Tunbridge Wells 2 Fisher 0

Match 109/16/1416 - Tuesday, 21st March 2017 - SCEFL Premier

Tunbridge Wells (0) 2 Shea 72,84
Fisher (0) 0
Attendance: 161

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 38/7,564

Tunbridge Wells fans have suffered long and hard this season, but finally I think they can rest easy. Two goals from John Shea was enough to leave Fisher fearing for their SCEFL Premier future and coupled with last week’s surprise win at Hollands & Blair and the judgement of the Croydon situation, the points are now in the bag to stave of relegation.

For long periods, the Tunbridge Wells defence restricted a Fisher side that knew that only a win would really be good enough, but upfront there was a lack of a cutting edge.

Fisher were obviously sent out with the instruction to get at the Wells from the outset and made most of the early running. Luke Haidarovic fired a shot at Steve Lawrence in the opening minute and a free kick was blocked by the Wells wall a minute later.

Tunbridge Wells started to settle into the game and Jon Pilbeam forced ex-Wells goalkeeper, Nic Taylor into a good save, low to his left.

Fisher continued to create the best of the chances in the first period and in the closing minutes of the half, Tunbridge Wells survived a sustained period of pressure. Lawrence saved from Haidarovic with the follow-up blasted over the crossbar. Alvaro Casado Munoz’s shot hit one of his own players in front of goal with the follow-up, once more clearing the bar.

The Wells carved out their best chance so far, two minutes into the second period when a cross from Josh Biddlecombe found James Pinnock sliding in at the near post but from close range he managed to lift the ball over the bar.

After 70 minutes Haidarovic turned defender when he cleared after Taylor had made a fine save from Keiron Tarbie’s free kick. But it was a short reprieve for the Fish as two minutes later, Biddlecombe crossed from the right to the left side of the six yard box to John Shea who shot across the face of Taylor and into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Lawrence had to be alert to save at his near post before, six minutes from time, a cross from Pilbeam on the right was headed back across the six yard box by Biddlecombe for Shea to volley in his second.

An attendance of 161 is thoroughly decent in the SCEFL, but it is around 70 or 80 people down on where Tunbridge Wells can be with even a remotely successful team. The club cannot afford another season like this one and now they are reasonably assured of safety, the planning for next season needs to start right now. It’s going to be very interesting.

Pictures: Victor Bethell