Kentish Football 
Tunbridge Wells 1-3 Erith Town - I'm very ambitious and I want to kick on, says Tony Russell
Sunday 17th April 2011
TUNBRIDGE WELLS 1-3 ERITH TOWN
Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Final
Sunday 17th April 2011
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road
TONY RUSSELL says he is proud to have the honour of winning the Kent Senior Trophy in his first season as a manager on his CV - after his Erith Town side lifted the silverware for the very first time in the club’s history.
Erith Town stunned the vast Tunbridge Wells support to win their second trophy in four years, in glorious sunshine in front of a crowd of 401.
The Dockers won tricky away games at Greenwich Borough, Hythe Town and Beckenham Town to reach the Final, and they took an early lead when striker Alex Tiesse headed home.
Tunbridge Wells went on to dominate the first half and struck the crossbar through Tom Davey, but they didn’t have long to wait for the equaliser as Keelan Mooney grabbed his seventeenth goal of the season with a freak goal following a 29th minute blunder from Erith Town goalkeeper Tim Roberts.
Roberts - who played against Erith Town when Croydon became the first team to take the Kent League Cup outside the county when they won the 2009 final on this ground on penalties - had the last laugh as a thunderous strike from Tiesse and a screamer from substitute Peter Smith ensured Tunbridge Wells’ wait for a major trophy will now extend to a depressing 24th year.
“I’ve just been told it’s the first time we’ve ever won it,” said Russell afterwards.
“I’ve just said to the boys, whatever happens now we’re the first team in this club to win this Cup - that’s something to be proud off!”
Tunbridge Wells boss Martin Larkin was bitterly disappointed, as his first Cup Final ended in defeat.
He said: “It’s horrible! I’m not here to come to Cup Finals to shake hands and be nice to people. I come here to win them and it’s horrible, absolutely horrible.
“I said before the game, winning things is a stepping stone and losing things should be a stepping stone and you’ve got to learn from it and react to it and the good old Kent League have given us a game (away to Greenwich Borough) in 48 hours to get prepared for so we have to start again really.”
Erith Town were without influential midfielder Lee Morgan (ankle ligaments) and the cup-tied Lewis Wood (who played for VCD Athletic in their quarter-final defeat to Tunbridge Wells), but Tunbridge Wells’ star-striker, Carl Cornell, passed a fitness test yesterday after two weeks of extensive treatment after sustaining a hamstring injury against Herne Bay.
However, the 22-goal striker didn’t get a sniff at goal as Erith Town skipper Ben Payne kept him in his pocket for the 83 minutes that Cornell was on the pitch.
“Fair play to him. He’s been away with the physio’s for the last fourteen days, eight or nine times,” said Larkin, who revealed he withdrew his leading goalscorer in the final seven minutes due to cramp.
“He’s worked his nuts off, he’s eating and drinking the right things to make sure he had every chance to play in the Cup Final. It’s great what he’s done and fair play to him.
“He had a fitness test yesterday. I thought he had no chance of passing it and full credit to him and the physio’s that worked on him.”
Erith Town create the first chance of the game, inside the opening six minutes, when Liam Burgess swept the ball out to James Hawkins on the left and his left-footed cross was cleared away by Andy McMath and Burgess hooked a right-footed shot over the crossbar from 30-yards.
Erith Town settled their nerves, by taking a thirteenth minute lead, with a method that surprised their 32-year-old manager, who maintains the record of never losing a Cup Final that he has been involved in.
Lawrence Collins (who along with Dean Kearley are the only survivors from their last final two years ago) delivered a long throw into the box, which was flicked on by Pedro Knight and Tiesse’s back header from eight-yards deceived goalkeeper Michal Czanner and dropped into the far corner.
“In the first half we were absolutely like a rabbit in headlights unfortunately. We‘ve got a few youngsters and I feared it” admitted Russell.
“It was a scrappy goal. I think it’s the first scrappy goal we’ve got all season. I was just revealed to get to half-time drawing. I must admit.”
The Dockers went close with a couple of efforts inside a minute; Burgess teed up striker Michael Power who took a touch before unleashing a fierce right-footed drive from 30-yards, which was tipped over the bar by Czanner, who caught Knight’s looping header underneath his crossbar, following Burgess’ resulting corner.
Jason Bourne (who along with Alex Rich and Sam Phillips are the only survivors that suffered a cruel defeat to VCD Athletic on penalties in the Kent Senior Trophy Final on this ground five years ago), clipped the ball to Cornell, who knocked the ball down and Davey’s right-footed screamer on the angle whistled past the post.
That was just a sighter for the former Under 18 England International, as Davey came within inches of equalising in the 26th minute.
Rich whipped in an excellent cross with his left-foot, which was knocked down by Mooney at the far post and the ball dropped to Davey who cracked a left-footed looping shot from 22-yards, which agonisingly bounced off the crossbar.
Russell admitted, “We were rocking! We were all over the shop! Unfortunately we played the occasion. We scored the goal, I think we were holding on to the final whistle then. They had a great spell in the game for about 10-15 minutes, we was all over the shop and they hit the bar and then they got the goal.”
Tunbridge Wells deservedly levelled just three minutes later, courtesy of a freak goal.
Erith Town left-back Collins rolled the ball back to Roberts who attempted to smash the ball up field with his right-foot, but Mooney was rewarded for his work-ethic. Although he turned his back as the goalkeeper attempted to kick he ball up-field, the ball bounced off Mooney’s back and bounced into an empty goal to the delight of the superb vocal Tunbridge Wells supporters.
Russell refused to point the finger of blame in Roberts’ direction, who gifted a similar goal in February to Elstrom Die, who was playing for Fisher at the time, although the Frenchman had to settle for a place on the bench for the Dockers today.
“Tim should’ve dealt with that, that’s the second one he’s done. He done it against Fisher and he won’t be pleased about that,” said Russell.
“But I’ve always said to youngsters, if you make a mistake it’s about how you react and I thought ten or fifteen minutes later he made a couple of really good saves so that was more important to me. Everyone makes mistakes, it’s how you react to it.”
Larkin was full of praise for highly-rated Mooney, who made the goal out of nothing.
“Keelan’s work-rate got him his goal again,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how those goals are scored. He’s work rate is exceptional and he deserved that.”
Roberts smothered the ball from Mooney’s feet after the former Maidstone United striker cut in from the left and linked up well with Cornell, who has been missed as Tunbridge Wells went into this game on the back of three defeats, without scoring.
A slick move involving Knight and Burgess set up a chance for Power, who dragged the ball back and clipped a left-footed shot over Czanner’s crossbar from 25-yards.
Larkin felt the half-time whistle came at the wrong time for his side.
“I don’t think the scoreline is reflective of the game,” said a bitterly disappointed Tunbridge Wells manager.
“I felt half-time came probably at the wrong time for us. We were dominating but you’ve got to score when you’re on top.
“I think the way we reacted to their goal was exceptional. We got around it and really kicked on. We got good balls in to the box with some good deliveries.”
Reflecting on the second half, Larkin admitted it just went wrong.
“We were controlling it. Half-time comes and second half we didn’t start it as well as we should’ve done. We were just coming into it again when they scored their second. You can’t give players that have played most of their career in the Ryman Premier time on the edge of the box. You just can’t do it. That’s been our own undoing. The score wasn’t reflective of the afternoon.”
Erith Town created their first chance of the second half in the 55th minute when Collins’ cross from the left found Smith lurking on the edge of the box and his chip drifted wide of the far post.
Tunbridge Wells reigned in shots from outside the penalty box, but efforts from Mooney and Davey comfortably rolled into Roberts’ gloves.
But the game turned in Erith Town’s favour, when they took the lead in the 73rd minute, thanks to some quality forward play from Tiesse, who, like Mooney, is good enough to play at a much higher level than the Kent League.
Russell said: “I’ve got them in at half-time and just basically said ‘let’s be honest with ourselves, what are we about?’
“From the first day I came to the club I want us to play football. I want us to pass the ball. I know it’s a Cup Final and people don’t want to make mistakes. Sometimes you’ve got to be brave and I said to them we will be brave. If it costs us, if we try to play it at the back and they nick it and score, then so be it.
“But we will live and die with what we believe in and I believe in playing football and second half the moment we started doing that and putting balls in good areas we started to open them up and obviously Alex, it’s a great goal. He’s gone past two and put it straight in the corner.”
Power released Tiesse with a fine low pass but former Maidstone United striker still had work to do, but his mazy run saw him beat a couple of defenders and he finished with aplomb - thumping a low right-footed drive from 15-yards to Czanner’s right and into the bottom corner.
It wasn’t going to be Tunbridge Wells’ day, especially when you see Cornell blaze a good chance over.
Bourne played the ball inside to Jon Pilbeam, who burst towards the by-line and his cross found Mooney lurking unmarked at the far post and he teed the ball to Cornell, but his right-footed shot from the edge of the box sailed over.
Andy McMath and Davey fired in off-target shots for Tunbridge Wells, before Erith Town sealed victory with a stunning strike with four minutes to go.
A throw from the left from Collins dropped nicely for Smith, who cracked a dipping right-footed half-volley from 25-yards, which caressed the crossbar before dropping down over the line to spark wild celebrations from players, management and fans alike.
Russell added: “When he hit that shot, I said to him afterwards, that’s why he’s got the hardest shot in the world! It was a great hit!”
Tunbridge Wells substitute Rob Wells skied a volley high over the bar at the death, but Russell, assistant Lew Watts, Power and Morgan celebrated together in the technical area at the final whistle. Players huddled signing, “We are The Champions!,” before Payne was photographed with the Trophy before lifting it to the delight of his team-mates.
Russell, who played for Thamesmead Town and Cray Wanderers, is a good young coach and has the makings of going on to bigger and better things.
“If you get that (winning the Kent Senior Trophy) on your CV, it’ a good thing to get and it is. It’s a start. I’m very ambitious that’s one of the reasons why I don’t know whether I would stay because I want to kick on. I’m not satisfied for just second best.”
With his side going into their last three games in fifth place in the Kent League table, Russell added,
“I know we’re a good side. I thought we should had a little bit more go in the league because you’re judged on that as a manager.”
Russell (who was Steve O’Boyle’s assistant manager at the start of the season) paid tribute to the manager who began the campaign.
“I’d like to go on record as well. Me and Steve O’Boyle started this. I heard he was here today. Our relationship aint what it once was but some of this must go down to him as well, so credit to him.”
Larkin was proud that his club were backed vocally by their supporters.
He said: “They were brilliant! The fans were great. They have been all year. There were large numbers here today and we thank them for that.
“I hope they saw the effort the guys put in and the desire that was there and it’s just one of those days. We played quite well, we just didn’t have the luck you need sometimes.
“At half-time I felt we could go on and win the game. You’ve got to give credit to Erith Town with the way they played in the second half and the reaction they got from the manager at half-time. They’ve done very, very well, but yes, I thought we were going on to win the game.”
A reflective Russell spoke about his thoughts at the final whistle.
A reflective Russell spoke about his thoughts at the final whistle.
He said: “I was just standing there and you just think to yourself, it’s my first year as a manager, we’ve had so many ups and downs, its just been a roller coaster.
“In this competition, we’ve had no easy run and we’ve done it the hard way.
“Maybe at half-time, if you were a betting man, you would have Tunbridge Wells, because I think they edged the first half.
“Second half I thought we showed loads of courage and I’m delighted for people like Albert Putman, Ian Birrell and Jim Davey, because the work they put in.
“Albert doesn’t usually bother me really, he lets me do my own thing, but this week he has badgered the life out of me.
“It just means so much to him. I’m more chuffed for him, Ian and Jim because they’re good people.”
Tunbridge Wells: Michael Czanner, Jason Bourne, Alex Rich, Tom Davey, Andy Boyle, Perry Spackman, Jon Pilbeam, Andy McMath, Keelan Mooney, Carl Cornell (Rob Wells 83), Steve Ashmore (Jack Harris 77).
Subs: Scott Whibley, Drew Crush, Sam Phillips
Goal: Keelan Mooney 29
Booked: Perry Spackman 62
Erith Town: Tim Roberts, David Hall (Dean Kearley 90), Lawrence Collins, Joe Foster, Ben Payne, Pedro Knight, Liam Burgess, Chris Walker (Peter Smith 38), Michael Power (Jamal York 90), Alex Tiesse, James Hawkins.
Subs: Elstrom Die, Darren Skelton
Goals: Alex Tiesse 13, 73, Peter Smith 86
Booked: David Hall 37, Ben Payne 51, Lawrence Collins 70, Jamal York 90
Attendance: 401
Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden (Gillingham)
Assistants: Mr Paul Yates (Maidstone) & Mr Kevin Welsh (Sittingbourne)
Fourth Official: Mr Mike Marsh (Herne Bay)
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