Tonbridge Angels 4-2 Bromley. Cox: We can compete with the pro clubs - EXCLUSIVE

The Fleet booked their place in the next round following their 6-3 win at Sevenoaks Town last night, despite being pegged back to 3-3 at the break, but comfortably strolled past Erith & Belvedere (6-0) and Chatham Town (9-0) in the earlier rounds.

But Cox, and the majority of tonight’s Tonbridge squad, started out playing for a Bexleyheath based side called Bruin, before joining the Fleet for just one season and then onto the Angels at the beginning of last season.

Two goals apiece from left-winger Nathan Gee and highly-rated striker Michael Barker saw off Bromley’s challenge at the Betterview Longmead Stadium tonight.

But Bromley took the lead after just 87 seconds when Tarik Ozresberoglu glanced his header into the bottom left hand corner.

Bromley went on to dominate proceedings for lengthy spells of the first half with Danny Rose and Harrison Carnegie shooting off target.

But after Jordan Tayler blazed high over Martin Grant’s bar from 25-yards in the 29 minute, this sparked Tonbridge Angels into life.

A run down the left by the impressive Jack Parkinson saw his low centre stabbed agonisingly past the near post by Barker from six-yards.

Then Parkinson brought the ball under control with his chest before unleashing a right-footed drive past the diving goalkeeper and just past the foot of the right post.

But their best chance fell to Gee, who cut in from the left and unleashed a right-footed shot from 18-yards, which was tipped onto the crossbar by Bromley goalkeeper Ciro Donadio.

Gee drove a shot past the post from distance early in the second half, but it was only a matter of time when the hosts deservedly drew level after 53 minutes.

Gee’s right-footed 25-yard drive took a deflection but crept into the bottom left hand corner past Donadio’s desperate dive.

Tonbridge, however, deservedly took the lead just four minutes later, and full credit must go to Maidstone referee Mr Edmonds for allowing play to continue, despite his assistant at the stand side of the ground waving his flag as Bobby Dixey was fouled.

But he managed to keep to his feet, and centred for Barker to stroke the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Things got even better for Tonbridge, increasing their lead even further after 62 minutes, when Gee was forced wide by the full-back but from an acute angle unleashed a shot that sailed into the far corner.

By this stage Tonbridge were ripping their opponents apart and they should have scored another one three minutes later but Leon Tapper sent his header over from six-yards following Lewis Cox’s corner.

But Cox rode challenges down the right and his cross was met on a hooked volley by Barker, across Donadio, and into the bottom far corner.

Shell-shocked Bromley, playing with one man up front, pulled a goal back with eleven minutes remaining when Tayler slammed the ball home inside Martin Grant’s near post.

Tayler carved open an excellent chance for substitute Tim Ademkanbj two minutes later, but he shot straight at Grant.

Grant made a vital save with four minutes left when Nathan Campbell-Weich slid through the middle of Tonbridge’s defence but was prevented a crucial goal, as Grant bravely took the ball away from his feet just six yards from goal.

But the Angels can look forward to a Kent derby against Gravesend & Northfleet, to be arranged week commencing 23 October, and hopefully without clashing without any possible FA Trophy replay against Harlow Town to allow fans to watch this mouth-watering clash.

“That’s something for the boys to look forward to,” Cox said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  after their impressive  win.

“Very pleased with the boys’ second half performance tonight. I think Bromley probably suffered a little bit scoring too early.

“After we settled down I think we probably shaded the first half, but we went 1-0 down.

“I spoke to the boys in the changing room about character and wanting to win and I can’t ask for anymore.

“After we went 4-1 up, again I think they were a bit guilty of taking their foot of the pedal, and allowed the impetus to slightly swing back slightly to Bromley, who in the circumstances probably were to throw everything baring the kitchen sink at us.

“With our resolve we ran out deserved winners.”

Cox, now in his second season in charge of this team, praised two-goal hero Barker and Parkinson, who impressed Simon Balsdon, the club’s reserve team assistant manager, watching from the directors box.

“He had a superb game Jack,” Cox said. “He blows hot and cold but Jack’s strength is the fact he’s got this ability to analyse his own performance.

“He realised in the first half he wasn’t quite on the ball but certainly sorted himself out in the second half and a very good performance from him.

“Michael is a fantastic acquisition for us. He was the top scorer in the Kent League last year for Thamesmead Town. I’ve known Michael since he was a very young boy.”

Tonbridge are just one win away from reaching the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup, emulating Barry Jeffrey’s side two years ago that went on to lose bravely 3-1 at Leyton Orient.

Mr Jeffrey, along with his Kent Youth League colleagues Mr Gavin Hoare and Mr Colin Boswell, watched tonight’s entertaining game.

But Cox relishes their next round against the Fleet, but spoke more about youth team level rather than the importance of the game being a Kent derby in the last qualifying round.

He said: “I’ve got friendships with many of the lads and the parents who are still there so hopefully it will be a most enjoyable game on the night.”

But Cox believes his side can compete against a side that have scored 21 goals in their three FA Youth Cup ties so far.

“They are very good I believe,” he said. “We haven’t seen them this year. As I say some of the boys we’ll be familiar with but again we’re playing at a level now similar situation to tonight.

“The boys questioned me how good was this team. They look a good team but the level they are playing now every team we come up against is going to be a good team.

“They’ve certainly shown tonight they can play with the best teams, compete with the best teams and beat the best teams.”

Despite losing pre-season friendlies against West Ham United and Millwall’s academy sides, Cox relishes the opportunity to face higher league clubs in the competition - if they get past full-time Fleet, just like Jeffrey’s side of two years ago.

“That would be nice to emulate that,” he said “I mean when that happened we wasn’t with the club but it would be a great achievement for the boys.

“We’ve got several players in there that can match those boys so it bodes well for the future and for clubs like this to play against boys of that stature (will be good).”