Wells pitch in to stun title favourites

TUNBRIDGE WELLS skipper Jason Bourne has challenged his team-mates to remain unbeaten for as long as they possibly can - after producing a shock result on the opening day of the Bulmers Cider Kent League season, writes Stephen McCartney.

New signing, striker Ross Cable drilled a right-footed 35-yarder into the bottom right-hand corner as the Wells stunned title favourites VCD Athletic in a disappointing game at Culverden Stadium.

Left-back Bourne hailed the 1-0 win as “a great start,” but vows to prove that this was not a flash in the pan.



BOURNE TO WIN:  Jason Bourne skippered Tunbridge Wells to a 1-0 win over title favourites VCD Athletic today.
Photograph courtesy of www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

“We’ve got a habit of drawing VCD first game and our results haven’t been fantastic against them,” admitted Bourne, when speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after the gritty win.

“But the boys were right up for it. We’ve got a couple of new faces in, pretty much everything’s positive in the changing room.”

In a game of limited chances, Bourne is pleased that boss Mike Robbins has been able to bring a quality striker to the club.

“He’s got a habit of doing that hasn’t he?” Bourne said of Cable’s goalscoring contribution.

“Everywhere he’s been he’s scored goals. He’s a goalscorer and that was the difference today really.

“I think both teams didn’t have many chances today so that’s what it’s all about.

Wet weather welcomed the opening day of the new season and the game was played on a poor, long, playing surface, in front of the second highest attendance in the division.

“We got our tractor on it yesterday to rough it up a little bit!” joked Bourne.

“The pitch hasn’t been in great condition. They’ve done some drainage work on it, it hasn’t settled down as they wanted. I don’t think it (the long grass) helped us at all.”

VCD Athletic, a side that have finished runners-up for the past two seasons, couldn’t handle the conditions and were stunned to lose the game.

“They tried to play right down the middle without any wide players,” said Bourne. “I think they didn’t get their formation right.”

Tunbridge Wells travel to Slade Green in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup next Saturday, before returning to league action with games against Lordswood and Sevenoaks Town.

Slade Green produced an impressive 3-0 win to win at Erith & Belvedere, a side that’s also gunning for the title.

And Bourne said: “It’s still early days. At the end of the day, beating VCD is nothing if we don’t kick on and win our next few games.

“We’ve got to make sure we kick on, or this result doesn’t mean anything.”

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