20thsept04

Wells not at the races, admits boss Metcalf

TUNBRIDGE WELLS suffered their first defeat of the season, and in doing so, were knocked out of the FA Cup at the first qualifying round stage, going down 2-1 at AFC Totton, writes Stephen McCartney.

Kevin Metcalf, manager of the Culverden Stadium outfit, admitted: "It wasn't a very good performance to be honest.

"We played some good football in the first fifteen minutes but we lost our momentum."

Metcalf was forced to change his half-time team talk as the home side opened the scoring in the last minute of the first half.  He was then forced to make a substitution, replacing Luke Williams, who suffered a knee injury, and central midfielder Kevin Skinner was later sent off - the fifth Wells' player to be shown a red card this season.

"We had to change our formation in the second half, because we had to replace Luke Williams and we came out and basically we weren't at the races," he admitted.

Tunbridge Wells' found themselves with a mountain to climb when the Wessex Leaguers doubled their score within nine minutes of the second half starting, but it was only after a red card was shown to central midfielder Kevin Skinner, that the Kent League side started playing, and pulled a goal back from Stephen Ward's free kick  six minutes from time.

Metcalf said: "With 15 minutes to go we had Kevin Skinner sent off and then with ten men we decided we should play football.

"There was only one team in it and we scored from a brilliant free kick from outside the box from Stephen Ward and we kept peppering their goal but couldn't get the equaliser."

Metcalf, however, doesn't know why his side didn't perform to their full potential, but added: "Player's have off day's don't they?  Everything was in our favour, a nice pitch but we just had an off day at the office."

However, Metcalf promised supporters that he and coach Martin Telford  will prepare his side properly for Saturday's (25th September) trip to Cobham, in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase.

Metcalf added: "Another hard game but Martin and I will make sure the players are properly prepared for the game.

"I would like to thank the supporters for their support, both vocally and in numbers and the players feel they have let the supporters down."

With five red cards issued to players this season (two each for Barrington "Buster" Beaney and Daniel Barham) and Kevin Skinner was added to the list of shame on Saturday, Metcalf admitted his players stupidity have cost his side points and a lengthy FA Cup campaign.

"They are young and have to learn at this level.  Kevin Skinner kicked out at a player and that's a red card.

"It's just stupidity and it's cost us points at Sevenoaks Town and now it's cost us in the cup."