Seven days before the biggest match in their history, Tunbridge Wells continue to build momentum, with a 3-1 Kent League victory over Canterbury City.

All the goals came in the second half, as Wells capitalised on a slow start from the hosts with strikes from Jack Harris and Carl Cornell within 10 minutes of the restart.  Canterbury pulled one back through substitute Steven Baines, that could have set up a grandstand finish, but Jon Pilbeam sealed the three points in stoppage time.  But, the scoreline doesn’t detract from a man-of-the-match performance from Canterbury’s 16-year old goalkeeper Tom Hadler.

Playing up the substantial slope at Winches Field, Tunbridge Wells seemed to be more tactically aware as they created the better, clearer chances, whereas Canterbury looked good up to the edge of the Tunbridge Wells area, but too often there was no end product.

Carl Cornell’s throughball on 12 minutes allowed Josh Stanford to break towards the area, but the winger’s first touch carried the ball too close to Hadler, who was quickly off his line.  Within seconds, Jack Harris latched onto another ball behind the Canterbury back-line and, after rounding Hadler, his shot was blocked by the recovering Ashley Sains.

Harris and Cornell combined again three minutes later from Chris Oladogba’s goalkick; Harris’ flick found Cornell in the area, and Harris bent his run allowing Cornell to slide the ball into his path, but Hadler was out again to force Harris to push his shot wide.

Cornell flicked on another Oladogba clearance to Stanford, whose shot was blocked in the ‘D’ by Hadler’s legs, then the goalkeeper was up quickly to parry away Cornell’s attempted chip.  Hadler was later forced into a reaction save from Lewis Mingle’s flicked header, after Harris had headed Joe Fuller’s corner towards the net

Canterbury’s first clear-cut chance arrived 8 minutes before the interval.  Jake Gess’ long crossfield ball allowed Sam Staunton to break in behind Jason Bourne, and from the by-line his cross was met by Alex Nelson, whose header from the penalty spot cleared the bar.

Jon Pilbeam switched wings to the left, and curled an effort past the right hand post.  Then, he drove into the area, rolled the ball back to Cornell, who turned and fired a shot that Hadler did well to save low to his right side.

Oladogba pulled off a full-length save to deny Glen Johnson in first-half stoppage time, but Canterbury were to pay for a sluggish start to the second half.

Six minutes in, Bourne took a quick throw to Cornell.  He went on a weaving run, exchanging passes with Harris, before Harris took the ball past the last two defenders and slotted the ball through Hadler’s legs to give Tunbridge Wells the lead.

Four minutes later, Cornell doubled the lead, although Canterbury felt there was a hint of offside in the build-up.  Fuller released Pilbeam on the right wing, and he drove into the area before squaring the ball across goal, for Cornell to turn in.  Although Hadler managed to get a hand to the shot, it still nestled inside the left post.

Perry Spackman had a header loop onto the roof of the Canterbury net, and in reply, Staunton fired a volley wildly over as Canterbury started to get a foothold in the game.

With thirteen minutes left, Baines did pull a goal back.  Johnson’s cross in from the right wing found Baines in space in the middle of the area, and his header looped over Oladogba’s outstretched arm into the top corner.

Tunbridge Wells could have sealed the game soon after, as Richard Sinden somehow pulled the ball wide, having been fed in by Pilbeam.  Then, Stanford and Fuller combined to release Cornell, whose toe-poked shot was bravely blocked by Hadler.

Pilbeam sealed the win in stoppage time, turning in Sinden’s cross after the Canterbury back-four had been caught high up the pitch once again.

CANTERBURY CITY: Tom Hadler, Samuel Baker, Chris Elliott, Simon Austin, Ashley Sains, George Mitchell, Jake Gess, George Coshall (Steven Baines 63), Glen Johnson, Alex Nelson, Sam Staunton.

Subs: Lee Reilly, Tom Willett, Tom Bish.

Goal: Steven Baines 77.

Booking: George Mitchell 71.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS: Chris Oladogba, Jason Bourne, Lewis Mingle, Joe Fuller, Scott Whibley, Perry Spackman, Jon Pilbeam, Andy McMath (Tom Davey 61), Jack Harris (Richard Sinden 73), Carl Cornell, Josh Stanford.

Subs: Andy Boyle, Andy Irvine, Jason Barton.

Goals: Jack Harris 51, Carl Cornell 55, Jon Pilbeam 90.

Bookings: Scott Whibley 81, Joe Fuller 90.

Referee: Mr I Searle

Assistants: Mr A Ratcliff and Mr J Stokes