AFC Portchester 0 Tunbridge Wells 1

Match 47/14/1156 - Saturday, 6th December 2014 - FA Vase 3R

AFC Portchester (0) 0
Tunbridge Wells (0) 1 Potter 72
Att. 454

Entrance: £3 Senior
Programme: £1
Mileage: 224/3,426
New Ground: 270

Match Report

As the strong contingent of Tunbridge Wells supporters departed the Wicor Recreation Ground, a rather large man stood outside of the hospitality area shouting at them, you were [expletive] lucky, you [expletive] lucky [expletive]. If he hadn't enjoyed the game, he had certainly enjoyed the liquid buffet and one would guess, watched the second half through the bottom of his pint glass.

This was one of those days when I wanted to be in three different places but it was the magic of the FA Vase that lured me into deepest Hampshire and a pleasant little ground just outside Portsmouth. As has been previously documented, probably now far too many times, the Vase has a special place in the hearts of the Wells support and, once again, they turned up in big numbers and were very vocal.

With a place in the last 32 at stake, this was one of the biggest days in the history of AFC Portchester and the place had that feel of cup fever with stewards and ballboys that I daresay are not in evidence on any given Wessex League Saturday.

For Portchester's manager it was probably a big day, but in fairness he has seen bigger. Graham Rix, was a FA Cup winner with Arsenal for whom he made 351 appearances alongside 17 caps for England. Unfortunately his life also has an important lowlight with a prison term served for a sex offence that doesn't go unnoticed by visiting supporters.

The game was a scrappy affair, not helped by an awkward looking pitch with grass a touch too long. Portchester enjoyed a good deal of early possession that was won with some aggressive tackling in the middle of the field. One such heavy challenge left Jason Bourne needing attention and a few minutes later the injury proved too much and his substitution led to a reshuffle of the Wells back line with Jake Beecroft switching to right back.

Ironically, it was Joe Fuller that was the first to see a yellow card after a challenge that clearly was a foul but no worse than any that had gone unpunished with a card previously. The card inhibited Fuller and a couple of challenges that he would have made later in the game he appeared to pull out of for fear of a second yellow.

Overall, the Wells would have been glad to get to the half-time whistle all-square, although the reshuffled defence had barely allowed their hosts a clear opportunity to test Steve Lawrence.

Martin Larkin made a second half tactical change pushing Danny Powell up front alongside Brendan Cass and the erstwhile winger's pace posed a new set of problems for the home defence and a series of corners followed.

After 72 minutes one of those corners finally bore fruit. Tom Davey directed the ball towards the near post and the head of Tom Bryant, his faintest of touches sent the ball to the feet of Brad Potter who swept the ball home from close range.

Portchester threw everything in an effort to rescue their FA Vase future, but the Wells back line stood firm with Perry Spackman and Potter, who had to leave the field at one point to replace a contact lens, outstanding. There were nervous moments but Lawrence was largely untroubled and the home side's frustration boiled over with a somewhat agricultural challenge on Powell.

The final whistle saw the Tunbridge Wells team celebrate with their fans in the now customary fashion for Vase victories and the magical mystery tour continues into Monday's draw.

Thankfully our friend wishing us a safe journey home was in a minority of one and the general opinion was that this was a game which might have gone either way with Potter capitalising on the one clear chance of the game.

The draw goes national on Monday and this tour can lead us on the road to anywhere (although a home draw is overdue); to be sure the Wells' love affair with this competition continues and their army of support will be alongside them every mile of the journey.