Lordswood 0 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 26/13/1053 - Saturday, 28th September 2013 - Southern Counties

Lordswood (0) 0
Tunbridge Wells (1) 1 Parsons
Att. 137

Entrance: £3.50 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 34/2,020

Match Report

Barcelona, in their pomp, didn't become champions of Spain winning their games by four clear goals every single week, there are the odd occasions when the Catalonian artisans had to grind out a single goal victory, perhaps on a day when they were not at their best.

Tunbridge Wells came to Lordswood Town on the back of their wonderfully crafted victory over Erith Town of Tuesday, full of confidence, but found on a cabbage patch of a pitch, that it was going to be whole-hearted endeavour rather than artistry that would win the points and on this score they duly delivered.

This season Culverden Stadium boasts a fine playing surface but Tunbridge Wells' supporters shouldn't be too churlish about the pitch at Martyn Grove with last season's mudbaths against Dunston and Shildon still fresh in the memory.

However, we were left to wonder whether the pitch might have been involved when, after just eight minutes, with nobody in close proximity, Scott Whibley went down with a knee injury that necessitated his substitution by Andy Boyle.

Lordswood suffered early season as a new team beds in following the departure of Jason Lillis and several of last season's successful side to Whiststable. No wins in their first six games had been turned into three wins in their last four outings as a young side began to find their feet in this league under the guidance of Simon Halsey, a previous Kent League winner with Herne Bay.

Ian Parsons, once again underlined his potential with another good performance, and it was from his 20 yard effort after 20 minutes that a goalkeeper was first called to make a save. This was quickly followed by a breakaway from James Simmonds who attempted to round Chris Oladogba, but the outstretched arm of the goalkeeper was enough to smother the ball, right on the very edge of the penalty area.

Tunbridge Wells took the lead in the 32nd minute when a ball over the top deceived ex-Gillingham youngster, Tom Bryant and Parson fastened on to it to cooly lob the Lords' keeper Adam Highstead.

The game became very scrappy in the second half, but on the hour the Wells really should have put the game beyond the reach of their hosts when in the space of a minute two chances for Hooley Cornell and Jack Harris both went begging. Cornell dragged his shot wide when clear and Harris steered a free header wide.
Lordswood pressed hard for an equaliser in the final 15 minutes but the well marshalled Wells defence only allowed efforts on goal that were comfortably dealt with by Oladogba.

Tuesday's classic performance was supplemented by this rather scrappy display, but the same points are awarded whether you win by four or by one and, I would imagine, that Martin Larkin would have been just as pleased by the resolution shown at Lordswood as he was by the craft that took Erith apart.