Abbey Rangers (0) 1
Tunbridge Wells (0) 3 Biddlecombe 47,50 Spackman 60
Headcount: 19
Entrance: Free
Programme: None
Mileage: 122/450
New Ground: 311
When Josh Biddlecombe steered a shot wide of a gaping goal late in the first half following some good work down the left from Steven Ita, it wasn’t hard to come to the same conclusion as in the previous pre-season games for Tunbridge Wells that failings in front of goal was undoing the good work going on behind.
Then, on a wander back from the clubhouse and a comfort break and caught out by a 10 minute half-time break, I watched from a distance as Biddlecombe swept a cross from a trialist full back into the top corner from the edge of the box. Within five minutes, the previously errant striker steered a header from a Beecroft cross into the net for 2-0, you couldn’t make it up.
Having missed last year’s visit, and defeat, in the FA Vase, this was my first visit to Addlestone Moor, home of Abbey Rangers, of the Combined Counties League. The facilities within a large clubhouse are good with a warm welcome, but for spectating are rather sparse. There are two Atcost stands that probably seat around the 100 mark with another small covered enclosure alongside.
The eye-catching feature of the place is the acreage. The area easily houses four pitches, in fact the respective club's under-21 sides played out a game on an adjoining pitch with Tunbridge Wells emerging 3-2 winners. But with the vastness of the area comes a caution. The buildings behind the stands pictured below are a disused school, prime for development and once that happens, unless there is a covenant in place, it is easy to visualise development creep.
Tunbridge Wells welcomed back another of their Vase heroes in Chris Oladogba, who was between the sticks following a midweek injury to Steve Lawrence. “The Dog” was called into action after just six minutes, acrobatically touching over a spectacular overhead kick from a Rangers player, who, without the aid of a team sheet, I’m unable to name.
After an early period in which the home side dominated, the Wells got into the game and should have taken the lead after 18 minutes after the Abbey goalkeeper made a good save from a 20-yard shot from Jake Beecroft and a second from the rebound that fell to Biddlecombe.
After Steven Ita crashed a header against the bar and Biddlecombe missed his sitter, the signs were encouraging if not the scoreline.
Following the Wells early second half salvo, Perry Spackman placed a header into the top corner from a Beecroft corner to make it 3-0 on the hour and the game was all but done and dusted.
A striking trialist made a couple of powerful runs and the Wells might have added a fourth when Biddlecombe headed wide with Jon Pilbeam better placed.
Abbey Rangers pulled a goal back 15 minutes from time when a shot from the edge of the box gave Oladogba no chance and a late revival might have been on the cards had the Tunbridge Wells goalkeeper not made a great save with five minutes remaining.
There were not too many Wells supporters in attendance but those that were would have been very encouraged by this performance especially considering the absence of Keiron Tarbie, Jamie Lawrence who were away for Brad Potter's stag and also James Pinnock, Dane Lutchford and Alex Kendal who, I believe, were injured.
No comments:
Post a Comment