Beating Angels was a delight, admits Gibbons - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Monday 31st July 2006

Steve Gibbons, the assistant manager of Kent League side Tunbridge Wells, was a very delighted man after his under-strength side defeated their Ryman Premier League neighbours Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Despite going a goal down early in the game, courtesy of Nick Barnes' penalty inside the opening three minutes, they were fortunate to go in at the break just one goal down as Tony Dolby’s side squandered many chances.

But when Adrian Hatcher found the top right hand corner from six yards, following Tom Fuller’s 53^rd minute corner, Tunbridge Wells could sense a shock.

And three goals in a devastating nine minute spell from Tom Fuller, Alex Rich and Chris Stoate made sure the Courier Cup, an annual clash between the two clubs, was won for the very first time outright.

Striker Jon Main netted a second for a shell-shocked Tonbridge side with four minutes remaining.

Wells had previously shared the silverware once in the seven years its been contested, in a fixture dominated by Tonbridge Angels.

But Gibbons, who was in charge of the side as manager Martin Farnie was on holiday, wants the team to carry that second half performance into their Kent League campaign.

They kick-off their season with a trip to much-fancied side Thamesmead Town on 12^th August, before Greenwich Borough visit the Culverden Stadium on Wednesday, 16^th August.

Speaking in an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the game, Gibbons said: “We need a performance like that and we need the luck we had in the first 10-15 minutes.

“But it’s a new season and hopefully we can carry on a little form and you never know what’s going to happen.”

Gibbons, however, admitted the club is still searching for that much sought after asset at any club – a striker.

“We’ve got a side in there that just maybe shy of one or two players that we should be getting in,” he said.

“I’d like to see us a lot stronger up front because we haven’t got that many options up front, but midfield, defensively, we look really good.

“We’ve got three guys to come back in. We’ve got Aaron O’Leary, Ben Hilden and Andy Garrett to come back in so it’s difficult on a performance like that to see where they’re going to fit in.”

The club, who have appointed former England World Cup star Gary Stevens as director of football, are, however, making small gradual improvements to Culverden Stadium.

They are filling in the perimeter fencing around the pitch with red painted boards and one side has been completed so far.

And improvements have been made to the playing surface.

But new dressing rooms is high on the agenda for the west Kent club, who host unbeaten Dartford on Tuesday night, the side they entertain in the preliminary round of the FA Cup in September.

Tunbridge Wells v Dartford
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 1^st August 2006
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells