Rusthall (0) 0
Tunbridge Wells (1) 1 Atkins 39
Attendance: 240
Entrance: £3
Programme: None issued
Mileage: 38/114
Match Report
In conversation with Tunbridge Wells’ supporters prior to the game there is a sense of optimism for the coming season that they will see a great improvement (albeit they were a beer or two to the good!). Of course, a case can be made that it could hardly get any worse but, with a new chairman set to take over the reins after the AGM in a couple of weeks’ time, there is good reason to believe that a fresh start is precisely what the club needs.
The recurring theme of those conversations was that nobody wanted to see a repeat of the revolving door of players that hallmarked last season. Jason Bourne has retained the nucleus of the squad that finished the season and made some useful additions that suggests that they will be challenging in the top half of the Southern Counties East this season at the very least.
For this first pre-season run-out, both clubs fielded different teams for each half with the Wells playing a mixture of senior and under-21 players, who, without any team sheet produced, were unknown to the majority of supporters.
Only one player, Rusthall’s goalkeeper, Sean Ingleson, who had a very decent game, played the full 90 minutes.
Tunbridge Wells dominate proceedings in the first half although it was Rusthall who brought the first save from Ryan Chandler when he clawed the ball away from the top corner following a shot from the ex-Tunbridge Wells player, John Sinclair.
Impressing in midfield for the Wells was Ollie Bankole, who similarly saw a shot destined for the top corner saved by Ingleson. Bankole was considered to be a good prospect as a youngster at Tonbridge but has drifted a little from club to club. I get the impression that he needs to be loved at a club.
Ultimately the winning goal was scored after 39 minutes with a thumping header by Richard Atkins, very reminiscent of Wales’ Sam Vokes' goal that had seen off Belgium a couple of days earlier. Atkins is a burly striker that, with the right service, could prove to be a real handful for SCEL defenders. The peach of a cross supplied by Bradley Large is exactly the type of service that he is going to need. It will be interesting to see how Bourne is going to utilise his strikers as Ryan Crandley is going to require a completely different type of service from that of Atkins, utilising his pace with balls put behind the opposition back four for him to run on to.
The second half introduction of Joe Nwoko showed the strike power that the manager has at his disposal. Nwoko, with his pace, caused the Rusthall defence a lot of problems but a second goal failed to materialise.
Rusthall have installed floodlights since my last visit with some covered seating along one side; whilst the access for parking has been greatly improved. With a new management team in place they also will be looking for an improvement on the pitch after a poor season last time.
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