, six minutes later, Boyce latched onto Larkin’s parrying save to score from close range.

When, nine minutes from time, a free kick from Rhodes found its way into the net through a crowded penalty area, it set up a grandstand finish from the home side that was met with some desperate, but brave, defending that somehow withstood an extra four minutes of added time that included a fine, low save from Larkin.