Everyone's fully aware what the prize is, says Tunbridge Wells boss Martin Larkin

TUNBRIDGE WELLS skipper Jason Bourne says he has put all talk of leading his team-mates out at Wembley until after Saturday’s game.



The Kent Hurlimann Football League outfit claimed a 2-0 first-leg win in The FA Carlsberg Vase Semi-Final in the Culverden Stadium mud last weekend, courtesy of late goals from Andy Irvine and Jon Pilbeam’s penalty, and they head up to Shildon on Saturday looking to finish off the job.

Tunbridge Wells look to emulate their Kent League rivals Deal Town as going down in history to become the second team from the county to reach The FA Carlsberg Vase Final.

Deal Town beat Chippenham Town in the last FA Carlsberg Vase Final underneath the iconic Wembley Twin Towers when Tommy Sampson’s side won 1-0 thanks to THAT winner from Roly Graham back in 2000.

Right-back Bourne says he expects the Northern League outfit to start with a high tempo at Dean Street as they bid to claw back a two-goal deficit.

The club’s longest serving player said: ”Obviously it’s going to be a tough game. It will be a nice quick start. We’ll be looking to contain them for the first 45 minutes.

”We’re not going to change the way we play. We’ll still play an attacking style but most of all we’re going to go up there and do what we’ve done all season and hopefully come away with a right result.”

When asked whether he’s dreaming about proudly leading his home-town club out at Wembley Stadium on 4 May, Bourne replied, “Not yet. No. We’ll talk about that after Saturday!

”It’s 2-0. It’s half-time. They’re a good side.  They’re capable of scoring goals. We’ll be fully focused in beating them. We’re certainly not going to talk about the W word!”

Boss Martin Larkin admits it’s going to be a tough task to finish off the job on Saturday, despite leading by two clear goals.

”We’ve got to go and do a job and we’ll think about that (Wembley) afterwards,” he said.

”It’s weird we have actually spoken about Wembley quite a bit all the way through the competition but now we’ve got to this point we don’t really want to talk about it now.

”I suppose everyone’s very aware what the prize is and that we’ll certainly focus their minds.

”We’ve put a lot of work in to play against a big Northern team like this and come away with a 2-0 in a one-off game was fantastic – now we’ve got to see if we can do it over two games!

”I think when you get this close now we’ll be focused because they’ve had that fifteen minute spell in the second half when they were all over us. We’ll be hopeful and know what they can do. We’re fully aware of what they’re capable of.”
Meanwhile, Shildon manager Garry Forrest, has issued a rallying cry for home fans to keep his club’s dream alive.

”Shildon Football Club are just one step from Wembley but we need the people of Shildon and the surrounding areas to rally behind the lads and help us over turn a two-goal deficit for the second leg,” he told his club’s website.

”We need (the fans) to be our twelve man.  This is the biggest game in the club’s history.

”I would love nothing more than to take Shildon to Wembley for what would be a memorable day for the town and club.

”The lads still believe we can do that, but your support could provide that extra bit of inspiration we need.”

Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear, like thousands of other people here in Kent, would love nothing more than a day out at Wembley Stadium watching Larkin’s side play either Spennymoor or Guernsey.

”It was brilliant! I think everybody in Kent is pleased for them really,” said Kinnear, whose son Chris plays for Kent League Corinthian.

”Ebbsfleet did really well to get to Wembley (winning the 2008 FA Carlsberg Trophy) a little while back and it’s thirteen years ago since Tommy Sampson got Deal Town there.

”It’s great really. It just shows you that Kent football is going the right way. I know it’s getting stronger and stronger as the years’ go on. Club’s are getting a little bit more professional. They’re getting their youth systems now more than they’ve ever done.”

But Kinnear warned: ”The game’s not finished yet, by a long chalk because Shildon are a decent side by all accounts.

”I won’t be easy when they go up north, they’ve given themselves a chance, haven’t they?”

When asked how he would play Saturday’s second leg, Kinnear replied: ”If I was 2-0 up, you just have to take it as a different game. You have to in my opinion.  You have to try to win the game there because if you sit back it just brings them on you.

”Martin will know what he wants from his players. He’s played them so he knows Shildon’s strengths and he’ll be trying to make the most of their weaknesses.

”To win 2-0 at home he knows what he’s doing. I’m sure he will have the knowledge to be able to get a good result up there and there will be a lot of people from Kent going to Wembley hopefully.”

Visit Tunbridge Wells’ website: www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk  

Shildon  v  Tunbridge Wells
The FA Carlsberg Vase Semi-Final Second Leg
Easter Saturday 30 March 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Dean Street, Shildon, County Durham DL4 1EZ