Tunbridge Wells 1-3 Rusthall - It means a lot to the lads', says Rusthall boss Paul McDonagh

TUNBRIDGE WELLS  1-3  RUSTHALL
Pre-Season Friendly – George Piper Courier Cup Final
Sunday 29^th July 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Culverden Stadium

RUSTHALL boss Paul McDonagh says he was pleased with his players after they pulled off a pre-season scalp by beating Tunbridge Wells to win the George Piper Courier Cup for only the second time.

Rusthall, who finished in the bottom six in the inaugural Kent Invicta League last season, defeated Tunbridge Wells 2-1 the first time that they won it in July 2010.

Holders Tunbridge Wells, who finished in fifth-place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League last season, thrashed Sussex County League side Crowborough Athletic 5-0 yesterday, while Rusthall defeated a young Tonbridge Angels side 3-2 on penalties after the game finished level at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Crowborough Athletic won the third-place play-off when they defeated another young Tonbridge Angels side by five goals to one prior to the final.

And Tunbridge Wells, who kick off their new Kent League campaign when Fisher visit Culverden Stadium next Saturday, got off to a flying start when they opened the scoring with only 54 seconds on the clock when winger Ryan Rook headed home.

But Rusthall grabbed a sixth minute equaliser through a bizarre own-goal from Tunbridge Wells keeper Dean Nash, who headed the ball into his own net after his central defender James Russell smashed  the ball towards his own goal.

Rusthall, who welcome Phoenix Sports to Jockey Farm for their Kent Invicta League opener on 11 August, took the lead in the 64^th minute through striker’s Chris Mearing’s fine finish before central midfielder Dave Jackson sealed a famous win twelve minutes later.

McDonagh, who left his role as first team coach at Ryman League Division One North side Thamesmead Town to become Rusthall’s new manager, revealed the game meant a lot to his players.

He said: “Everybody’s over the moon.   Like most people have said to me Tunbridge Wells take this tournament very seriously and to come to their place and battle hard, work hard and pretty much take it from them, it’s our local derby as well, is so very pleasing.   It means a lot to the lads.  The chairman (John Ronaldson) is away this weekend, but he’ll be well pleased.

“Funnily enough, the chairman was in charge when we won it in 2010 and he’ll be pleased to look at the trophy and Rusthall’s name is on their twice, which is great!”

Inevitably, Tunbridge Wells boss Martin Larkin admitted afterwards that it was only a pre-season friendly – despite losing the local bragging rights to a side one division lower than his club.

He said: “It’s a pre-season game.  Two games in two days and that’s what we treat it.  We dress it up as a competition, which it is, but it’s a pre-season game.

“In previous years it hasn’t been a week before the season, which is better.  This year we’re not overly happy with it being a week before the season starts but it’s two games in two days.

“Yesterday we were very, very good as Crowborough found out.  Today we were a little bit average, but we’re not too fussed!”

Tunbridge Wells cranked up the pressure within the opening minute and terrorised Rusthall’s left-back Ollie Allman.

A cross from Nick Nowotny from the right was flicked towards goal by Jack Harris and the ball was cleared off the line by Rusthall’s right-back Fermor – with 29 seconds on the clock.

But the home faithful were soon to be celebrating as Tunbridge Wells opened the scoring within the opening minute.

Harris – who is attracting the interest from several higher league clubs – combined with Nowotny, who whipped in a cross towards the far post and the unmarked Rook headed the ball down and across Phil Hawkins and the ball bounced into the bottom far corner.

Larkin said: “A good start. We played well at the start of the game. We played well in patches but we gave away poor goals and they hung in there I suppose.”

When asked how he felt after conceding so early, McDonagh replied, “Just not to do what Crowborough did, which was get their heads down and roll over and lose 5-0, so just to react well and I thought they did.”

The Rusthall manager admitted Tunbridge Wells’ direct tactics was not very pleasing on the eye.

McDonagh said: “We set our stall out to defend the early ball, the direct ball over the top of our full-backs and they really worked hard. They did exactly what I asked them to do and I’m very pleased.

“We were aware from the beginning that’s what they do. They do like putting the ball in behind the full-back and they do like to get your full-back out of position and put the ball in behind.

“We knew they would be a danger from any set-plays or any crosses. We expected trouble in that area.

“I watched them the day before against Crowborough. It’s well known they don’t play a great passing style, but they play quite a direct style anyway, but I watched them the previous day and made some notes. It worked out well.”

However, all Tunbridge Wells’ good early work was undone by Russell and Nash.

Russell inexplicably smashed the ball back towards his own goal and the ball looked destined to sail into the corner of the net, but all Nash could do in trying to bring the ball under control was allow the ball skim  of the top of his head and into the back of his empty net.

Nash knew he had made his biggest blunder of the season – and he stood outside his penalty box with his hands on his hips as he looked on at another attack from his side at the other end wishing the ground to swallow him up in embarrassment.

Larkin said: “The back pass weren’t great and he probably should’ve caught it and taken a free-kick. He’ll learn from that so it’s not too much of an issue.”

McDonagh added: “To be honest I was actually turning round to talk to one of my substitutes and as I turned round all I saw was the keeper heading the ball, flicking it into the back of his own net, so I didn’t see what actually happened before that.  It was quite bizarre. A bit strange to concede that!

“They (my players) were confident anyway. I did say to them whatever happens not to react badly to going a goal down. They kept their heads up but it was exactly what we needed at that time.”

Rusthall, who tried to hit their higher-league neighbours on the counter attack at any opportunity, could have taken the lead when Alex Emery released Mearing down the right but his right-footed drive from 22-yards whistled past the near post.

Lone striker Mearing then turned his marker on the other side of the penalty area but his shot sailed wide of the near post.

Tunbridge Wells called visiting keeper Phil Hawkins into making a good save when left-back Stuart Thorley whipped in a cross to find Andy Irvine, who turned Danny Black and he was denied when Hawkins stuck out his right leg to turn the shot around the post.

A poor clearance from shaky Nash almost presented Rusthall with another goal in the 18^th minute but he was relieved when Mearing steered his right-footed shot past the near post from a tight angle.

Emery held his head in his hands after the Rusthall central midfielder cracked a left-footed volley, which only just cleared the crossbar from 25-yards.

Then came a lull in proceedings before Tunbridge Wells missed a couple of decent chances just before the break.

Tom Carr, who slotted in at left-back after Thorley went off injured, combined well with Rook down the left and his cross found Harris unmarked ten-yards from goal, but the highly-rated striker headed the ball straight into Hawkins’ gloves.

The home side rued their best chance when Harris turned Black and smashed a low right-footed shot on the turn, which the diving Hawkins did well to parry, but Andy McMath’s header looped agonisingly over the bar from three-yards.

Jason Barton was denied by Hawkins’ best save of the afternoon in the 53^rd minute.

The home side hit Rusthall on the counter attack and McMath’s pass put Barton through on goal and the former Chatham Town player had time and space to crack a fierce left-footed drive towards goal, but Hawkins produced a brilliant save, sticking up his hands high to his right to palm the ball over his crossbar.

McDonagh felt the Rusthall stalwart was his side’s best player of the tournament.

He said: “I would have to give it to Phil Hawkins to be honest. He’s made some great saves. He kept us in the game yesterday and kept us in it again today, so I would have to say Phil.

“Phil loves the club. He’s been at the club for years. He’s a great goalkeeper.  A great shot-stopper. He’s good with his feet. He deserves it. I’m pleased for him. I would say he’s the player that’s stood out for me over the two days.

“But to be honest, as a whole team this early they’ve all done me proud. They’ve worked so hard for eachother already.”

Minutes later Rusthall almost scored when Sam Odel went on a run down the left channel before playing the ball to Emery, whose cross was tipped onto the near post by Nash in the 53^rd minute.

Tunbridge Wells squandered another chance after the hour mark when substitute Joe Fuller released Harris, who unselfishly cut the ball back to McMath, who stroked a first time shot with his left-foot, which looped high over the bar when he only had Hawkins to beat.

That proved to be the turning point in the game as Rusthall took the lead in the 64^th minute and dark clouds formed above Culverden Stadium as a result.

Odel went on another run at the Tunbridge Wells defence before playing the ball to Mearing, who took a touch and drove a low right-footed drive across and under Nash and the ball nestled into the bottom far corner of the net.

McDonagh said: “Sam’s one of our younger players who’s coming through. When he gets a chance to run at players he does really well and Chris has not really enjoyed his football over the years but he’s come in now and he’s enjoying it. He’s a handful when he wants to be. It was a good finish. He’s scored two goals in this tournament.”

Tunbridge Wells should have scored from Rook’s in-swinging corners, but Russell and his central defensive partner Perry Spackman both headed over at the near post from six-yards.

Rusthall’s clincher came with fourteen minutes remaining when Josh Fermor throw from the left was flicked on by Mearing and the ball bounced inside the Tunbridge Wells penalty box and Jackson clipped a right-footed half-volley past a stranded Nash.

Larkin said: “It probably could’ve been cleared a couple of times before hand, but it wasn’t and he swung his leg at it and it’s gone in!

“If we’re talking in all fairness we gifted them all three off the goals. All the goals could’ve been prevented.

“They (Rusthall) played well in parts. It’s a two day tournament. The bigger game for us was the Crowborough game yesterday.  They’re at our level so that’s how we wanted to test ourselves.  We beat them 5-0 so we were absolutely superb yesterday.

“Today is their (Rusthall’s) Cup Final.  Again we played them a couple of days ago in a pre-season game. It’s just not clicked in the afternoon. I suppose you can’t gift goals like we did I suppose.”

McDonagh was pleased that his side were very clinical in front of goal.

He said: “It fell nicely for Dave after a slight deflection and calmly side-footed it in!

“The pitch looks quite good but it’s quite bobbly out there. It’s difficult to try and pass the ball around at times especially in tight areas.

“I felt when we got into the middle third I thought we lost a little bit of momentum in terms of the ball sitting up and things like that.

“It was good to see the clinical finishing, but we always set up to do a little bit of counter attacking today.  That’s what we were looking to do.”

Jamie James’ through ball gave Mearing a chance to embarrass the Kent Leaguers further but his right-footed drive flashed across the diving Nash and past the far post.

Both managers took the positives out of the game.

Larkin said: “We’ve learnt a few things. We’ve had a decent pre-season.  The training’s been good. We’ve had a couple of games called off for the rain but we’re not too fussed.  We’re ready. We’ve got a good group together.

“Pre-season has been used for what pre-season is used for, which is fitness, which we’ve done. We’re looking forward to the start now.”

Rusthall boss McDonagh, whose side welcome West Wickham to Jockey Farm for their final friendly next Saturday, said: “Obviously fitness is what we’ve got out of it. I’ve tried not to change the team too much. Obviously I was forced into changing it a little bit through injuries and some players work on a Sunday so they couldn’t make it.

“What I’ve got out of it is players’ have been listening in pre-season. They’re very together as a unit already so I think they’ve linked really well and they’re doing what they are told.  It shows already we’re a good unit and we’re ready to start the season.”

Looking ahead to playing West Wickham, McDonagh said: “We’re looking to continue to carry the momentum in terms we improve passing and possession.  We’ve still got to work on our set-plays this week. It’s all about set-plays so we’ll be looking to finalise those sort of things, those details.  We’re looking to put in a tough and good performance.  Winning would be good, but it’s not vital, but it’s about improvement every week and during the season we’ll still be looking to improve as well.”

Tunbridge Wells: Dean Nash, Jason Bourne, Stuart Thorley (Tom Carr 36), Jason Barton, James Russell (Jon Lord 80), Perry Spackman (Andy Boyle 80), Ryan Rook, Andy McMath, Andy Irvine (Joe Fuller 46), Jack Harris, Nick Nowotny (Matt Foreman 46).
Subs:  Brad Large, Chris Oladogba

Goals: Ryan Rook 1

Rusthall: Phil Hawkins, Josh Fermor, Ollie Allman, Alex Emery (John Elwood 58), Danny Black, Matt Thompson (Andy Lindsey 46), Jamie James, Dave Jackson (Jack Rusbridge 82), Chris Mearing (Alun Evans 90), John Penny, Sam Odell.
Sub: Alex Kibbey

Goals: Dean Nash 6 (own goal), Chris Mearing 64, Dave Jackson 76

Attendance: 150
Referee: Mr Simon Finnigan (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Jason Down (Sittingbourne) & Mr Brian Woodhouse (Sittingbourne)