Rusthall is always going to be a tough game - This will be a fight with a lot of passion and desire to provide the fans with some bragging rights and we know what it means to our fans, says Tunbridge Wells boss Luke Carpenter

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Luke Carpenter says he wants his side to claim the local bragging rights against Rusthall on Boxing Day.

The Wells make the short trip across town to Jockey Farm Stadium sitting in sixth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 27 points on the board from their 18 league outings.

Jimmy Anderson’s Rusthall side, meanwhile, are enjoying their best ever start to a season in the ninth-tier of English football and are in third-place in the table with 29 points on the board from their 18 league games.

“It’s been a while since our last game against Canterbury, where we played well and came away with a 3-0 win, but that was at the beginning of the month so unfortunately we haven’t had the chance to keep momentum going into Boxing Day,” said Carpenter, whose side claimed a 1-0 victory over the Rustics' at the end of August.

“Rusthall is always going to be a tough game. It’s a derby game and as I said in the reverse fixture earlier this season, form goes out the window.

“This will be a fight with a lot of passion and desire to provide the fans with some bragging rights. 

“We know what it means to our fans and I’m sure that Jimmy has made it clear to his group how much it means to their fans too.”

Reflecting on his first campaign in charge of his home-town club, Carpenter, who has received plenty of praise from rival managers with his side’s attractive style of passing football, said: “It’s been a strange season – as I predicted it would be – with teams taking points off each other.

“The table is really close and a couple of wins can see you catapult up the league.

“For us, we have set goals for this season and we are certainly heading towards, but  there will always be a part of myself and (assistant) Steve Ives that wants more, that’s just our mindset and how we both work.”

Carpenter couldn’t decide who has been his most improved player this season.

“This is a tough question as we have thrown a lot at the players both as a group and as individuals.

“When you have an entirely new side there is a collective objective, and we’re still working towards some of what we want within our playing style, but we’ve made good progress over the course of the season.

“As for individuals, again, I have to look at who is learning their team role as well as individual targets. 

“Frankie Griffin has been superb all season and continues to grow within his role.

“Matty Astle has to take a lot of credit for raising a certain area of his game that we’ve looked at recently.

“You then have other players learning new roles such as Rhys Bartlett and Johnny Phillips, but then we have also brought through some of the under 23s, who are thriving.  Luca Bradley is really growing within the group and Zak Wolvey is stamping his authority as a starting player, so it’s hard to just pick one.”

Carpenter had this Christmas message for the Culverden faithful going into the eagerly-anticipated Rocks Derby, which kicks off at 12 noon.

“I can speak on behalf of all of the players, staff, officials in firstly thanking the fans for the support that they have shown during what is a transitional stage for the club.

“They’ve not only shown up in numbers to support but we’re also getting some really positive messages to, so a sincere thank you.

“We wish that everyone has a safe and Happy Christmas with family and hopefully we can bring a nice present in the form of three points on Boxing Day."

Rusthall  v  Tunbridge Wells
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Boxing Day, Monday 26 December 2022
Kick Off 12:00pm
at Jockey Farm Stadium, Nellington Road, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8SH