Tonbridge Angels Ladies 2 Thamesview 1
TONBRIDGE ANGELS Ladies ended their league campaign with a hard fought 2-1 win against champions Thamesview, ending the top side’s 100 per cent record.
The victory for the Angels, who were runners-up in the table, also preserved their own perfect home league record. The two teams will now meet in the Kent Divisional Cup final on May 17.
Tonbridge stuck to a game plan of organised defence and quick counter-attacks in the first half and this proved highly effective.
Thamesview had the best chance of the opening exchanges with a header from six yards out from a corner, but it was directed straight into the arms of goalkeeper Sam Wright.
The visitors’ frustrations appeared to deepen as the half wore on and they were stunned by two goals in the space of three minutes just before the interval.
On 41 minutes Lauryn Underhill broke away down the right and her shot deflected into the face of Becky Jarvis.
Amid the confusion Megan Akehurst laid the ball off for Underhill, who fired her shot into the net from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later, the Thamesview defence was caught napping by Akehurst, who carved them open and teed up Jarvis to chip the ball over the advancing goalkeeper from 25 yards.
The half-time break allowed the Chatham side to recover their composure and they quickly reduced the arrears in the second half.
However, their goal was not without an element of good fortune as a Tonbridge clearance struck the referee on the edge of the box.
Wright was unable to hold on to the resulting shot and the ball rebounded to Shannon Redhouse, who made no mistake with her finish.
Forty minutes of staunch defence followed as Thamesview piled on the pressure.
But led by their captain Sharon Lyons, Angels stood firm to clinch victory.
PICTURE: BREAKTHROUGH: Lauryn Underhill opened the scoring PHOTO: David Couldridge
