Bridgwater United 2 - 2 Tunbridge Wells (Pens 3-5)
The Robins were just a minute or so from booking a place in the hat for the fifth round of the FA Vase. However, a very late equaliser was followed up by five successful penalties for the Kent club. United missed one of their penalties and were left to chew over this bitter disappointment.
This was definitely one that got away. When Jack Taylor’s second goal after 53 minutes put United two clear it looked more than likely that a home win would be the end result. Tunbridge Wells, although having plenty of possession, had rarely threatened to score. In fact, their finishing could be described as mostly wayward. United weren’t looking unduly stretched. The visitors did look a different proposition once they scored and making attacking substitutions aided their cause. They gambled and it paid off.
Recent drier weather had made the pitch a bit on the sticky side and a classic football experience was not going to happen. However, what we did get was compelling, uncompromising cup action with both teams putting everything out there. It had a slightly old fashioned feel with robust challenges and sliding tackles featuring prominently.
The early goal from Taylor, after six minutes, gave United the lead and control. Jake Llewellyn’s corner kick was drilled hard and at head height to the near post. Taylor dashed into a space in front of the defenders and his flick header flew into the net off a defender’s leg.
Just a couple minutes later Tunbridge Wells’ Harry Hudson lobbed a shot onto the crossbar, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside.
Morgan Williams fastened onto a loose back pass and tried to lay the ball on a plate for Sam Crumb. A defender got back well and made a vital interception.
Williams’ tenacity led to Taylor having a shot on the run. After beating the defender, he was a yard too high with his strong shot.
Tunbridge Wells were restricted to shots from distance, and they all missed comfortably. Apart from collecting several high crosses, Jake Viney was not much involved. United’s corner kicks spelt danger, but the visitors corner kicks lacked threat.
Taylor had another shot, this time it was pushed aside by keeper Aaron Lee-Wharton, and, after a bit of a melee, the visitors were able to clear their lines.
At half time, United looked comfortable and composed.
The second half started with a rush. Tom Llewellyn drove towards the edge of the penalty area and his low shot was pushed away by Lee-Wharton. His defenders scraped the ball away. Then almost immediately the ball was down the other end. Richard Atkins set up a very easy chance for Kyron Lightfoot. He should have scored but struck the bar instead.
When Taylor scored his second goal after 53 minutes it looked decisive. Taylor crossed the ball from the left and picked out Williams. His shot was spilled again by Lee-Wharton and Taylor raced in and crashed it in the net from a few yards.
Tunbridge Wells’ substitutions made them more dynamic going forwards. They won many corner kicks, but the United’s defence looked steady.
The game was going through a fairly uneventful phase when the visitors got one back after 69 minutes. A deep cross to the far post was headed away from near the goal line. When the ball dropped Hudson cleverly hooked the ball over his head and past Viney. In the act of scoring, Hudson had accidentally kicked Ross Edwards in the head. The referee deemed this to be acceptable.
This goal acted as a spur to Tunbridge Wells and United went too much on the defensive. They seemed happy to play out time. It did look like this approach would pay off because for the last twenty minutes the visitors didn’t fashion any chances to score although most of the play was in United’s half.
As their first goal was a bolt from the blue, then so was the second one in the third minute of time added on. Robbie Bissett was given the time and space to rifle a low drive from fifteen yards across Viney and that was 2-2. There was time to kick off after that goal but within a few seconds the final whistle ended the game.
Ironically and cruelly, it was Jake Llewellyn’s miss from the first United penalty kick that was to prove decisive. Ironic because his record of scoring from penalty kicks is magnificent and cruel because he was one of United’s top performers on the day. Tunbridge Wells scored all five and they were able to celebrate with their fans and their smoke bombs.
For the United players and supporters, this defeat was a hard one to take.
Match Details
Match: Bridgwater United v Tunbridge Wells
Competition: Buildbase FA Vase | Fourth Round
Date: Saturday 15th January 2022
Venue: Fairfax Park
Attendance: 336
Teams
United: Jake Viney, Ross Edwards, Jake Llewellyn, Mark Armstrong, Jordan Greenwood, Jacob Spence, George King, Morgan Williams, Jack Taylor, Tom Llewellyn, Sam Crumb.
Subs: Harry Horton, Ryan Brereton, Mike Duffy, Harry Durant, Adnan Hiroli, Sam Hedges, Cameron Gauci.
Tunbridge: Aaron Lee-Wharton, Frankie Griffin, James Nurden, Connor Pring, Ryan Cheek, Robbie Bissett, Reagan Corke, Jordan Wells, Richard Atkins, Harry Hudson, Kyron Lightfoot.
Subs: Jack Hope, Frankie Leonard, Jonathan Shea, Johnny Phillips, Josh Froggatt, Matt Gething.
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Barber
Assistant Referee: Dave Lilly
Assistant Referee: Adam Wilson
Fourth Official: Ali Thomas
Who’s next? United return to league action with a trip to West Cornwall to face sixth placed Helston Athletic at Kellaway Park, 3pm.
- By Mark Hollidge
- By Debbie Gould
