Tunbridge Wells took one step closer to a dream trip to Wembley and will take a two goal advantage to Shildon in the FA Vase semi-final.

The game nearly did not start as at 2:00pm the Referee was undecided about the condition of the pitch, but with people queuing up outside the ground it was given the green light and the fans starting going into the ground. The pitch was muddy and wet but firm in places, it was like going back in time & watching football in the Seventies.

The record crowd of 1744 saw both sides produce a game to remember especially the Tunbridge Wells fans.

The game started slowly as both sides adapted to the conditions and in the 15th minute Shildon had the first half chance when Mark Hudson played a long ball down the right for Sam Garvis to run onto and he cut inside, but his weak curling shot was easily saved by Chris Oladogba.

Tunbridge Wells had their first chance in the 23rd minute when Josh Stanford’s cross to the far post found Jon Pilbeam and his shot beat the keeper Keith Finch but Carl Jones on the line cleared.

Four minutes later Garvis on the right received the ball and cut inside but screwed his shot wide.

Another four minutes further on and Tunbridge Wells on the attack saw the ball end at Andy Irvine’s feet and he turned and shot from 20 yards but Finch saved easily.

In the 35th minute a Wells free kick saw Irvine rise but his header went wide. A minute later Daniel Richmond put Garvis into the area and his cross shot was saved by Oladogba at the second attempt.

The last chance of the half came in the 39th minute when Chris Hunter running forward saw his shot from 20 yards deflected into the arms of Oladogba.

The second half saw Shildon up the anti & for the next 20 minutes dominating possession, in the 53rd minute Michael Tate on the right saw his cross deflected goalwards by Perry Spackman but Oladogba saved, three minutes later a free kick into the Wells area was half cleared but only to Mark Hudson whose shot was deflected into the keepers arms.

Another chance went a begging in the 63rd minute when a corner to the backpost saw Jamie Owens head high and wide when unopposed.

In the very next minute Wells counter attacked with Pilbeam and his cross came back to him and his cross shot beat the keeper but was headed clear by Hunter.

In the 70th minute Ben Wood saw his driven cross parried away by Oladogba but only to Owens and his shot from 18 yards was blocked by Pilbeam for a corner.

In the 78th minute Tunbridge Wells took the lead when Carl Connell only on for five minutes broke forward and passed it out to Pilbeam on the right and his floated cross to the back post found Irvine in the area 7 yards out and he controlled it and then shot past Finch to send the vast majority of the crowd wild.

Two minutes later and the score was doubled when Cornell on the left cut inside the area and was tripped by Richard Flynn to concede a penalty and up stepped Pilbeam and he coolly shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

The last few minutes were agony as Shildon tried to get a goal back but Wells defence held firm and when the final whistle went the crowd & players were ecstatic.

Tunbridge Wells line up: Chris Oladogba, Jason Bourne, Lewis Mingle, Jason Barton (Carl Cornell 69), Scott Whibley, Perry Spackman, Jon Pilbeam, Joe Fuller, Andy Irvine (Richard Sinden 90), Jack Harris, Josh Stanford.

Subs not used: Andy Boyle, Tom Carr, Michal Czanner.

Goals: Andy Irvine (78), Jon Pilbeam (pen 84)

Booked: Scott Whibley 44, Joe Fuller 71.

Shildon line up: Keith Finch, Christopher Hunter, Ben Christensen, Mark Hudson, Carl Jones (Christopher McCabe 37), Richard Flynn, Samuel Garvie, Robert Briggs, Jamie Owens, Michael Tate (Ben Wood 69), Daniel Richmond.

Subs not used: Adam Johnston, Billy Greulish-Smith, John Brackstone.

Referee: Mr Michael Bull

Attendance: 1,754

Pictures supplied by Jake Stanford