Academy sink The Fleet with 11 goal salvo
Report by Wink Tomkinson
Tonbridge Angels Academy were absolutely ruthless in their rout of Ebbsfleet United. Cameron Wootton with four goals and Ben Hermitage with a hat-trick ran riot as their beleaguered opponents spent 90 minutes chasing shadows.
The sign of a very long afternoon were ominous for Ebbsfleet when the Angels went ahead after two minutes with a cross from Hermitage converted at the near post by Wootton.
Ieuan Ferris, in the Ebbsfleet goal, was further pressed into action two minutes later saving well from Kian Austin before the rebound was shot across the face of the goal by Ben Twist striking the far post. Ferris single-handedly went on to save his colleagues an even more embarrassing score line.
But despite his efforts, two goals in three minutes quickly put the game almost out of reach in the opening quarter-hour. After 10 minutes a corner from Twist was turned in by Hermitage and three minutes later, Shea Brennan sent Josh McArthur clear down the right and his cross was duly converted by Wootton.
Ferris continued to make saves but it was his error that allowed a 20 yard free kick from Luca Woodhouse to slip through his grasp for the Angels fourth.
Ebbsfleet steadied the ship for a while and Tommy Buchanan had a shot that was wide, but moments before the break another Woodhouse free kick found Hermitage who finished clinically.
Into the second half and the one-way assault on the Ebbsfleet goal continued unabated. After 57 minutes Hermitage stood up a cross to the far post for Twist to score with ease and make it 6-0.
There was no mercy shown by the Angels and their relentless moving of the ball was a delight that left the Ebbsfleet defenders chasing shadows.
After 66 minutes substitute Will Saunders linked with Twist who returned the ball before being clattered by the advancing goalkeeper for Saunders to make it seven.
Hermitage achieved his third assist of the game with a cross for Saunders to add his second and, three minutes later, completed his hat-trick converting a fine cross from Leo Vowles.
Double figures was totalled when Wootton was afforded time and space inside the penalty area to turn and complete his hat-trick.
Saunders was denied his hat-trick by the crossbar but Wootton added his fourth and the Angels eleventh when he finished from little more than a yard after a right-sided cross from Vowles.
Manager Tommy Parkinson acknowledged the ruthlessness of his side whilst adding that he was most pleased with the work rate and application from start to finish.