Tunbridge Wells (0) 1 Griffin 52 (pen)
Phoenix Sports (3) 4 Kwayie 4,60 Pugh 28 Babalola 33
Attendance: 276
Admission: £5 Senior
Mileage: 38/7,015
A lot has happened at Tunbridge Wells Football Club since I last passed through its gates in October, not much of which has been good news.
A devastating week in January saw a supporter killed after leaving Culverden Stadium when he was hit by a car and then, on 12th January, the clubhouse was burnt to the ground in a fire thought to be caused by an electrical fault.
On the field, the pitch continues to be a problem that has caused postponements, so it is hardly a surprise that they find themselves marooned in mid-table with form best described as inconsistent.
Their opponents on the evening, Phoenix Sports, were relegated from Isthmian South East at the end of last season, but potentially could make an immediate return either via the automatic route or the inter-league play-offs. In an impressive first half, they certainly looked a cut above their present status.
Despite the convincing nature of the visitors first half performance, from a Tunbridge Wells point of view, it could only be described as a shambles as they found themselves three goals down in the first 33 minutes and it could have been worse.
Phoenix manager Steve O’Boyle has put together an experienced team that had far too much know-how for their hosts whilst making light of a difficult pitch.
Matters unravelled for the Wells from the opening minutes with Phoenix going ahead after just four minutes when ex-Tonbridge Angels’ Tashi Jay Kwayie was on hand to touch home at the far post after some good play down the left. In attempting to halt the attack, the Wells full back Jon O’Shea suffered an injury and needed to be replaced.
Kwayie was a young prospect at Longmead Stadium, but with his career in modelling taking off, football took a back seat, but following a great performance in this game he appears to have a future in both fields.
The visitors created a chance for Mickey Dalton, who brought a good save out of the Wells’ goalkeeper, Jacob Bennett, before they doubled their lead on 28 minutes when Kwayie chased down a long ball before crossing for Andy Pugh to score with a tap-in.
Five minutes later, the game was as good as over as a contest when Francis Babalola vollied home a Pugh cross after more good work from Kwayie.
Tunbridge Wells were at last stung into a response and Phoenix goalkeeper, Andy Walker, was called into action to turn over the bar a Trevor McCreadie header.
There was something of route back into the game offered three minutes before the break when the home side were awarded a penalty after the referee deemed that McCreadie had been brought down. The Wells’ top scorer stepped up for the spot kick but his effort was saved and the follow-up that was put into the net was ruled out by a linesman’s flag for whatever reason. This was the catalyst for a chaotic minute that saw two Tunbridge Wells players sent to the sin bin for dissent.
Luke Carpenter shuffled his pack during the half-time break and the sin-binned players returned after seven minutes without any addition to the scoreline and Tunbridge Wells turned in a much better second half performance.
On 52 minutes, they struck the bar through a Billy Lewins effort and, a couple of minutes later, were awarded a second penalty when Jordan Sarfo was brought down. Frankie Griffin converted from the spot.
Any chance of a comeback was nipped in the bud on the hour when, from a short corner, the ball was played into Kwayie who produced a great finish on the turn.
Kwayie might have added another to complete his hat-trick but was denied by Bennett and, on 71 minutes, by a goal line clearance.
On a night to forget for the Wells, substitute Jacob Feasey was also sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes in the final minute, make sense of that!
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