Tunbridge Wells Mens I 1 Old Bordenians I 2
Tunbridge Wells began their campaign with an encouraging performance and an unlucky result. The final
score was 2-1 to Old Bordenians but the team left the pitch with confidence running high. It was "one of
those games" Turner said to his team. Wells went down to an early speculative chance but soon took a
strangle hold on the game and began to dominate the Old Bordenians half. Sam Clarke Knowles created
with dangerous runs and elimination after elimination and soon a flurry of short corners were awarded to
wells. Two strikes from turner were scrambled off the line, Hemsley got on the end of a rebound but failed
to connect and the equaliser didn't come.
Wells squeezed even more pressure on the Bordenians defence as they kept clearing their lines.
David Backx was rejected by the busy opposition keeper and Sam George desperately tried to find
attacking positions. By half time Wells had earned 7 short corners - none of which were converted. The
ball would simply not cross over the line.
The second half arrived with the confidence that one of the wells chances would eventually fall. Sam
Clarke Knowles was Tunbridge Wells best player and clearly the man of the match. He was beating
players all over the pitch and kept creating chances and again the short corners began to come. But more
desperation, more unbearable goal mouth scrambles, then Wells missed a penalty stroke and then the
umpire looked away as a Bordenians player stopped the ball cross over the line with his hand. Finally the
pressure was converted, Clarke Knowles scored a poachers goal and the score was 1-1.
The next few minutes were even more frustrating for Tunbridge Wells, as they continued to dominate
the match. Twice they scored but the umpire blew his whistle early playing no advantage. In the final 3
minutes another speculative chance came for Bordenians as they cleared their lines and the ball bobbled
through to a free player on the top of the circle. He struck the ball with his reverse stick and after a half
save from Rimmer the ball hit the post and crossed the line. Wells down 2-1.
Skipper Jamie Shaw reminded his team that sometimes these games happen and sport isn’t always fair.
Players wandered off knowing how Barcelona felt in their loss to Chelsea in the champions league final...
But heads held high for next week away at Holcombe.
Mens I beat Marden 4 – 2 in the Kent Cup to earn a tie against Sevenoaks
Grasshoppers 3 Sutton Valence 0
After our first game of the season, at which we routed Epsom 3-2, we were at home, against Sutton
Valence, at the Nevill, which is a spiritual place for us. Spiritual in the spiritual sense but also in the non
spiritual too.
After our prayer meeting we assembled on the pitch.
As is traditional we exchanged holiday photos and maple syrup,talked about our families and macula
degeneration.
We had our normal tea, few sarnies, and went home.
Fab. day.
Oh yes, a game in the middle of the afternoon.
The pitch, what can I say? Handcrafted to perfection by our groundsperson, David Tankard, it was like a
billiard table without the pockets.
We had a squad of16, but gave the opposition John Burton and Richard Landolt. The substitution policy
was decided and it worked well through out the match.
We started well, passing the ball from defence to mid- field and then up to the forwards. Sometimes we
even elected to pass sideways or, even, backwards.
We had most of the pressure and Nick Ivory squeezed the ball home after an excellent passing
movement. They created a few chances but none were converted, a few of their attempts narrowly
missed our goal. Jamie Crawford, between our sticks, had little to do. Our defence, marshalled by Martin
Athey, kept them at bay.
So half time and 1-0, couple of complaints about the quality of the oranges. Imported I suspect.
Nick ivory scored a second after a determined and mazy run.
From a short corner our left back prevented a bullet like shot from entering our net.
Then one of our new boys, David Barnes, struck a cracking shot into their net, 3-0.
We all played well,as a team for once, and special mention must be made of Steve Martins returning
after injury and Andy Cackett, back to his old self after some medical problems.
Tunbridge Wells Ladies I 4 Holcombe II 1
th
st
On Saturday 29 October Tunbridge Wells ladies 1 XI travelled away to Holcombe for their third league
match of the season. The side have been working with a new coach, Grant Hunt, who has clearly been
putting the girls through their paces in training.
It was no surprise that Holcombe proved to be a tough opposition and some good goalkeeping early on
kept the Wells ladies out of goal scoring territory. However, after countless pressure and some excellent
pressing from the Wells midfield consisting of Bertie Organ and Sarah Martins the Wells forwards were
able to move the ball quickly with Jen Hunt beating the keeper giving Wells a 1-0 lead.
Holcombe came back to equalise in open play and the match remained 1-1 into half time. Some skilful
defending from Lisa Fiddimore prevented Holcombe from finding the backboard and goalkeeper Ali Playle
commanded her defence with prowess from within the goal. Wells were able to take the lead after an
impressive reverse hit strike from Bex Ross, allowing Tunbridge Wells to relax and thus play some
promising hockey. Georgia Noakes, Brolley’s player of the match, made a number of strong runs down
the left wing winning Wells a number of penalty corners. A strike from Ross at a penalty corner was saved
on the line but Bertie Organ was there to send the ball into the goal. With a 3-1 lead and Wells still on the
attack a ball through from Organ to captain Jen Hunt was guided accurately past the goal keepers left
foot giving Wells another solid win (4-1) and 3 points to add to their impressive league start.
Wells go into their fourth game of the season on Saturday having scored 11 goals and only conceding
two.
EAST DIVISION 2SE
Tunbridge Wells 1
Southend 1
Folkestone 1
Basildon 1
Sevenoaks 3
Brentwood 1
Ashford 1
BBHC 1
Holcombe 2
Gore Court 1
Havering 1
Blackheath 1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 11 2 9 9
0 9 2 7 9
1 13 2 11 6
1 8 4 4 6
1 5 3 2 6
1 3 1 2 6
1 6 6 0 6
2 10 4 6 3
2 5 9 -4 3
3 2 6 -4 0
3 3 12 -9 0
3 0 24 -24 0
Blackheath II 0 Tunbridge Wells Royals 5
Royals gained their first victory of the season with a 5-0 win away to Blackheath. With a much changed
side The Royals were a disjointed team throughout the first half but still dominated play. Sarah
McClelland hit a post and several penalty corners either went just wide or were blocked by heroic keeping
by the Blackheath goalkeeper.
Carolyn Pollard and Sophia Scott dominated the midfield possession working well in tandem being well
supported on the flanks by Alice Pavey and Xanthe Stebbing making her debut for the Royals.
With no goals up to half time long term injury victim Lisa Boldrini came on for a short cameo and scored
twice with two penalty corners earned by the pace and creativity of Becky Law and Sarah McClelland.
Royals now settled and with a 2 goal cushion went on to score three more, great work by Sophia Scott
and Becky Law set up two goals for Sarah McClelland and the icing on the cake was Xanthe Stebbing
scoring her first goal on debut after supporting from the midfield and rifling a great shot across the keeper
into the far corner.
A good all around performance in the second half and one to build on for tougher tests to come.
Man of the match Sophia Scott.
Tunbridge Wells Ladies III 2 Ashford II 0
After two league defeats Tunbridge Wells Ladies 3s were determined to get some points on the board,
but facing Ashford 2nd X1,demoted from the division above, they knew this would be a big ask. Wells
started brightly with plenty of possession and an early short corner. Good harrying play from the mid field
helped stiffle any Ashford attacks, but it took until the second half for Wells to score, a drive into the D
from Emma Allington allowing Niamh Blackburn to ensure her shot found the back of the goal.
Wells defence were never really troubled by Ashford and the 2 short corners they did
concede were dealt with effectively. Wells continued to press into Ashfor'd half with good driving runs
from Milson and Blackburn which resulted in Wells being awarded short corners. The second one was
struck cleanly by Lou Bateman into the far left corner of the goal, sealing the win and moving Wells up the
league table
Tun Wells IV 0 New Beccs III 1
The sluggish start to the game could not be totally blamed on the 4.45pm bully off. Tun Wells 4s
struggled at the beginning as they played football rather than hockey and allowed New Becs to sneak in a
goal.
Following a stern talk at half time, a new team walked back onto the pitch. They worked hard together
and cohesively and really strove to change the score line. There were a number of near misses with
Maria Watson's goal being disallowed as her knee came into contact with the ball first. Things were
really looking very positive when unfortunately, Amy Stables was injured and Tun Wells had to carry on
with only 10 players. Despite a full on assault on the New Becs goal they were unable to hit the back of
the net.
This was a very evenly matched friendly game and has always been the case between the two teams whoever gets the first goal usually wins.
MOM: Jess Begg
Tunbridge Wells Ladies V 0 Faversham 0
This was a battle to get off the bottom so both sides fairly relieved at getting a point. However with
more assertiveness in the circle, Wells should have got the win. The team were not helped when two
players failed to materialize, one taken ill, the other failing to read the teamsheet again.
The game was very open, allowing Olivia Lay, Hayley Leadbeater and Tilly Wood to pass the ball
amongst themselves. Defenders Charlotte Rudman and Katy Fraser played very strongly and were able
to move further forward. On the wings, Tilda Mew and Jess Leroy, became more confident and hopefully
this was will continue through the season
Other Results: Mens: 2s L 2 – 0, 3s L 6 – 4, 4s L3 – 2, Vets W 4 - 1