Christchurch 1-0 Tunbridge Wells - We didn't perform for our supporters', says Robbins

The only goal of a good game was scored by striker Mark Burrows - his seventh of the season - with only fourteen minutes remaining as the Dorset side took advantage of a disappointing second half display from the highflying Kent League visitors.

Going into this Second Round tie in the New Forest just two points behind league Kent League leaders Holmesdale, hopes were high for an extended run in the competition on this mild November day.

And a good opening twenty minutes when Christchurch’s goalkeeper Stewart Kearn kept his side in the game with three fine saves, the 61 supporters that made the 264-mile round trip, were confident off joining Kent League rivals Croydon and VCD Athletic in the last 64.

However, what Graham Kemp told his Christchurch players at the break had the desired effect as the seventh placed Wessex League hosts increased the tempo to keep their Wembley dream alive.

Kearn was first called into action inside the opening nine minutes as Tunbridge Wells raided the left.

Central midfielder, Dean Chamberlain, floated a left-footed ball over the top for Wes Tate to latch onto. The former Crowborough striker - leading scorer in the Sussex County League last term - cut the ball back to 13-goal striker, Ross Cable from the by-line.

Cable’s poked shot was blocked well by Kearn, who reacted brilliantly to beat out Joe Fuller’s follow-up, but the skipper lost composure with his second chance, blazing over when he really should have scored.

The Wells tested Kearn again just three minutes later and once again the 32-year-old stopper excelled.

Cable’s floated diagonal pass cut through central defender Dan Taylor, enabling Tate to race through on goal. Once inside the penalty area, through the heart of Christchurch’s defence, Tate’s right-footed drive was beaten out by the advancing goalkeeper.

Wasteful Tunbridge Wells defenders, Barry Gardner and James Holder were both forced to shoot from at least 30-yards out, but despite all these attempts inside the opening twenty minutes, this appeared to dent Tunbridge Wells’ confidence.

The chances that Christchurch did create during the first half were only half chances. Paul Rideout and Burrows were wasteful and Dan Crutchley’s volley looped high over the crossbar after Holder headed away Michael Green’s whipped in cross from the left.

Christchurch enjoyed plenty of possession following Wells’ best spell of the game, but rarely troubled Slovakian Michal Czanner in the visitors’ goal.

There was a late respite from Christchurch’s pressure as Fuller’s chipped pass released Tate, whose shot deflected just past the foot of the near post.

And Gardner’s out-swinging corner was met by a half-volley from left-back Bryan Pearce, which just flew over the crossbar.

Tunbridge Wells wasted an excellent chance on the stroke of half-time when striker 7-goal striker, Mike Lord, was bundled over, inches outside the area.

With Gardner and Cable close by, Chamberlain took the kick, lashing his left-footed free-kick high over the crossbar from 18-yards, when in truth, he should have tested the in-form goalkeeper.

Tunbridge Wells did bring a comfortable save from Kearn inside the opening three minutes of the second half, following a corner from the left.

Cable cut the ball back to the unmarked Sam Phillips and the left-sided midfielder unleashed a rasping angled drive, which was plucked out of the air by the well positioned goalkeeper.

That was it for the Kent side as Christchurch then took the game by the scruff of the neck, baring the fruits of their long-ball game.

Right-sided midfielder James Burden forced Czanner into his first save of the game after 49 minutes, drilling an angled shot which was blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs.

Then, Czanner bent down to pick the ball up after Burrows’ scuffed shot rolled towards him at the near post.

But the former Redhill goalkeeper almost turned villain, picking the ball up following Holder’s back-pass, just six-yards from his goal-line.

Tunbridge Wells, however, lined up all of their eleven players along the goal-line. The red wall, however, did it’s job as it charged down Burrows’ fierce drive.

There was more respite for Tunbridge Wells on the hour mark when they were awarded a free-kick some 30-yards from goal.

But Cable, who has rejected moves to Ryman League clubs Ashford Town and Chatham Town recently, squandered the chance, lashing his right-footed free-kick over.

The only way that Christchurch seemed to play was by hitting long balls for striker’s Russell Cook and Burrows to latch onto.

Cook was played in behind the back four and initially rounded the advancing Czanner, who did brilliantly to recover to smother the ball off his feet.

Robbins, meanwhile, wasn’t pleased with the decision to award the hosts a free-kick, which in turn, settled the game with fourteen minutes left.

Skipper Dan Crutchley won the ball in the air and the ball dropped nicely for Burrows, in behind the Wells’ defence, and drilled a right-footed shot past Czanner to break Tunbridge Wells’ hearts.

Buoyant Christchurch sensed a second and Green really should have wrapped up the victory with nine minutes remaining.

Burrows was released down the right and after cutting inside James Russell he unselfishly rolled the ball to the unmarked Green, who drilled his angled shot past the far post.

A rare second half chance fell to Cable - who received a square pass from Tate - but his left-footed drive flashed past the far post at the other end.

Christchurch had a goal chalked out at the death. Burrows’ played the ball across to Cook, whose poor first touch enabled Czanner to pounce on the loose ball inside his penalty area. Cook, however, kicked the ball out of the goalkeeper’s hands before smashing the ball into the unguarded net.

Robbins, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards, explained why most of his players had slumped to their knees at the final whistle.

“Do you know what, I’m going to put that down to expectation,” said Robbins. “I think the fact that 50 odd supporters have travelled 300 miles to come a watch a bunch of lads run their hearts’ out shows how disappointed that they were at the end.

“Second half I don’t think we came to life until they scored. It was as if we’re going to pinch something.

"It never happened, they scored. I don’t think they were going to score until they scored if that makes sense.

“I thought it had nil-nil written all over it, which we would have settled for because at our place we’re very difficult to beat.”

A bitterly disappointed Robbins - who has turned around fortunes at Culverden Stadium in just over a year in charge - rued the missed chances during their best spell of the game - the opening twenty minutes.

“It went down to the wire, we gave it everything we’ve had. Sadly it wasn’t going to be our day,” he said.

“To be honest I really don’t think there was anything in it. I think we had two or three chances we should have scored in the first half.

“We certainly should have had one cast iron that we should have scored in the second half. They had a couple of opportunities one gift-horsed, a strange decision, with a back pass, which I’ve never seen in all my life.”

Robbins, however, admits his club should have progressed into the third round of the national Cup competition.

“If anything, I’m a little bit disappointed that we didn’t perform for the support we had because we way out measured their supporters,” he said.

“There was at least 50 supporters down here and I don’t believe there were 50 of theirs.

“We have gone through a few rounds in it. We’ve beaten Faversham in a very good game and we’ve beat Ash in a good game. We’ve had a good run and it would have been nice to come down here, it’s a good day out.

“We had a very good start and to be fair this pitch is like ours. Perhaps if you don’t score downhill perhaps you’re going to struggle uphill second half.

“But funnily enough we dominated going up hill, it didn’t quite come off second half today. I don’t know why, but in hindsight, don’t know, perhaps we could have done something different but I think it was very evenly based.”

Christchurch: Stewart Kearn, Colin Dand, Dan Taylor, Dan Crutchley, Chris Dillon, Steve Limpow, Paul Rideout, James Burden (Adam Wiltshire 74), Russell Cook (Ben Osborne 88), Mark Burrows, Michael Green.
Subs: Gareth Barnes, Sam Longman, Jason Collins.

Goal: Mark Burrows 76

Booked: Dan Crutchley 37, Steve Limpow 59, Ben Osborne 90

Tunbridge Wells: Michal Czanner, Barry Gardner, Bryan Pearce, Dean Chamberlain, James Russell, James Holder, Wes Tate, Joe Fuller, Mike Lord, Ross Cable, Sam Phillips.
Subs: Alex Rich, Gary Clarke, Andy Boyle, Harry Hrerrow, Stuart Copeland.

Booked: Bryan Pearce 35

Attendance: 138
Referee: Mr Barry Small (Bognor Regis, West Sussex)
Assistants: Mr Alan Stringer (Littlehampton, West Sussex) & Mr Martin Lamont (Worthing, West Sussex)