Tunbridge Wells 1-5 Thamesmead Town

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 1-5 THAMESMEAD TOWN
Kent League Cup Group D
Monday 5^th February 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Culverden Stadium

Thamesmead Town booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Kent League Cup as they outclassed struggling Tunbridge Wells at Culverden Stadium tonight by winning their final group game.

A hat-trick from their star striker Rikki Cable, which included two penalties, both conceded by Tunbridge Wells’ midfielder Sam Phillips, and a brace from his strike partner Curtis Williams made sure the Mead qualified for the last eight as runners-up to Beckenham Town.

Cable has now netted 19 goals for the Bayliss Avenue club, two more than Williams.

Tunbridge Wells needed to win this, their final group game, to sneak into the last eight and they made a dream start by taking the lead with just 163 seconds on the clock.

Wayne Balmer’s right-footed free-kick from the left hand side of the penalty area from 20-yards, curled past the four man wall and despite the efforts of goalkeeper Danny Kemp at his near post, the ball found the bottom left hand corner.

But Tunbridge Wells’ joy was short lived, however, when Williams levelled proceedings after 12 minutes.

Danny Beszant whipped in a free-kick from the right hand side and Ryan Royston flicked on the header for Pedro Knight who in turn dinked the ball to Williams who clinically fired the ball into the bottom left hand corner past Michal Czanner.

Maidstone United and Dartford fans will be pleased to know that Royston and James Carter both got 90 minutes under their belts, although striker Carter revealed afterwards that he will miss Darts trip to Sittingbourne on Saturday due to “business commitments.”

Tunbridge Wells, meanwhile, had two excellent chances to regain the lead in the space of three minutes.

Czanner’s goal-kick was met by a back header from Royston, which Elliott Everson latched onto.

But the teenage midfielder dragged his shot well wide of the far post after racing through towards goal.

And Royston was beaten by Carter as he latched onto another through ball but Kemp came to Thamesmead’s rescue with a fine block.

Czanner pulled off a fine save when he made a flying save to tip John-Paul Collier’s 25-yard drive around the far post.

But he was sent the wrong way in the 26^th minute when Cable coolly found the bottom right hand corner from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge on Williams by Phillips ensured Bexleyheath referee Mr Martin Lehane had no option but to point to the spot.

Czanner pulled off another couple of fine saves to deny Cable and Williams but Thamesmead killed the game off with their third goal just three minutes before the break.

Andy Garrett tried to clear the ball forward but the ball took a wicked deflection of Cable and left Czanner rooted to the spot as the ball diverted into the bottom right hand corner.

Czanner made his best save of the game in the 52^nd minute when he made a low one handed save to prevent Collier scoring from eight-yards.

Phillips gifted Thamesmead another penalty in the 58^th minute when he handled the ball on the edge of the penalty area on the right hand side after slipping over.

The referee had to consult his assistant on that side before awarding the penalty, which incensed several Wells players, and Carter was shown a yellow card for dissent.

Cable sent Czanner the wrong way for the second time from the resulting spot-kick, finding the bottom right hand corner again.

And Thamesmead made it a five-star performance just four minutes later when Williams tucked away a low angled cross from Beszant, from eight-yards.

By now Tunbridge Wells lost their discipline and Phillips was booked for a poor challenge on the impressive Mead midfielder, Scot Mulholland.

Referee Mr Lehane was about to book the wrong player but players, both benches and his assistant ensured Phillips was the one to go in his notebook.

The stunned home side almost pulled a goal back in the 65^th minute when Kemp made a fine save by tipping over Ben Hilden’s header following Balmer’s free-kick.

Thamesmead, however, squandered an excellent chance to increase their lead just two minutes later.

Mulholland stole the ball off Phillips on the half-way line and sent Cable on his way. The former Faversham Town striker squared the ball to Collier but he fired agonisingly past the foot of the right post.

Thamesmead were reduced to ten-man with 22 minutes remaining when central defender Tyrone Sterling brought down Carter on the edge of the penalty area.

The officials made yet another howler by allowing the former Fisher Athletic youngster to walk off the pitch to watch the remainder of the game from inside their dug-out instead of taking an early shower.

Kemp made a brilliant double save from Carter with fifteen minutes remaining, blocking the first drilled shot and then tipping the rebound over the bar.

Carter then sent debutant, reserve team striker, Dean Spencely free on the right, and after the nineteen-year-old cut inside, his shot deflected wide.

Thamesmead Town will now travel to Park View Road to tackle local rivals Erith & Belvedere on Sunday, 11^th February, whilst Tunbridge Wells travel to Faversham Town on Saturday.

Erith Town, meanwhile, leapfrogged over the Wells in 15^th place in the Kent League table when striker Glen McTaggart scored the only goal of the game against Slade Green tonight.

Later in the week,  www.kentishfootball.co.uk shall bring you EXCLUSIVE interviews with Mead manager Keith McMahon and Ryan Royston.

McMahon looks forward to their Kent League Cup quarter-final tie at Erith & Belvedere on Sunday, whilst Royston relishes Maidstone United’s visit to Dover Athletic on Saturday.

Sadly, despite our efforts, Tunbridge Wells manager Martin Farnie declined to comment.