The Under-18’s season was brought to a disappointing end at Glebe where, according to manager Dom Welsh, they produced their worst performance of the season in a 3-0 defeat.

It was a result that cost them a potential fourth place finish. Despite the defeat, Welsh commented that overall it had been a good season with significant progress made.

The early part of the game belonged to the hosts who also had to substitute their goalkeeper after just 11 minutes when Frankie Quinton was injured. His place between the sticks was taken by outfield player, Walters-Salmon.

The home side opened the scoring after 19 minutes when Luca Sanford beat the offside trap to take the ball around Matt Larkin to convert into an empty net.

It wasn’t until the 32nd minute that the Angels managed their first shot on goal, a long range effort from Reuben Etherington, who had another pop from a 25 yard free kick that was marginally wide.

Glebe limited the Angels chances to set pieces before in the final minute of the half, Etherington crossed for Fin McLeod but the striker’s shot was blocked and cleared.

At the beginning of the second half, Glebe were in the ascendancy with Larkin making a safe and Will Puffette needing to clear from a corner.

The Angels had a massive let off after 55 minutes when Sanford struck the bar but their relief was short lived as a minute later, the Glebe striker had an easy tap-in at the far post following a cross from the left.

Tonbridge had their best chance of the match on the hour when following a corner, Puffette headed downwards but the ball bounced over the bar.

A couple of minutes later Cameron Honavar had a shot on target but the sub-goalkeeper made a decent save.

The game was put beyond the Angels on 64 minutes when Glebe went three up through Brian Njuko who struck from range straight into the top of the net for a very good finish that Larkin could only watch on.

The Angels were denied a consolation as Honavar headed in a Adam Larkin cross but a linesman’s flag waved offside and in the final moments a free kick taken by Max Cormack found Honavar who tried to poke the ball over the line, but Glebe manage to clear.

Sadly the nature of Under-18’s football is that players who have served the club well age beyond the year group and we say farewell to Matt Larkin, Tom Scott-Smith, Max Lambert, Zak Garcia, Rocky Burke, Mike Hollamby and Max Cormack. We thank these lads for their time and effort and wish them well for the future both in life and football.

Report and picture from Kathryn Bell