Tunbridge Wells 1 Southall 3

Match 36/19/1758 - Tuesday, 15th October 2019 - FA Vase First Round Replay

Tunbridge Wells (0) 1 Froggatt 78
Southall (2) 3 Dean 30 McLeish 45 Dosho 80
Attendance: 130

Admission: £4
Programme: None
Mileage: 38/2,548

It’s a good job I’m not a betting man. Despite the disappointment the of the last kick equaliser at Southall on Sunday, I was convinced that Tunbridge Wells would prevail in the replay with relative ease. Just shows what I know!

About the only foot put wrong all night by the Combined Counties side was to misjudge the M25, causing a delayed kick-off of a quarter hour but from the first whistle they bossed the game and were good value to earn not only the prize money of £825 but an eminently winnable game at home to Seaford in the next round.

Just like Sunday’s encounter the game took a while to get going with a shot from Southall’s Darreon Hark to only one to employ a goalkeeper.

So, out of context with the pattern of the game, the visitors went in front after half-an-hour when a Southall corner was only cleared to the edge of the box from where Peter Dean drove a unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Tunbridge Wells failed to bring their wingers Josh Froggatt and Euan Sahadow into the game and chances were few and far between as a consequence.

On the stroke of half-time, an excellent three man move opened up the Wells back line and Aaron McLeish finished well past the advancing Nicholls to make it 2-0.

Andre Da Costa should have put the game beyond the Wells in first half time added when he shot wide of the post after being sent clear.

One was left to think, expect even, that the Wells could only improve in the second half, wrong! If anything it got worse.

After 68 minutes, Southall’s goalkeeper made probably is only mistake of the night when he spilt a shot but Jason Thompson shot wide of the gaping goal.

Similarly, at the other end after 76 minutes, a weak punch from Nicholls landed at the feet of Jack Mills but he also wasted the opportunity.

Tunbridge Wells were given a lifeline when Froggatt seized on a weak back pass to fire home with 12 minutes remaining.

But four minutes later another defensive mistake allowed Emanuel Dosho a run on goal which he finished with a shot that went in off the far post.

Ultimately, Tunbridge Wells will curse those added minutes at Ashford but can have no complaints on this particular night.