The Under-18’s returned to winning ways, after last week’s disappointing defeat at Cobham with a comfortable 4-0 win against Broadbridge Heath at the Yeomans Community Stadium.
The Angels youngsters maintain their position in third place in the Isthmian Football League U18 East Division, two points adrift of leaders AFC Whyteleafe, with both home and away fixtures remaining to be played. Cobham, who have played a game more, are sandwiched between the two.
Tonbridge were somewhat eased into a position of comfort much by the visitors’ own doing. Firstly, they conceded an own goal with only 20 seconds on the clock and then, after 26 minutes, were reduced to 10 men when they had a player sent off after being deemed the last man when committing a foul.
Dom Welsh introduced three Under-16’s to the squad, Joel Letsa, Arthur Edwards and Lewis Egbewumni and Edwards got his name on the score sheet with a towering header in the final throes of the game.
A great link-up down the right in the opening attack ended with River Ballach crossing for a Broadbridge defender to turn the ball into his own net at the near post for a perfect start for the Angels.
It gave the Angels the confidence to showcase their passing and movement to which Broadbridge found difficult to counter. After 12 minutes a free kick from Mackenzie Richardson came back off the crossbar and, four minutes later, the goalkeeper produced an absolute world class save to deny River Ballach.
When Robert Penman was dragged back for the referee to brandish a red card, hotly disputed, both on the sidelines and by the offender, the task was an uphill one for Broadbridge Heath.
After Bingham had hit the bar on 32 minutes, Tonbridge doubled their advantage three minutes later with a well worked goal, created by Bingham and Richardson, and finished by Kyler Barton, the Angels were well in control and went into the break three goals up when Callum Fincham intercepted a wayward pass to run clear and finish well into the bottom corner.
All credit to Broadbridge Heath who made it hard for the Angels to add to the tally in the second half and it was almost on the stroke of the 90th minute when Edwards header wrapped up the points.
The introduction of the three Under-16’s means that nine from that age group have played up a year this season, a great testament to the coaching of Adam Barden and Roy Massey with the Kent Youth League U16’s.
