Tonbridge Angels vs Cray Wanderers – FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round – Monday 15th September – Match Report
Tonbridge Angels 3
Richardson 31 pen, Waul 66, Pritchard 83
Cray Wanderers 1
Robinson 40
Cray Wanderers despite a tremendous effort exited the FA Youth Cup at the 1st Qualifying Round stage as Tonbridge Angels edged a finely balanced and entertaining cup tie at the Yeomans Community Stadium.
In a fast paced match that was well refereed Tonbridge went ahead in the 31st minute from the penalty spot scored by Mckenzie Richardson. The Wands though levelled five minutes before the break through Sam Robinson and his third goal in two games.
It looked like the next goal could prove decisive and came half way through the second half for Tonbridge turned in by Nathaniel Waul. The scoring was completed seven minutes from time with a clever Fiachra Pritchard finish.
Cray were looking to build on the win against Cray Valley on 5th September at the impressive facilities at Tonbridge and there was one change to the starting lineup with Finlay Flint coming in for Leroy Adedoyin.
Under the lights the game began with a fair bit of early sparring with Cray threatening when Billy Wall saw a shot from the edge of the area blocked. The first real opening came in the 11th minute for Tonbridge when a cross from the right was met by a flicked header from Mckenzie Richardson but into the arms of Kevin Kardel.
For Cray, Archie Morley’s long throw-in’s were a feature of the game and from one of these the ball fell to Sam Robinson inside the area but his shot was blocked well by the Angels defence close to the goal line.
Tonbridge looked to make the breakthrough and Richardson played a fine ball into the box for Robert Fenman who looked to get the ball under control but his effort lacked power and claimed by Kardel.
Then for Cray down the left Jude Whelan was unlucky to see his cross-shot deflected behind for a corner as the game began to pick up momentum.
The best chance yet came for Tonbridge in the 23rd minute when from a free kick down the left of the area, Richardson who had a good game up front, placed a curling shot towards goal which took a nick off a defender and Kardel made a great save to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Cray continued to play their part in the game and Ralph Short played a ball into the box that was cleared and then from a free kick Morgan Hill’s ball into the box missed everyone and keeper Jacob Hunt had to push the ball away.
The deadlock was broken in the 31st minute for Tonbridge when Ashton Lucas was brought down by Kardel in the area and from the spot Richardson netted in at the right post.
Cray to be fair didn’t let this affect them and looked to respond with Hill firing wide and then Robinson shooting over and then a corner was flicked wide by Jude Whelan.
In the 40th minute the Wands drew level deservedly but in bizarre circumstances as Hunt in the Angels goal rolled the ball out for a defender but only into the path of Robinson who had an easy task of rolling the ball into the net.
An enjoyable half almost had a happy ending for Cray when with the last chance from a free kick down the left, Morley’s cross was headed over by Louis Edwards.
HT: 1-1
The second half began with Tonbridge threatening with a River Ballach cross from the right to the far post for Callum Fincham but his near post effort was claimed by Kardel.
Cray came close to going in front when Hunt definitely atoned for his earlier error with a fine turn over save to deny Billy Wall with a goalbound shot down the right of the area.
The game then went through a little lull as the stakes of the game grew higher with it looking like the next goal may win the tie.
In the 66th minute Tonbridge went back in front following the award of a free kick down the left. Callum Fincham put over a cross into the area which eventually led to substitute Nathaniel Waul turning the ball into the net.
Cray nearly got back on terms two minutes later when Morley played a great ball into the box for Short who shot just past the left post.
The game was still on a knife edge with Cray looking to get the equaliser but seven minutes from time Tonbridge had a bit of daylight between the teams with a third goal. After a spell of possession a terrific ball in from outside the area was hard to defend against and Fiachra Pritchard at the right post slid in to guide the ball under Kardel to make it 3-1.
Cray kept battling and Morley hoisted a free kick just over the crossbar. Then near the end Tonbridge almost scored a fourth which would have been harsh on Cray with a shot down the right which Kardel did well to divert behind for a corner.
In the end Tonbridge saw the game out and despite a sterling effort Cray took their leave from the competition but had some good moments in the game and came away with their heads held high.
Tonbridge: Jacob Hunt, River Ballach, Edward Dyer (Capt.), Jack Gallacher, Callum Fincham, Robert Penman, Fiachra Pritchard, Ashton Lucas, Mckenzie Richardson, Ardian Sulowari, Lucas Keman: Subs: Noah Hutchins, Alfie Lund, Harry Bingham, Alfie Gilder, George Vassiliev, Kyler Barton, Nathaniel Waul
Booked: Fincham, Penham
Cray Wanderers: Kevin Kardel (Capt), Morgan Hill, Luke Witter, Miller Fleming, Archie Morley, Finlay Flint (Maxwell Flisher-Alves, 74), Ralph Short (Mitchell Everitt, 84), Louis Edwards (Jake Ottley, 84), Samuel Robinson, Billy Wall, Jude Whelan (Leroy Adedoyin, 60): Subs: Charlie Halls, Kane Hudson, Alex Drew
Booked: Fleming 45+2, Whelan 47, Flint 66, Robinson 89
Referee: Byron Beard
Assistants: Richard Aires, Richard Myers
Att: 82
