East Grinstead Town (0) 1
Tunbridge Wells (2) 3 Crandley 21, Mackelden 30, Atkins 56
Headcount: 65
Entrance: Free
Team sheet: Free
Mileage: 59/1,306
New Ground: 291
Heavy overnight rain led to, intially, this game being postponed due to a waterlogged pitch; lying water in one of the penalty areas given as the reason. A postponement in August doesn't exactly bode well for the winter, but with an FA Cup game due at Culverden on Saturday, their caution was understandable. East Grinstead stepped in and offered the fixture to played at their ground and this was quickly accepted. The GAC Stadium would personally be a new ground, so the switch was a nice bonus.
The 30 or so Tunbridge Wells supporters would have made the short journey home in a optimistic frame of mind as they dispatched their Ryman South opponents with consummate ease. Until the customary round of substitutions, from the hour mark onwards, took the momentum out of the game, East Grinstead were frankly clueless and that would be the only caveat to the Wells' display.
The GAC Stadium is a nice set up. A covered terrace area and a sizeable seated stand sit atop a raised area offering a wonderfully elevated view. Set with woodland behind one goal, it is very picturesque. There was no charge for entrance and when I expressed my surprise I was told that the late change of venue meant they had no one to take the money. At such short notice, they did well to get out a team sheet which was handed out free of charge as well.
Such charity wasn't afforded on the pitch by the visitors who quickly gained the upper hand. Ryan Crandley, playing in a deep lying position off the more traditional centre forward in Richard Atkins, was getting into positions that the East Grinstead defenders were finding impossible to pick up.
An early effort from Crandley was deflected wide and a 20 yarder from Perry Spackman was only just over and brought more than a little amusement from the travelling support.
After 21 minutes, Crandley gave Tunbridge Wells the lead. A corner was punched away under pressure by the home goalkeeper to Crandley who had taken up a position 15 yards outside the box. At this point, I decided I was Barry Davies and did an impromptu commentary. As the youngster took it forward, out loud I said "might as well take a crack, Ryan, oh my god he has" as the ball rifled into the top corner for a great strike.
The visitors pressure was rewarded when, after half-an-hour, Tom Mackelden forced the ball home from a corner to double their advantage.
In the space of four early second half minutes, Crandley had three chances; pulling one wide, another wide after waltzing through the home defence and a 25-yard effort that was deflected over.
A last ditch challenge on Atkins prevented the Wells from going three clear but from the resulantant corner, Spackman headed down for Atkins to drive the ball home from just outside the six yard box.
East Grinstead salvaged something from the game when a 65th minute free kick sailed past substitute goalkeeper Ryan Chandler.
And so, for another year, pre-season comes to an end. As with every forthcoming season, competitive football is long overdue. This game has left me optimistic of a good season for Tunbridge Wells, but with only one promotion place on offer and no play-offs, this is a cruel level that more often than not money has the final word.
As for my other two clubs, I am distinctly more optimistic about Tonbridge's aspirations than Gillingham's, who have endured a horrible pre-season blighted by injuries. Steve McKimm appears to have recruited well for the Angels and they have every reason to believe they can improve on last season's play-off finish.
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