Tunbridge Wells booked themselves an FA Vase Final spot at Wembley as their game at Shildon took a dramatic late turn.

After Deal Town became the first Kent side to win the last FA Vase at the “old” Wembley in 2000, Kent League watchers wondered just how long it would be before the county had a chance for a second victory in the competition.

Thirteen years later and after 150 pulsating minutes, for Tommy Sampson read Martin Larkin and for Deal Town read Tunbridge Wells, as the Wells travelled to County Durham and successfully defended a two goal lead to continue their march on the most famous Arch in football.

Ahead from the first leg after two late goals from top scorer Andy Irvine and  Jon Pilbeam, Larkin’s side headed North knowing that their opponents Northern League opponents Shildon had to pull back a deficit.

What wasn’t in the script however was the two first half goals that the Durham side scored to level the game up courtesy of Jamie Owens and Chris McCabe in thirteen first half minutes.  What most definitely wasn’t part of Larkin’s plan was Sam Garvie making it 3-0 on 66 minutes putting the Northerners in front for the first time in the entire tie.

It was a lead that they were to hold only for eight minutes – and it was to prove the only eight minutes that the Wells were to be behind over the two legs.  Digging into all the Kentish resolve and determination they could find, Larkin’s side drew level on aggregate just a quarter of an hour from time when Irvine fired a looping shot beyond the keeper and into the net and continued his remarkable run in the competition as he has now scored in every Vase game he’s played this season!

There could have been an incredible finale as Wells were indebted to the frame of their goal as Billy Greulich’s header came back off of Chris Oladogba’s crossbar.

As the soft pitch sapped the stamina even more than the Culvenden Stadium had seven days earlier, the tie went into extra time, and cometh the hour cometh the man as central defender Perry Spackman, who has been truly inspirational in the Wells run, was on hand to bullet home the header that sends Tunbridge Wells and the rest of Kent football heading for Wembley Way on May 4th.

The achievement of Martin Larkin’s side can not be underestimated – they are just the sixth Kent side ever to win their way through to a Wembley Final.

They are just the second Kent League side to ever to reach the FA Vase Final.  They are only the second Kent team to play at the “new” Wembley.  But today is all about 16 heroes who have done their county, their club and more importantly themselves so very proud!

Spennymoor Town await at Wembley after seeing their way past Guernsey in their semi-final.

 

The journey continues…

 

TUNBRIDGE WELLS – Chris Oladogba, Jason Bourne, Lewis Ming, Joe Fuller, Scott Whibley, Perry Spackman, John Pilbeam, Andy McMath, Andy Irvine, Carl Cornell, Josh Stanford.

Subs – Andy Boyle, Tom Cane, Jack Harris, Richard Sinden, Michael Czanner.