Tunbridge Wells 4 Holmesdale 3

Match 24/15/1229 - Tuesday, 22nd September 2015 - Southern Counties East

Tunbridge Wells (3) 4 Fernandes og 16, Seenan 21, Springett og 44, Cooke 90+6
Holmesdale (1) 3 McKenna 2,55,86
Attendance: 148

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: £1.50
Mileage: 36/1,296

Match Report

The early morning walk for my dog was a swim for her in places and left me with the thought that there was no way I would be watching football at Tunbridge Wells that evening. So it is a great credit, acknowledged by the stadium announcer, to Brian and Mick who worked all day in an effort to get this matched played. It is, perhaps, also a vindication of the money spent on the verti-draining of the pitch during the summer.

Those groundmen must have been holding their heads in despair when, with a couple of minutes remaining, Tunbridge Wells’ goalkeeper, Steve Lawrence made an absolute rick of an over hit cross to seemingly hand Holmesdale a point.

But, somewhere upstairs, it was decided that their efforts should not go unrewarded and with the virtual last kick (actually a header) of the match, Ollie Cooke rescued the three points for the home side.

Holmesdale opened the game with a goal with just two minutes on the clock. Awarded a free kick, 25 yards out, Michael McKenna curled a beautifully flighted shot past the despairing dive of Lawrence. The visitors continued to belie their lowly league position as the Wells struggled to find their own game.

Tunbridge Wells equalised after 16 minutes and went on to produce a first half display that was the best I’ve seen from them this season. Chris Seenan sent Lee Radford away down the left hand side and, cutting into the penalty area, the winger drove in a shot that found the net via a deflection. Officially, the goal was credited against Jamie Fernandes, but I think it was harsh to take it away from Radford as his shot looked on target.

Having found their passing game, and with Radford having a stormer, the Wells took the lead after 21 minutes. Once again, Seenan fed Radford, who rounded his marker and crossed into the box where Seenan had continued his run to touch in from six yards.

The outlet almost bore fruit once more four minutes later when Radford’s cross to the far post saw Seenan narrowly send a header wide.

Just before the break a half-cleared corner fell at the feet of Seenan, whose shot took another wicked deflection to nestle in the net for a 3-1 half-time lead. Once again, officially, the goal was credited as an own goal from Paul Springett.

Such was Tunbridge Wells’ first half dominance it could only be expected that they would go on to win handsomely but this notion was dispelled 10 minutes into the half when a 30 yard strike from McKenna whistled into the top corner.

Gary Beckett limped away from the action and Radford was asked to fill in at full back and, with the move, Tunbridge Wells lost all their momentum. They created the odd half-chance but their football was nowhere near as free flowing as that of the first half.

The unthinkable was suddenly on the cards when with five minutes remaining, McKenna floated a cross to the far post, it was over hit, but Lawrence only managed to palm the ball into his own net when a catch didn’t seem out of the question. For McKenna, had the result stayed the same, it was a night he could only dream of, three goals from a total of around 85 yards.

But his night was only to be a personal success as, deep into injury time, Jamie Lawrence threw one last cross into the box from a corner and Cooke rose to bury his header.

Much though I've laboured the point about one club with money tending to run away with this league, this season appears different. For all their resources, the likes of Ashford and Greenwich are hardly better placed than the Wells with Hollands and Blair and Lordswood unexpectedly leading the field. Tunbridge Wells, six points adrift, can join the chasers with a decent run and this season with no team outstanding must represent a great opportunity.

Perhaps the doubt of the match going ahead contributed to the below average attendance of 148, but they went home happy with both the result and the entertainment. The groundsmen also departed happy with the knowledge that their pitch had passed a severe test.