Encouraging performances pre-season led to a stunning opening day win for the Under-18’s as they romped to an 8-0 victory over Glebe.

Dom Welsh, Under-18’s manager, said of his team’s performance: “Wow! That was a fantastic start to our league season. Dominant and relentless throughout the 90 minutes to run out deserved winners.”

There was no sign of the rout that was to come as Angels’ goalkeeper, Josh Hanson, was needed to make an early save from close range at his near post.

After that initial scare, Tonbridge took the game to their visitors with an attacking display that will delight all that follow their fortunes through the season. On 11 minutes, Harry Barton shot over after being well set up by Tolu Fabimafobee and Fiachra Pritchard but he made amends just a minute later when the ball was fed to him on the right side of six-yard box by Pritchard to strike a shot into the far bottom corner.

Tonbridge were now completely dominant and had chances before Fabimafobee doubled the advantage on 27 minutes when Barton charged down the goalkeeper’s attempted clearance with the ball falling to Fabimafobee to execute a perfect lob.

Glebe had no answer to Fabimafobee’s pace down the left and sent clear by a crossfield pass from Callum Fincham, his cross brought an initial save from Barton, but following up, Pritchard was able to give the Angels a 3-0 half-time lead.

Two early goals in a couple of minutes ended the game as a contest when, on 50 minutes, a great run down the right from Barton ended with his shot saved at the near post but the clearance only fell to Fincham who struck from 20 yards. This was quickly followed by another right sided run from Barton before a cross from the bye-line gave Fabimafobee a tap-in.

Two more quick fire goals followed on 73 minutes when Barton rounded the goalkeeper to make it six and two minutes later, Pritchard and Teddy Cooney created a delightfully worked goal for Robert Penman.

Cooney rounded off the scoring two minutes into time added.

Welsh expanded on the build-up to the opening game: "The highly competitive pre-season schedule against a string of good sides paid dividends, the squad was ready despite still having six players to come back into contention. 

"The tone was set with one of the highest quality warm ups I’ve seen at U18 level, and the intensity did not drop from there. The team exploited the wide centre backs by isolating them frequently throughout the game, as well as dominating possession throughout the game. Most pleasing, throughout the domination is that the defensive line and those in front didn’t let their concentration drop and only managed to concede a single shot all game, which landed off target. A really encouraging start to the season from the new group."