Tunbridge Wells (1) 3 Froggatt 4 Gethin 68 (pen), 80
Tower Hamlets (0) 0
Attendance: 193
Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 36/6,421
At times it was a laboured performance from Tunbridge Wells that was sparked into life on 65 minutes with the introduction of Kyron Lightfoot and Regan Corke who provided pace and excitement with their directness.
The Wells possibly got off to too good a start when they went ahead after just four minutes and, perhaps, a little complacency set in. A cross from the right saw Johnny Phillips knock the ball back across the face of goal to Josh Froggatt who completed the simple task of a close range header.
Given their basement status there could not have been many around the ground that were not expecting Tower Hamlets to fold, but they responded in the best possible way, defending stubbornly and pushing forward, creating chances on occasions.
When the home team broke through they were met with a goalkeeper, Ali Dogan, resplendent in the deepest of pink jersey that was surely at odds with the red shirts of the Wells, that was on the top of his game, saving well from Matt Gethin on 19 minutes.
Aaron Lee Wharton needed to be alert to deny Sezgin Alfhoieu and, on 26 minutes, the visitors should have been level when Daniel Alpanu was sent clear but his shot was blocked and the ball cleared from the ensuing scramble.
Dogan reacted sharply after a free kick from Connor Pring took a wicked deflection and, given the start, it was a bit disappointing from the Wells point of view that they went into the break just a goal to the good.
Tunbridge Wells reasserted themselves from the outset of the second half with James Nurden heading narrowly wide and a shot from Pring was touched onto the bar and over by the goalkeeper.
The attacking intentions of Tower Hamlets were now far more sporadic but, just past the hour, Loseli Annwa was sent clear following a long punt forward but he wastefully dragged his shot well wide.
The introduction of Lightfoot and Corke brought an immediate dividend when the latter was brought down in the box for a spot kick that Gethin duly converted.
Lightfoot struck the bar after 80 minutes and moments later Gethin gave the scoreline a realistic look when he cut in from the left byeline before firing in between the goalkeeper and his near post.
It was a workmanlike performance from Tunbridge Wells rather than spectacular and, one was left to wonder whether Tower Hamlets first-ever visit to Culverden might also be their last as relegation would seem almost inevitable and with that there is the probability that they will be geographically moved out of the SCEFL.
No comments:
Post a Comment