Two goals in a seven minute spell early in the second half earned Tunbridge Wells victory at Phoenix Sports.

They started the brighter and had their first chance from an early corner when Dan Tear’s header was tipped over the bar by Steve Phillips. Tear was also on the end of the follow up delivery, but he was again thwarted, this time by a good block.

At the other end, Francis Babalola’s cross was deflected over Tunbridge goalkeeper, but it landed on the bar and went over.

Phillips again had to be at his best when making a brilliant save from Trevor McCreadie’s first time volley before Conner Ping was set up nicely only to see his shot deflected over. Tear then headed over after he lost his marker at the near post.

Luke Leppard had a half chance with a shot that Jason Tibble saved easily then another when his effort was blocked into the path of Lee Bird, however Tibble was equal to it.

Phillips saved from McCreadie before Phoenix came close when Alfie Evans squared to Andy Pugh whose shot was saved brilliantly by Tibble. The resulting corner also fell to Pugh, but his effort was cleared off the line.

That turned out to be his last part of the action as he had to be withdrawn and replaced by Lewis Clark.

Although Phoenix finished the first half strongly, it counted for nothing when the visitors went ahead two minutes after the break through an excellent strike by James Nurden. Seven minutes later, Phillips made an excellent save from Jacob Feasey only for it to fall into the path of McCreadie, and he finished coolly.

Less than two minutes later, Phoenix pulled themselves back into the game. Evans took a free kick from the right and Leppard got up well to head home. Tom O’Connor came close to levelling shortly afterwards, but Tibble tipped his deflected shot over.

McCreadie had another opportunity but shot over before the Evans and Leppard combination again caused problems when the latter’s first time effort whistled just over.

After that, chances dried up at both ends and the visitors were able to kill the clock and ease their way to victory.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Henry Douglas was taken out by rash challenge, reacted badly, and was shown a red card.

Phoenix Sports: Phillips, Douglas, Cousins (Lake 85), Babalola, O’Connor, Denny, Elliott, Bird, Leppard, Pugh (Clark 38), Evans.

Subs not used: Young, King, Goumou.

Goal scorers: Leppard (56)

Yellow cards: Denny, Douglas

Red card: Douglas

Tunbridge Wells: Tibble, Griffin, Bissett, Paluby (Walder 76), Tear, Pring (Phillips 85), Astle, Shea, McCreadie (Bartlett 79), Feasey, Nurden.

Subs not used: Ebooa, Falarde.

Goal scorers: Nurden (47), McCreadie (54)

Yellow cards: Paluby, Astle

Referee: Ericson Temu

Assistants: Stephen Hughes and Daniel Wyatt

Attendance: 78