Southern Counties East League
Alderbrook Stadium, Crowborough
Admission including Programme: £6.00
Attendance: 253
Match Rating: 3
Following
my morning match at AFC Uckfield Town, I headed eight miles northwards to
visit a club that I visited frequently up to last season, when they were
my local club before moving away from the area. The match promised to be quite an interesting
game, between two local clubs separated by just seven miles but who have hardly played each other in
recent years, several former Tunbridge Wells players would be lining up for Crowborough today, and Tunbridge Wells would no doubt bring with them their
usual large and vocal support that they have gained since the club reached the FA
Vase final at Wembley a couple of seasons ago.
There
have been a couple of ground improvements at the Alderbrook since last
season, in order to meet the requirements of the Isthmian League should the team do the business on the field in the near future. The bar that was previously immediately behind the goal has been
relocated, leaving a more spacious area for persons buying refreshments, and is now housed in a separate brick building behind one corner.
Dubbed the "Crow Arms", it even has a pub style sign hanging outside, a
nice touch. The programme is similar to editions produced in previous
years - professionally produced, contains the essential stats with other
interesting articles to digest.
Today would be the first
ever league meeting between the two, after the first ever competitive
game occurred last season in the FA Vase, which Tunbridge Wells won 1-0
at home. Having previously competed in the Sussex League, finishing in fifth place last season, Crowborough
won their first game in the Southern Counties East League, against
Canterbury City, before losing at Greenwich Borough (3-0) and Sevenoaks
(2-1), and sandwiched between those defeats was a 0-7 home defeat
against Dorking Wanderers in an FA Cup replay. Once again one of the
favourites for
promotion, after disappointingly finishing in fourth place last season 15 points adrift of champions Whyteleafe, Tunbridge Wells duly kicked off this season with two wins,
before losing at neighbours Sevenoaks and drawing at home against
Woodstock Sports.
Rain continued to fall constantly throughout this game, but after
enduring my first goalless game of the season this morning, I would only have
to wait another 36 seconds for a goal here, with a dream start for the Crows.
Mark Roberts fired in a perfect cross from the right, and Scott Treleaven
headed home from close range. Although Crowborough were certainly on top for
most of the first half, the game became increasingly physical, partly due to
the tricky, slippery conditions and probably more so as that is how Tunbridge
Wells play, and few clear cut goalscoring chances were created. Tunbridge Wells
equalised four minutes before the break though, when a throw in was headed across goal
by Perry Spackman, and with former Wells keeper Michal Czanner committed at his
near post, Brendon Cass tapped into the empty net from close range.
With the rain continuing to fall heavily into and throughout the second half, the game continued
to be disjointed, with the slippery surface combined with a physical style of
play, but the Wells went into the lead on 56 minutes. Jake Beecroft swung over
a perfect cross from the right, and Nick Davis bulletted the ball into the net
with his head. On 63 minutes, it looked like Crowborough would have the chance
of getting back on level terms. A powerful shot from a central position from the edge of the box by Mark Roberts
was blocked on the line by Wells defender Jason Bourne. The linesman flagged
for a penalty, but the referee overruled him and waved play on. It appears the
referee might have called it correctly, that the ball struck Bourne’s chest
rather than hand. That turned out to be Crowborough’s last real chance to get
something out of the game, as Tunbridge Wells closed the game out quite
comfortably and if anything looked the likelier to score. So, the Wells came
out on top in this derby game where experience, physicality and a direct approach prevailed over a
young team looking to play in a more patient, creative style. It is difficult to see
Tunbridge Wells winning the title this season, as their style of play probably
will not prevail against the stronger teams in this division, whilst
Crowborough look on course for a steady, unspectacular season in mid-table, adjusting to life in a new
league, but will hopefully lay the foundations to push for promotion in seasons to come.
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