Tunbridge Wells 1-0 Holmesdale - Things have got to be right to be able to represent this club to our best potential, says Tunbridge Wells manager Steve Ives

Tunbridge Wells 1 – 0 Holmesdale
Location	Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9SG
Kickoff	24/04/2024 19:45

TUNBRIDGE WELLS  1-0 HOLMESDALE
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Wednesday 24 April 2024
Stephen McCartney reports from Culverden Stadium

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Steve Ives says he needs to sit down with the committee at the end of the season and find out their ambitions for next season.

 

Tunbridge Wells leapfrogged over Fisher and Hollands & Blair to move into thirteenth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table on 46 points from 38 games played, while Bromley-based Holmesdale remain in sixteenth-place in the pecking order with 41 points from 39 games.

Centre-half Siji Akinlusi headed in his second goal of the season following a set-piece to settle a low-quality encounter at Culverden Stadium.

Ives made four changes to the side that were held 1-1 at home by seventh-placed Bearsted on Monday night, while Holmesdale manager Andy Constable made SEVEN changes to his side that were thrashed 4-0 at home by sixth-placed side Whitstable Town at the weekend.

“I think that was an absolutely tremendous game of football, punctured with incredible passing patterns – no it was a s**t fest weren’t it, let’s be honest – but we won it 1-0,” said Ives.

“We defended and we’ve had this bit of a little tag attached to us that we let in late goals and I think the boys were determined not to let it happen again.

“If you don’t let a goal in, you pick something up at least and it was the fact that last two games we’ve let in a goal in stoppage time.  You just don’t want that to become a habit, so I’m really pleased for Bents (George Bentley).  I think the whole team defended like it meant something and we’re a bit patched up tonight, so it was good.”

Tunbridge Wells complete the campaign by playing six games in the last 12 days of the season and 33-goal striker Trevor McCreadie and nine-goal winger/attacking midfielder Regan Corke were used substitutes tonight.

“Do you know what it has taken its toll on people physically but it’s actually been quite nice to get a rhythm of playing games because we went a long time when we weren’t playing and that’s really hard,” added Ives, who’s side are now unbeaten in three.

“I guess, ideally you’ll just play twice a week consistently but we’ve gone eight weeks playing four or five games and now we’re playing three games a week. It will be nice to be somewhere between the two.”

Constable sent out coach Dean Flower for post-match media duties.

“A game where I think it was quite one-sided from our perspective.  Just typical of our season really, just not clinical in the final third,” admitted Flower.

“I think they had one shot on target and scored from it and it’s come back to haunt us again.”

When asked what was missing from his side tonight, Flower replied: “End product really.  That’s a big thing of our season. We’ve just not scored the chances that have been presented and come back to bite us.”

When asked why Constable made seven changes to the side, Flower replied: “An opportunity for the boys that have been on the fringes of the squad, maybe not played as many minutes this season as they would have liked and to be fair in terms of our league position, we have nothing to play for, so it’s good to give the boys minutes to play.

“Another reason why we made so many changes tonight is to give boys an opportunity to showcase what they can bring to the side and they’ve been patient and looking at what they can do for us next season. Will they still be here or will they need to be moved on?”

Left-winger Ronnie McLean was forced off with a groin injury in the 50^th minute, while the departure of centre-half Alimamy Mansaray was down to a precaution, having rolled his ankle.

Holmesdale went direct with their first chance of the game (15:22), kicking down the slope.

Right-back Theodore McKenzie drilled a 60-yard diagonal out of defence towards unmarked McLean, who flicked the ball on towards an untracked striker Wale Odedoyin but he lacked composure inside the box and struck his left-footed half-volley over the crossbar from 12-yards, as he got in behind James White, one of three centre-halves.

“Our frustration with Wale is that he does really well to get himself into positions but if he improved his end product, he’ll probably be on 30 goals this season, if I’m honest,” admitted Flower.

Holmesdale’s right-winger Kelvin Hernandez cut the ball onto his left-foot before hitting a cross, which sailed over Tunbridge Wells’ right-wing-back Matthew Astle and Holmesdale’s left-back Donald Macauley ghosted in but this time his left-footed volley sailed across the keeper and past the far post.

“I think in terms of Donny, he had a fantastic game today. He’s a natural centre-half and played at left-back and done a shift tonight. He’s been presented with a chance and that’s come off his left-foot and he was unfortunate not to hit the target,” said Flower.

Ives added: “I don’t think Bents had to make a decent save in the first half, so bear in mind we’re defending the slope first as well, which we always know is going to be a bit more difficult.  I was really pleased to get in relatively unscathed.”

Tunbridge Wells’ centre-half Ronny Little had his pocket picked by McLean, who then charged into the penalty area and stroked his left-footed shot across the keeper and past the far post in a one-v-one situation in the 23^rd minute.

“Another moment in the first half where we could’ve been one, maybe two-nil up at that moment,” said Flower.

“Ronnie, I think, got in two minds because it weren’t quite a shot or it weren’t quite a cross and it ended up just missing the back post.”

Tunbridge Wells grabbed the lead, totally-against-the-run-of-play, with 30 minutes and 43 seconds on the clock, following a set-piece.

Referee Michael Corderoy awarded the home side a free kick some 35-yards from goal, which was whipped in by Astle’s right-foot and an unmarked Akinlusi powered his looping header over goalkeeper Cameron Hall and into the roof of the net from 12-yards.

“I mean, it’s a great header weren’t it, a great header. He’s got up really well.  I’m sure AC (Constable) won’t be overly happy with the marking or lack of it,” said Ives.

“A great delivery from Matty, whipped in and Siji has just used the pace of the ball and really dominating header.  He scored like that against VCD. It’s good that he’s starting to chip in.

“We’ve been overly reliant on Trevor McCreadie and to a lesser degree Reg (Corke) and we keep saying we should be scoring more from set-pieces. We’ve got good delivery, we’ve got some big lads, so it was nice to get one.”

Flower added: “It’s a shame because on set-pieces we’ve looked quite defensively solid, probably over the last 10-12 games, but in fairness our boys allowed him to get up with a free header and if he didn’t quite get it, there’s probably another two queuing up behind him that could’ve scored the goal, if I’m honest.”

A big kick upfield from home goalkeeper George Bentley saw the ball trying to be controlled by striker Jacob Feasey and then midfielder Rory Ward, before left-wing-back Ned Lewis drilled his first-time drive flashing past the near-post from 25-yards.

Holmesdale goalkeeper Hall launched a free-kick upfield, the ball was cleared out to Callum Keeble, who laid the ball off to Hernandez, who unleashed a first time right-footed drive, which flashed across George Bentley and past the far post from 25-yards.

“For anyone that’s played here, it’s potentially going to be a game of two halves with a slope and in fairness we defended uphill and downhill very well,” said Flower.

“I suppose if you look at the way we started our season, we built from the back end. It’s always defensively fairly solid and I think the results are showing that but we’re lacking the cutting edge in the final third that has let us down tonight.

“The boys had to step up their tempo.  Unfortunately for Tunbridge Wells, they’ve played so many games in such a short space of time.  We’re a fairly fit team and we thought that we could try to assert that in the second half by playing in a quicker tempo and just getting the balls in the box and into good areas.

“I thought the boys did that in the second half but we’ve just missed someone getting on the end of it, or it’s just crept past the post and we haven’t been able to score.”

Ives added: “We were absorbing quite a lot of pressure a bit like Monday night but this time we were able to hold off.

“What was said at half-time? Just felt we had to take a leaf out of their book, which was in the first half they were playing quite direct. They were trying to get us on the back foot. They were trying to pick up the second ball and get it wide and that’s probably the best formula to play the slope.

“I kind of said try to take a leaf out of their book, which we didn’t quite do quite well actually. We’re looking for a little bit better movement from our forwards and I said it’s a bobbly pitch, it’s difficult in places so don’t over complicate it and try to concentrate.”

Holmesdale left-back Macauley often joined the attacks and he whipped in a cross inside the opening eight minutes of the second half but 18-goal striker Wale Odedoyin cut across his marker before caressing his left-footed volley past the near post.

The Dalers produced a well-worked move shortly afterwards when central midfielder Anthony Musoke released Wale Odedoyin charging down the left before he cut the ball back from the by-line for Macauley, who stabbed his shot just past the foot of the near-post.

“In terms of Donny getting himself up from full-back, getting himself into an area to score goals, probably this year he’s got himself into good areas and he hasn’t scored as many as he probably could have this year,” Flower said of Macauley, who has notched a couple of goals this season.

Holmesdale continued to dominate proceedings and they produced another well-worked move, which resulted in Bentley pulling off a brilliant save in the 63^rd minute.

Substitute Cameron Reardon, a holding midfielder, joined an attack and played a one-two with Hernandez down the right before hanging over a cross which was met by Wale Odedoyin’s bullet header, which was superbly clawed out by Bentley, high to his right.

“It was near enough a replica of their goal if I’m honest. It was a good ball in. Wale got up really well and it was sort of a looping header but in fairness to the keeper he’s made a really good save to keep it 1-0 really,” added Flower.

Ives said: “Bents is determined. I felt he had a really good game on Monday. I thought he had a real good command of his six-yard box and I just said that’s what I need from you, dominating. I thought he played well there.”

Constable’s frustration was growing while standing in his technical area as there were no takers other than Bentley pouncing on the ball after substitute right-back Reelwan Lugboso played the ball into a crowd of players within the Tunbridge Wells penalty area.

“I think we’ve had many moments like that this year where the boys have sort of let themselves down,” admitted Flower.

Macauley launched a long ball forward and another chance went begging when Hernandez drilled his left-footed shot over the crossbar from 25-yards inside the final 16 minutes.

Tunbridge Wells’ two corners actually came as the clock was on the verge of ticking into stoppage time.

Astle swung the ball in from the right towards the near post where Feasey jumped up and steered his header across the keeper and harmlessly wide of the far post (44:40) and back where it came.

“He’s got up well hasn’t he and he’s got a good power on it but as you say, not had the direction,” added the Tunbridge Wells manager.

Holmesdale substitute striker Emmanuel Oshinowo had a couple of bites of the cherry to score a deserved leveller.  First, he cut inside his man before driving his left-footed shot across Bentley and past the far post.

Wale Odedoyin then fed the ball to the eight-goal Oshinowo and his deflected shot was charged down and Bentley smothered to his right and did well to hold onto his clean-sheet and three points (46:08).

“One of the things with Manny, he’s always got one thing on his mind. He’s always going to get a shot off as much as possible, sometimes to his own detriment but when you need a goal, and you just need to get shots off, he presents that opportunity,” added Flower.

Ives added: “It was getting a bit frantic both ends. They’re forcing more and more forward and to use an old fashioned term, just loading it and we were desperately trying to clear it and trying to roll it into corners for us to hold it up.

“It probably wasn’t a particularly nice spectacle to watch but from my point of view, you’ve got to win ugly sometimes and clean-sheets against Holmesdale home and away, we beat them 2-0 at their place (on 12 September).”

Sixteenth-placed Holmesdale travel to eleventh-placed Lordswood (54 points) for their final league game of the season on Saturday.

Beneath the Bromley based outfit are Kennington (34 points), Stansfeld (25), Rusthall (23), Sutton Athletic (23) and relegated side Welling Town (18).

“I think for both sides it’s a bit of a still contest in terms of we’ve both really not got much to play for,” admits Flower.

“The reverse fixture back at home was their manager’s (Nicky Southall) first game in charge, so it will be interesting to see how much they’ve changed in that time but for is if you’re looking at the season we’ve over-performed on what we set out at the beginning of the year and we’ll be looking to rounding the season off.

“Number one was to not be in and around the relegation fight this year.  We’ve come in, it’s our first season and the club are trying to improve things off the field as well as on it and this year was pretty much been about trying to build something to move the club up the table and go from there really.”

Tunbridge Wells welcome Ashford-based Kennington to Culverden Stadium on Saturday, while the abandoned games between Lydd-Fisher and Snodland Town-Tunbridge Wells look certain not to be played and the outcome is yet to be decided by the League.

“We knocked Kennington out of the Vase, we beat them 3-2 here. We then capitulated, we were 3-1 up at their place and we let in three goals in seven minutes to lose 4-3, so there seems to be goals whenever we play each other.  I think they’re a good side, they’ve got some good players, so we just want to try to finish with a bit of a flurry now,” said Ives.

“We’ve still got to work out with what happens with the Snodland game, whether they give us one point or three, that could be quite important.

“Am I happy with that (13^th place)?  At the start of the season, we probably set the bar higher than that. Everyone does. You don’t set out at the start of the season to finish 12^th but based on where we are now, it’s the best we can do.

“I guess as you can do is strive to be the best you can be.

“It’s been quite a tough, long season. I just want to be able to look back on it.  If the boys put the effort in like they have tonight, I can’t ask a lot more.

“I need to sit down with the committee in the next 10 days really and just get an understanding of what the situation is going to be here next year and then we’ll take it from there.”

When asked what tools he needs next season, Ives replied: “A bit of ambition and that comes with investment, infrastructure, backing.  Just some progress off the pitch will be good.

“This football club desperately needs to get the clubhouse back up and running because that’s the heartbeat of the place and we just need to see some actual progress on this because it’s been a long season.

“Every season is flipping hard but I think the expectation that comes with Tunbridge Wells and not feeling that you can freely operate how you like to. It’s a different play-off because I want to represent this club to our best potential. The boys do but things have to be right to be able to do that.”

Tunbridge Wells: George Bentley, Matthew Astle, Ned Lewis (Trevor McCreadie 84), James White, Ronny Little, Siji Akinlusi, Luke Leppard, Jack Walder (Johnny Phillips 80), Jacob Feasey, Morgan Vale (Regan Corke 68), Rory Ward (Max Lambert 68).
Subs: Lennon Minihane

Goal: Siji Akinlusi 31

Holmesdale: Cameron Hall, Theodore McKenzie (Reelwan Lugboso 56), Donald Macauley, Anthony Musoke, Alimamy Mansaray (Mohamed Dafallah 71), Tola Odedoyin, Ronnie McLean (Cameron Reardon 50), Callum Keeble (Kieran King 46), Wale Odedoyin, Alessio Akabuogu (Emmanuel Oshinowo 56), Kelvin Hernandez.

Attendance: 107
Referee: Mr Michael Corderoy
Assistants: Mr Steve Roots & Mr Tom Marshall