The early start to the season saw two sides looking for promotion and Sheppey came out on top and get their season off and running.

The game was only 40 seconds old when Tunbridge Wells took the lead when Regan Corke sped down the right wing & his low cross to the near post was turned into his own net by a defender. 

Tunbridge then nearly went two up in the 6^th minute when again Corke on the right  saw his low cross found Jordan Wells whose quick turn saw his shot from 10 yards blocked.

Sheppey finally got the goal out of their system & in the 12^th minute Renford Tenyue in the area saw his shot blocked. Seven minutes later Adam Molloy was called into action when Matt Gethin was put through & his shot from 10 yards saved by Molloy.

Sheppey were now getting into the game & in the 24^th minute a short corner saw a cross to the back post where Jack Midson was & his header hit the top of the net. In the 31^st minute Sheppey must have wondered if it was going to be their day when firstly Taureen Roberts on the right wing cut in & his shot was deflected goal wards only for Harry Hudson to acrobatically clear of the line but came out to a Sheppey player & his shot was pushed away for a corner by Aaron Lee-Wharton.

Five minutes later & Sheppey were getting closer when Junior Aikhionbare saw his shot come back off the post. In the 40^th minute Sheppey got their deserved equalise when the ball was played out wide on the right to Aikhionbare who cut in & from 15 yards out wide he hammered the ball past Lee-Wharton.

Half time arrived & a draw was probably the right score as both teams had had some good chances & both were playing some good football.

The second half was only 3 minutes old when Sheppey took the lead when Roberts on the left wing crossed to the back post which was headed clear but only to Tenyue who from 10 yards shot home, Sheppey were now in control & in the 65^th minute substitute James Jeffrey received the ball on half way & he then went on a mazy run ending up in the area & his shot was blocked for a corner.

In the 76^th minute Sheppey made it safe when Tenyue shot was palmed away by Lee-Wharton but it went straight to Roberts who twisted around & shot home. To give credit to Tunbridge Wells they tried to get back in the game but Sheppey had all the answers on the day & have got three points in the bag.

       

TUNBRIDGE WELLS:

1. A.LEE-WHARTON  2. F.GRIFFIN   3. J.NURDEN   4. J.JOHNSON  5. R.ROGERS   6. H.HUDSON 7.    R.CORKE   8. C.PRING (84)  9. M.GETHIN   10. J.WELLS (80)  11. E.SAHASOW (68)

SUBS USED:  14. J.FROGGATT (68)  16. L.MURRAIN (80)   12. H.KILLICK (84)

SUBS NOT USED: 15. M.CORNWALL  17. J.HOPE

BOOKINGS: 4. J.JOHNSON (30)  11. E.SAHASOW (35)

SHEPPEY UNITED:

1. A.MOLLOY   2. D.BIRCH   3. D. SMITH   4. J.HOWLETT-MUNDLE  20. L.ALLEN  19. R.FREEMAN 17. R.TENYUE (88)   8. B.BENNETT  15. J.AKINHIONBARE (64)  10. J.MIDSON (88)   11. T.ROBERT.

SUBS USED:  9. J.JEFFREY (64)  2. B.WISON (88)   6. R.HAMILL (88)

SUBS NOT USED;  5. A.SAINS  16. L.CAREY

BOOKINGS: 8.B.BENNETT (63)   9. J.JEFFREY (79)

REFEREE: Mr D.BLADES

ASSISTANTS: Mr S.ROOT   & Mr S.PEERLESS

ATTENDANCE: 411