Larkfield and New Hythe (0) 1 Beecroft (pen) 89
Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Keyte 45 Gething (pen) 48
Attendance: 160
Admission: £3 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 28/3,474
On a bitterly cold evening, The Wells held on defiantly during the five minutes of added time after Larkfield had scored a last minute penalty.
Larkfield had launched a final 10 minutes assault after going 2-0 behind early in the second half through a Matt Gething penalty.
After a quiet opening, Wharton opened his catalogue of saves with a save with his feet after 13 minutes.
Unfortunately, much of this report won’t be naming the Larkfield players as the white numbers on a yellow shirt made them impossible to see once they got a few yards away.
One player always recognisable is Jake Beecroft and he saw his effort blocked before the Wells started to exercise a threat of their own with a Jordan Wells shot that cleared the crossbar and an effort from Johnny Phillips that found the side netting when a pass across the face of goal might have been the better option.
Wharton was back in action saving brilliantly from Josh Jackson twice in quick succession.
On the cusp of half-time, Tunbridge Wells almost took the lead when an effort from Wells struck the right hand post after being set up by Gething.
But they were not to be denied when the resultant corner was half-cleared to the edge of the box from where a well struck volley from Danny Keyte gave Larkfield’s goalkeeper, Scott Andrews no chance.
Tunbridge Wells went two goals to the good after three minutes of the second half when Connor Pring was brought down in the box for Gething to convert sending Andrews the wrong way.
Larkfield responded and forced the Wells onto the back foot for much of the second period in which Wharton excelled.
An incredible double save after 50 minutes signalled the start of his extraordinary performance but even he needed the help of a defender to clear from the line from a third effort.
A close range effort saved by the feet from Charlie Smith defied belief and a touch onto the bar and a line clearance were needed to preserve the lead.
Tunbridge Wells broke out on occasions and following an electric run from James Nurden, Phillips wastefully blazed over and a good moves involving Frankie Griffin and Nurden ended with Gething shooting over.
But the game returned to the Wharton show with the goalkeeper even getting the better of one of his own defenders as a deflection looked bound for the net.
An 89th minute penalty, given for dangerous play against Jack Hope, saw Beecroft finally beat ALW, something of an achievement as he has saved nine penalties this season!
As some disgruntled Larkfield supporters left the ground at the final whistle berating the referee for a couple of very optimistic penalty claims, the Wells supporters could only break into song “Oh, Aaron Lee Wharton”, a goalkeeper of immense talent for this level.
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