Tunbridge Wells 2-3 Uxbridge - I won't fault anyone's heart or effort but it's disappointing to let three goals in 45 minutes of football so that's probably the biggest negative, says Tunbridge Wells boss Steve Ives

Tunbridge Wells 2 – 3 Uxbridge
Location	Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9SG
Kickoff	05/08/2023 15:00

TUNBRIDGE WELLS  2-3  UXBRIDGE
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 5 August 2023
Stephen McCartney reports from Culverden Stadium

TUNBRIDGE WELLS manager Steve Ives says his side ran out of steam after throwing away a two-goal lead as they crashed out of The FA Cup at the first hurdle to an Uxbridge side that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Tunbridge Wells opened their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division campaign by beating Hollands & Blair here last Saturday, courtesy of Dominic Wynter-Stephens' debut goal, while this was Isthmian League South Central Division side Uxbridge’s first outing of the season.

Talisman striker Trevor McCreadie, who scored 28 goals for Tunbridge Wells last season, pounced on a mistake from Uxbridge goalkeeper Finley Purcell to give the home side a seventh minute lead, before they deservedly doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time through attacking midfielder Billy Lewins’ clinical finish.

However, Uxbridge boss Danny Edwards inspired his troops during the interval and his side dominated for large parts of the second half, pulling a goal back through winger Anuar Ceesay.

The turning point appeared to come in the 70^th minute when Ives replaced the hard-working winger Luke Leppard and holding midfielder Wynter-Stevens for a knock and switching formation to 4-5-1 and sitting back on their slender lead against a dominant higher league side ultimately cost Tunbridge Wells a midweek replay in Slough.

Uxbridge captain Shaun Preddie lead by example as the centre-half headed in a free-kick with 47:09 on the clock, before substitute striker Bernard Mensah hooked in a dramatic winning volley with 50:50 on the clock to seal a trip to their league rivals Corinthian-Casuals on Saturday 19 August.

Uxbridge bank £1,125 in prize money, leaving Tunbridge Wells with £375, with the winning prize money of £1,444 (losing figure of £481) up for grabs in the Preliminary Round.

Tunbridge Wells' clubhouse is still out of action after January’s fire and chairman Scott Bartlett said in a statement that “work on rebuilding the clubhouse has been delayed whilst a new lease on the ground is being worked on with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.”

“It was the proverbial game of two halves isn’t it,” admitted Ives, after his side lost this Extra Preliminary Round tie.

“Two-nil up at half-time, they scored one back early on, which was the thing that we didn’t really want to happen and it did become a bit of a defence-v-attack exercise for the last 15-20 minutes and two set-pieces, which they all count don’t they, was a little bit of a frustrating manner to concede.

“I thought to be completely truthful, it will be interesting to see what a neutral observer thinks, but I didn’t actually think it looked like we were the underdogs in the first half. I thought it looked like it could’ve been two teams at the same level.

“I think we were fully good value for (our 2-0 lead).  I guess from an Uxbridge point of view they ain’t going to be happy about that but we knew they would up the intensity.

“I think getting that goal back when they did just gave them that bit of encouragement and maybe by the end of it a few tired legs, a few tired minds, probably is what it comes down to from our point of view.

“I think we still had a bit of a counter-attack in the second half but unfortunately some of the opportunities to hurt their goal were few and far between.”

Tunbridge Wells created their first opening with five minutes and 12 seconds on the clock.

Left-winger Rory Ward swung in a quality free-kick from the right towards the penalty spot and former Rusthall centre-half James White sent his diving header past the left-hand post.

However, Tunbridge Wells took the lead through Eastbourne resident McCreadie with six minutes and a second on the clock.

Holding midfielder Jack Walder clipped the ball into the left-channel and Uxbridge goalkeeper Purcell came rushing out towards the edge of his penalty area and at one stage had a couple of hands on the ball.

However, he spilt the ball as McCreadie pounced and gifted the striker to take a touch inside the penalty area before placing a right-footed shot into the bottom far corner of an empty net.

Ives said: “Trevor’s an absolute predator.  I was just talking to one of the Uxbridge staff (before the post-match interview) and they said even in the second half they never felt comfortable because he’s always on the shoulder, he’s always looking and the goal was completely an example of that.

“Walder just put one over in the space, the keeper, I guess, a combination of the rain, the pitch being a bit slippery, came out, not quite certain whether he can put one or two hands on it because he’s right on the edge of his box and Trevor’s always there, he’s always lurking and always punishes any mistake.”

Uxbridge’s attacking midfielder Alexander Witham floated in their second corner towards the near post where striker Dean Morgan found a pocket of space to direct his downward header harmlessly wide of the goal.

The home side were resilient in defence and winning their battles over the pitch during a dominant first half against an Uxbridge side that were caught cold in wet miserable conditions during the first half.

Uxbridge’s best goalscoring chance arrived in the 29^th minute, following a three-man move.

Witham played the ball into striker Morgan’s feet, who swept the ball over to the left wing towards the unmarked Bradley Pagliaroli, who started the game over on the right wing but Tunbridge Wells’ right-back Harry Hudson shut the gate to prevent Ceesay to gain an advantage down the left.

Pagliaroli cut into the box and managed to get his left-footed shot away before being pressed by centre-half Tommy Smith and dragged his shot across the keeper and past the far post.

“I thought our game plan was good. I thought the boys execution of it was good, our shape was good. Everyone’s commitment to what we were trying to do was spot on,” said Ives.

“Unfortunately, I think the first words we said in the changing room at half-time was ‘that’s half a job done but half a job doesn’t win you a game’ and unfortunately that’s come back to haunt us a little bit.”

Ninth-tier Tunbridge Wells were on course of causing an upset against an eight-tier side when they deservedly doubled their lead with 44:45 on the clock.

Walder linked up well with Wynter-Stephens down the right channel and good movement saw Wynter-Stephens draw out Anguilla International centre-back Luke Paris before playing a square pass on a plate to the unmarked Lewins, who took a touch before placing a right-footed shot into the bottom right-hand corner from 12-yards from a central position.

“We did appear to have a threat in behind. I personally felt we had the beating of them, both of our wide players against their full-backs and I think because they were aware of that, the gaps were starting to open up a little bit because the full-backs were starting to cheat and trying to get a little bit nearer to Rory Ward and Luke Leppard.

“It was a great pass from Walder, a decent cross from Dom and Bill’s there to do what you really want your number 10 to do, drive in the box and finish.”

Tunbridge Wells’ first-half performance had all the ingredients of the lower-league side creating one of many FA Cup upsets this season – they just couldn’t replicate that heart and desire during the second half.

“We felt our shape was good. We felt we were frustrating them.  We thought we had the better of their full-backs with our wingers.  It was just a question of not allowing them back into the game – but unfortunately we did,” admitted Ives.

With Edwards’ words still ringing in their ears, the Uxbridge players came out with a lot more desire during the second half and looked like that they play one level higher than Tunbridge Wells’ players.

They set the tone inside the opening 145 seconds when Pagliaroli easily brushed aside Tunbridge Wells’ debutant left-back Ben Martin-Coward before stroking a left-footed drive across keeper Jacob Bennett and past the far post from 25-yards.

Holding midfielder Maloney then pinged a long diagonal pass which was chested down by Morgan, before cutting inside Hudson to stroke a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which bounced and was comfortably gathered by Bennett.

Ives said: “If we’re limiting them to shots outside the box, I think we’ll be reasonably happy on the whole.  Jacob is a good shot stopper. I don’t think he makes any silly mistakes particularly from distance so we were comfortable if that’s where they’re shooting from.

“Uxbridge have travelled two hours on a coach, from a level above, they’re not going to roll over and take it easy and it was always a challenge.

“I think getting through the first 20 minutes of that half with our clean-sheet intact, that probably would’ve made them take little bit more dangerous risks, which we possibly could’ve profit on with our threat on the counter-attack.  As it was, they’ve scored the goal and it’s given them a foothold hasn’t it.”

Uxbridge were rewarded for their dominant start by pulling a goal back just five minutes and 53 seconds into the half.

Maloney was inside the Uxbridge half before he played the ball into Morgan’s feet and he split open White to put Ceesay in behind and he held his composure to slot his right-footed shot underneath the advancing Bennett to roll the ball into the back of an empty net.

“I mean, it’s not really too much more to say about that is there?  They’ve opened us up, probably only one of a few times they actually did open us up from open play and credit where credit’s due, he’s finished it,” said Ives.

Uxbridge kept their momentum – only raising their tempo a little bit – and kept the home side sitting back and Uxbridge’s full-backs Joshua Andrew and Bryan Taylor pushed higher up the pitch, what was to follow was inevitable.

However, Tunbridge Wells almost grabbed the victory following a set-piece of their own on the hour-mark.

Martin-Coward swept the ball into the Uxbridge box from the left, Hudson and Smith got touches inside the box before Leppard cut inside and swept his shot towards the foot of the near post, only for goalkeeper Purcell to dive low to his left and get a strong hand to the shot to push it around his near post.

“I think any time you mention Luke Leppard, hard work is probably not far behind and he ran out of steam a little bit at the end and that was a testament to just how much he put into it.  I thought all of the boys put a lot into it, no question of people’s heart, just ran out of steam a little bit,” revealed Ives.

“Luke probably would’ve liked a wider angle but he’s worked the keeper, he’s won a corner and it’s kind of kept them on their toes and made them realise we definitely still offered them some threat.

“One point to make as well that’s Ben Martin-Coward’s senior debut, an 18-year-old boy from Tunbridge Wells, apart of Tonbridge Angels’ Academy, so I thought he played really well on the whole so that was one big positive for us.”

Pagliaroli raced past Hudson down the left and hung over a cross towards Ceesay, who rose and guided his free header straight at Bennett, who made a comfortable catch.

Leppard ran his race and Wynter-Stephens picked up a knock in the 63^rd minute and Tunbridge Wells lost their energy and a tactical switch to 4-5-1 with 20 minutes remaining cost the home side.

Edwards brought on striker Mensah and central midfielder Michael Bryan with 13 minutes remaining and this proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Ives was questioned about the tactical switch, revealing he was forced into it.

He said: “Well, to a point, they were like-for-like substitutions.  Billy Lewins got a yellow card in the first half so we were wary of that.

“Dominic Wynter-Stephens had took a heavy tackle so he wasn’t totally comfortable from that and I kind of got a sense that some fresh legs in there would’ve just helped so obvious replacements Frank Griffin and Bradley Austin.

“I could’ve put Zak Wolvery on, could’ve done a couple of other things but that was what we decided to do.

“There was a coming together, just a 50-50, nothing too tragic. We didn’t pull him (Wynter-Stephens) off because he was injured but I think that hit just took a little bit out of him and just (put on) some fresh legs.”

There was nearly respite for the home side as Martin-Coward pinged a long diagonal pass to release McCreadie, who had his heals clipped by Uxbridge centre-half Paris, but substitute wideman Johnny Phillips drilled his free-kick into the wall and then past the foot of the near post when he was given a second bite of the cherry from 30-yards with little over five minutes left.

The board for seven additional minutes was raised – don’t forget games are going to last longer this season as officials have been told to put on more time for goals, substitutions and time wasting – and Preddie helped get his side out of a hole.

Martin-Coward showed his inexperience by fouling Ceesay down the right channel and left-back Taylor floated in a left-footed free-kick, which sailed over Bennett’s head and Preddie rose to guide his header into the top left-hand corner from close range.

“If I’m honest, I want to watch the video back before I give too much comment on how that’s happened,” said Ives.

“The timing is quite disappointing but what can you do? What can you say?

“Then I’m thinking to myself the last thing I need is a Wednesday night in Slough and then I’m thinking shortly after I would’ve taken that Wednesday night in Slough but fair play they’ve kept on going and unfortunately two set-pieces.”

Uxbridge missed a gilt-edged chance to score the winner with 48:14 on the clock, however.

Maloney played the ball down the left line to Michael Bryan, who put the ball on a plate for Ceesay, but Martin-Coward did enough at the near post to ensure the ball flashed just past the foot of the near post.

However, Uxbridge sealed the deal by claiming the victory with 50:50 on the clock, following another set-piece.

Bennett dived to his right to tip Malachi Thomas’ shot around the post and Tunbridge Wells switched off following Uxbridge’s fifth and final corner.

Michael Bryan swung the ball in from the left, the ball was flicked on by Preddie and Mensah cracked a hooked right-footed volley through a crowd of players to find the far corner of the net from just outside the corner of the six-yard box at the far post.

“It was a good hand from Jacob. We were absorbing a bit of pressure at that point.  The thing is when you look through our team I back us to defend set-pieces really well. We’ve got some good defenders and I suppose I wouldn’t have predicted before the game that would’ve been our undoing but that’s life. It throws some curve balls doesn’t it?

“I wasn’t really admiring (the finish) if I’m honest but it’s gone in. I couldn’t really see from my angle, I just saw the net ripple and I thought there’s not going to be a lot of time to come back from that.”

Referee Edward Smith blew his full-time whistle at 53:55 on the clock.

Tunbridge Wells travel to Hextable to play Sutton Athletic in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division next Saturday, 12 August (15:00).

“It’s back to league action, which is going to be the bread and butter of what we’re judged on this year,” said Ives.

“There’s plenty of positives to take from today and once we have a chance to analyse the video there will probably be some things we can constructively work on with the boys.

“Sutton’s a different game, a different opponent. We’ve got a week to plan for it and we remain confident we’ll put in another good account of ourselves.”

Eastbourne resident Ives departed Culverden Stadium in the summer to return to manage AFC Uckfield Town but swiftly returned to manage the club on Monday 24 July after Luke Carpenter resigned from the manager’s hot seat.

“If I’m completely truthful, I only left because I wanted to manage.  Never a million years I thought that opportunity would be here so that’s the curve balls that life throws at your sometimes,” said Ives, who was Carpenter’s assistant that guided Tunbridge Wells to an eighth-place finish last season.

“I think the fact there is a play-off system, everyone’s got to aspire to it.  Well, I say everyone, the vast majority of teams will be aspiring for that.  Are there any guarantees? 

“Obviously coming in very late and not having the benefit of some of the important parts of pre-season, the tactical stuff and even the settling of the squad, puts me on the back foot.

“But let’s be honest, I was brought in here because I know a lot of the boys. There’s some quality players here so we’ve just got to get ourselves as fit and organised as we can and I generally think we can be up and around. We will be competitive in every game and that will take us where it takes us.”

When asked what his chairman demands are for this season, Ives replied: “I think he generally wants us to be competitive and he wants us to put a side on the pitch that the fans’ can be proud of and they’ll turn up and support and other than that I think he’s a realist.

“He knows we should be in and around that kind of top eight, play-offs, so he’s not put me under any intense pressure but we set our own standards really.

“The boys are feeling really, really disappointed but the key message is we’ll just stick together and we’ll keep on building. It’s our second game together so you can’t have it all, can you?

"The good points are for 45 minutes we controlled pretty much every element of the game against a side a Step above us, and in truth I feel like most neutral observers would've said we were a good value for (our 2-0 lead) and probably would've struggled if they didn't actually know the history of the two clubs to work out which one was a Step Four club.

"Obviously, the second half they got their goal at a good time. I won't fault anyone's heart or effort but it's disapointing to let three goals in 45 minutes of football so that's probably the biggest negative."

Tunbridge Wells: Jacob Bennett, Harry Hudson, Ben Martin-Coward, Jack Walder, Tommy Smith, James White, Rory Ward, Dominic Wynter-Stephens (Frank Griffin 70), Trevor McCreadie, Billy Lewins (Bradley Austin 70), Luke Leppard (Johnny Phillips 81).
Subs: Zak Wolvey, Edward Sata, Cameron Wootton, Max Lambert

Goals: Trevor McCreadie 7, Billy Lewins 45

Booked: Billy Lewins 16, Trevor McCreadie 39, Rory Ward 88

Uxbridge: Finley Purcell, Joshua Andrew, Bryan Taylor, Alan Hedley, Shaun Preddie, Luke Paris, Anuar Ceesay, Kensley Maloney, Dean Morgan (Bernard Mensah 77), Alexander Witham (Michael Bryan 77), Bradley Pagliaroli (Malachi Thomas 85).
Subs: Ezra Ndukuba, Sherafgen Mughal, Lewis Patrick, Sean McGuinness

Goals: Anuar Ceesay 51, Shaun Preddie 90, Bernard Mensah 90

Booked: Dean Morgan 58, Alan Hedley 61, Kensley Maloney 80, Bryan Taylor 84

Attendance: 186
Referee: Mr Edward Smith
Assistants: Mr Daniel Wyatt & Mr Michael Barnes