Tunbridge Wells 3-4 Croydon

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 3-4 CROYDON
Kent League Premier Division
Wednesday 18^th April 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Culverden Stadium

Croydon manager/chairman Dickson Gill has played down his side's chances of winning the Kent League,  despite leapfrogging over Thamesmead Town into second place tonight.

The Trams are five points behind treble chasing Whitstable Town, with only two games remaining.

But Marc Seager’s side, who have three games still to play, will be crowned champions on Thursday night if fourth placed side VCD Athletic fail to beat Beckenham Town at Oakwood, or if they beat Vickers themselves at The Belmont on Saturday.

Croydon only had fourteen players available for tonight’s trip to Culverden Stadium, which included two youth team players, Sam Warner and substitute Ryan Watts.

And striker Lee Kirby (hamstring) and central midfielder Bronek Dabrowa (groin) are both rated doubtful for Saturday’s home game against under-performing Faversham Town, after picking up injuries tonight.

Tunbridge Wells, second from bottom in the table, were also forced to make changes due to injuries.

Skipper Jason Bourne (broken metatarsal), Justin Shea (ankle), Luke Wallond (groin), Brad Sandeman and goalkeeper James Simpson (hamstring) were all ruled out.

Therefore, Alan Rogers, 60, made his fifth appearance in goal for Martin Farnie’s side, although Simpson is expected to be fit for Saturday’s game against Herne Bay at Culverden Stadium.

But Tunbridge Wells got off to a dream start, by taking the lead from their first corner of the game, after just 175 seconds.

Wayne Balmer’s far-post kick was met on the volley by Adrian Hatcher and he found the net from eight-yards.

Hatcher’s next chance, however, a looping header from Andy Boyle’s long throw, was comfortably collected by former Bromley goalkeeper Danny Harwood.

But Croydon drew level after nine minutes, despite a hint of offside.

Dabrowa latched onto Ollie Young’s ball over the top of Wells’ defence and as Rogers advanced off his line, the midfielder rolled the ball forward for left-winger Ray Freeman to fire the ball into the empty net from six-yards.

Tunbridge Wells’ left-sided midfielder Ted Ansell, whose on a dual registration with Dartford, had a couple of efforts that flashed wide, before Croydon took the lead after fourteen minutes.

Another ball over the top, this time from Tim Murdoch, wasn’t deal with by the home defence and Rogers was rooted to the spot, as Kirby curled the ball into the far corner with his right-foot from twenty-yards.

And after midfielder Abdul El-Ferdi struck a couple of shots off target, Tunbridge Wells deservedly drew level after 27 minutes.

Two Croydon defenders failed to deal with Andy Boyle’s free-kick from inside his own half, and this allowed Dean Spenceley to latch onto the loose ball and he drove a right-footed shot past Harwood from twenty-yards.

Tunbridge Wells, however, had two goals ruled out for offside during the game, with Andy Garrett’s glancing header, following Ansell’s left-footed cross, being chalked off after 29 minutes, and with the score at 4-2, Dave Hassett’s header from two-yards out, was also ruled out for offside.

Rogers made a comfortable low save on the half-hour mark, to prevent Freeman from scoring with a low angled drive.

Murdoch blazed his right-footed free-kick over the bar from 25-yards, and at the other end in the last action of the first half, El-Ferdi nodded Balmer’s corner past the near post.

The first chance of the second half fell Croydon’s way after just 14 seconds.

Freeman burst into the penalty area and from the by-line squared the ball to striker Neil John, and despite a challenge from Ben Hilden, who turned his ankle in the process, the striker still managed to get in a shot, which was bravely saved by Rogers at his near post.

But this good Croydon side were able to dominate the second half and central midfielder Murdoch twice went close just before the hour mark.

And John agonisingly shot just past the foot of the far post after latching onto Kirby’s flick on.

But Croydon took the lead after 67 minutes when Freeman picked his spot with a clinical left-footed finish from ten-yards.

And they put the game beyond Tunbridge Wells’ reach within a minute when Murdoch had time to pick out John, who found the far corner with a towering header from six-yards.

Rogers made the save of the match with seventeen minutes remaining when he made sure John’s shot dropped over his crossbar.

Tunbridge Wells, however, rallied late on, and Hassett had his goal ruled out with seven minutes remaining when he nodded the ball into the net after substitute Joe Fuller hooked Balmer’s corner back across the face of goal.

And the hosts pulled a goal back late on when Freeman was penalised for a push inside the penalty area and Hatcher sent Harwood the wrong way with his right-footed penalty kick, which found the bottom right hand corner.