Results haven’t reflected performances and the luck hasn’t always favoured Tonbridge Angels Under-13’s, but Sunday brought the win they craved and absolutely deserved with an outstanding performance. The Under-16’s emerged successful from a tricky away trip, but the Under-14’s bowed out of the Kent Youth League Cup with a defeat at the Yeomans Community Stadium.
Ollie Pantrey reports on a memorable day for the Angels youngest team:
“The U13’s recorded their first league win of the season with an assured 6-2 victory over Ashford. The team began the match slowly, despite forcing two early goals through pressure rather than fluency. A lapse in concentration allowed Ashford back into the game, but a well-timed goal just before half-time shifted momentum decisively.
“After the break, the young Angels demonstrated a much improved style of play, as ball movement became quicker and more purposeful, with effective use of wide areas and switches consistently stretching the opposition back line. This improved structure created multiple chances, leading to a strong attacking spell that extended the lead and put the game firmly under control. A late transition into a 3-5-2 shape provided even greater dominance in midfield and allowed the team to dictate possession for long spells.
“Overall, this was a deserved and encouraging victory that reflected the group’s development, confidence, and growing consistency within this standard.”
Adam Barden reports from a muddy Gravesend on the Under-16’s hard fought victory:
“We were back in league action away to AFC Gravesend, where from the moment we arrived, it was clear it was to be a tough game on a poor, wet and muddy pitch. The Angels started off the strongest creating a couple of chances of which one was nicely converted by Aidan Heaton. After this the Angels slightly dropped their tempo allowing AFC Gravesend to get back into the game through a nicely converted free kick in the 20th minute.
“With the game evenly balanced we changed a few players around on the pitch which led to us regaining control and we started to dominate the ball once again eventually leading to us recording a second goal on the stroke of half time through Kai Albuoy.
“As the pitch further deteriorated into the second half, not too much football could be played. However, the Angels continued to keep hold of the ball and frustrate a low block Gravesend which we were able to breakdown and grab the final goal of the game in the 61st minute through Abel Lennox.”
The one defeat of the weekend was suffered by the Under-14’s who were knocked out of the Kent Youth League Cup, in a wonderful game, by Herne Bay as Oliver Stell reports:
“The U14’s hosted Herne Bay in a brilliant advert for Kent Youth League football in the League Cup.
“The Angels started strongly, dominating possession in the first 10 minutes, creating two or three chances which should have put us into an early lead.
“Unfortunately, as recent weeks have told the same story, without taking our chances we have left ourselves vulnerable to going behind and after the Herne Bay central midfielder played a cute pass into the front line, the Angels fell one down.
“The lads rallied, creating chances in an evenly contested game and we were disappointed not to have taken our chances as a slight change in formation for the second half brought more opportunities that just couldn’t be converted, hitting the post and having a chance cleared off the line.
“As the Angels pushed for an equaliser, Herne Bay put the game to bed with a last minute goal to take the game 2-0 and progress into the next round of the cup. Credit must go to Herne Bay who managed to convert their chances and won what was a great game to watch for the neutral.”
