Tunbridge Wells 3 Beckenham Town 1

Match 17/13/1044 - Tuesday, 20th August 2013 - Southern Counties East

Tunbridge Wells (1) 3 Stanford 38, Fuller (pen) 86, Harris 90
Beckenham Town (0) 1 Turner 55
Att. 241

Entrance: £3 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 26/1,197

Match Report

One of the little pleasures of non-league football is meeting people that have associations with the game without necessarily supporting either club involved. One such person that I have a passing acquaintance with is a referee’s assessor, one of those normally faceless people in the stand that give the official you thought was worth one out of ten, an eight. As he passed by to his preferred viewing position he joked that he had brought two pens, he may well have needed them.

It is somewhat disappointing to be walking away from the ground having witnessed an outstanding player performance that the main topic of conversation was the contribution of the referee. Before this sounds like another episode of referee-bashing, opinion was divided on Michael Marsh’s handling of several key decisions.

The referee’s assessor was scribbling in his notebook as early as the 20th minute when Jake Britnell got goal-side of Perry Spackman, who gave him a tug on the shoulder to bring him down. The question for the referee was whether there were covering defenders and after consultation with his linesman his decision was a red card. Tunbridge Wells’s supporters quite obviously disagreed, but the referee has taken the advice available to him and made his decision and that has to be respected, and in fairness, Spackman voiced no argument.

Mr Marsh’s next key decision came very quickly when Jack Harris, through on goal was brought down from behind by Malik Fofana. From a viewing position the length of the pitch away, it looked a clear penalty and could well have been another red card, but the referee gave the decision to the defender. On the walk back to the car after the match, I had a conversation with someone better placed on the sidelines, he felt that it was a penalty, but it could have been that Fofana just got a touch on the ball.

The Wells made light of their personnel disadvantage and took the lead on 38 minutes. Seth Johnson, who impressively goes about his business doing the dirty work in midfield, swung a free kick into the box and Josh Stanford lashed home after the ball ran loose in the box. Stanford had an outstanding evening and his is going to be sorely missed when he leaves for Australia next month.

Beckenham, who looked a lot better than their early season form has suggested, equalised in the 55th minute. Their most impressive player, Jamie Turner, collected the ball in midfield, strode forward a couple of paces and thumped a 30 yard shot past Chris Oladogba, who had no chance.

The referee forced himself back into centre stage with 20 minutes remaining. Harris went down in midfield under a challenge from Adam Wadmore and the official brandished an immediate red card. Later reports were that it was for a stamping offence, at the time it looked a fairly innocuous challenge and one in which Harris might well have inflicted on himself. I would love to see what the referee’s assessor made of that one. I’ll ask him next time!

With the game at 10-aside and stretched, the superior quality of the home side finally told but not before Mr Marsh had a further say in proceedings with four minutes remaining. Tunbridge Wells were awarded a penalty when Stanford’s cross was handled by James Marshall, a correct decision in my opinion. Joe Fuller converted from the spot to give the Wells the lead.

Time still remained for the referee to show a second yellow card to Beckenham’s Joe Jackson for a lunge on Johnson, who had to be helped from the field before Harris was sent clear and tucked home a good finish to round off the evening’s entertainment.

The next time I see the Kent FA’s assessor it might well be to ask him if he has brought three pens and plenty of room in his notebook!