Tunbridge Wells 2-0 Erith Town - Fuller's double keeps Wells in line

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 2-0 ERITH TOWN
Wednesday 11^th October 2006
Kent League Cup Group D
Stephen McCartney reports from Culverden Stadium

Tunbridge Wells stretched their unbeaten run to six games as they got their Kent League Cup Group D campaign off to a winning start tonight.

With Beckenham Town’s game with Thamesmead Town postponed, Tunbridge Wells lead the group and face Beckenham in their next group game at Culverden Stadium later this month.

Joe Fuller, whose come off the bench during their last three games, started the game instead of Ross Campbell, whose scored four goals during that spell, and the former Tonbridge Angels player repaid his managers faith in him, scoring two stunning goals to settle a dour affair.

The 22-year-old broke the deadlock after 32 minutes, to the delight of the hosts' lowest crowd of the season.

Aided by a long run up, Fuller struck the ball sweetly with his right-foot from 25-yards and the ball flew over the three man yellow shirted wall and into the top left hand corner.

Both sides created very little goalscoring opportunities during the first half with Danny Nicholls’ going the closest for the home side, when his shot flew just over the bar after 15 minutes.

The Dockers’ best chance came when Wayne Grizzle’s low diagonal pass zipped off the wet playing surface into Rob Bryant’s path.

Making up ground on the right, Bryant slid the ball past the advancing goalkeeper, but the ball rolled agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

But there was drama before the second half started.

Both sets of substitutes were warming up at their respective ends whilst both managers issued instructions to their starting eleven inside the dressing rooms.

But out came Marden flag waver, Mr Malcolm McLean, asking if the home cub had painted the lines, as per the match officials instructions, during the interval.

However, the second half was delayed for around fifteen minutes as the goal-lines and 18-yard lines were re-painted as Mr McLean could not see the lines clearly after rainfall during the first half.

Both sets of players tried to keep warm as the game descended into farce as fans watched the 18-yard line being repainted.

But if it wasn’t for hungry Fuller, this game would have finished goal-less.

He was unfortunate not to score after 67 minutes when another right-footed free kick curled just past the far post.

Then two minutes later his powerful shot crashed against the underside of the crossbar but he wrapped up the victory with seven minutes remaining.

Cutting in from the left, Fuller rode a couple of challenges, before unleashing another right-footed shot, which curled into the top far corner of the net to score his fourth goal of the season.

Fuller’s two stunning strikes brought cheer to the loyal fans that decided not to stay in or go down the pub to watch England’s 2-0 defeat in Croatia.