Tunbridge Wells 2 Lingfield 0

Match 11/14/1120 - Tuesday, 12th August 2014 - SCEL

Tunbridge Wells (1) 2 Cass 1, Beecroft 58
Lingfield (0) 0
Att. 237

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 36/680

Match Report

When Brendan Cass worked himself an opportunity, with the Lingfield ‘keeper Rheece Oscar grounded and out of position, and subsequently scoring from close range after just 28 seconds, you had to fear for the visitors following their 8-1 opening day humiliation and sympathise with their small group of supporters gathered in the east stand.

Those fans had every right to fear the worst as Tunbridge Wells poured all over their opponents whose erratic defending veered between kamikaze and desperate. But the chances came and went for the Wells as poor finishing contributed to Lingfield’s success in getting through the first half-hour with no further damage inflicted.

Slowly but surely, the visitors managed to get a foothold in the game and in the last quarter-hour before the break they managed to pose a threat. A cross into the six yard box with the Tunbridge Wells’ goalkeeper, Steve Lawrence rooted to his line, begged a finish but nobody was unable to get a meaningful touch. A couple of other shots from distance were wayward and became symptomatic of Lingfield’s evening.

Aaron Lacey’s long throws into the penalty area caused all sorts of problems for the visitors with the height of George Benner and Nick Davis the target. It is not always very pretty to watch, as Lingfield’s manager implied in his post-match interview, but, in their first season in the SCEL, Lingfield are going to have to learn how to deal with a physical league and direct tactics that are going to be used when they are effective.

Tunbridge Wells began the second period in much the same vein as the first with just a cutting edge in front of goal the missing ingredient. Finally, just before the hour, they doubled their lead. Danny Powell, my man of the match for his tireless running, found Jake Beecroft in space 20 yards from goal and his well struck shot found the bottom corner. Powell, who has greatly impressed with his work rate, just needs a goal himself to completely find his feet at a level far greater than the Hildenborough side he left for Culverden.

The home side coasted their way to the finish and a comfortable win that might frustrate some of the Wells’ faithful who perhaps expected a goalfest given Lingfield’s demolition at Holmesdale and Cass’ opening goal. In those last 20 minutes, Lingfield carved out several shooting opportunities from long range and both open play and dead ball situations. But it is a long time since I’ve watched a side so lacking in composure, in fact hopeless, at this aspect of the game. If the goal had been twice its size none of their efforts would have been close.

It’s a long, long way to go and their finishing needs to be a good deal sharper, but two wins out of two represents a satisfactory start for Martin Larkin’s team.