More that 1,100 packed into the Culvenden Stadium to see if Martin Larkin could lead Tunbridge Wells into the last four of the FA Carlsberg Vase, and the vast majority went home very happy indeed following a goal in each half from Wells top scorer Andy Irvine.
Just as it appeared that Hadleigh had withstood the early Wells onslaught, Irvine (who’s Dad Alan played for the club in the 1980’s) opened the scoring ten minutes from half time – smartly turning home after Jon Pilbeam’s cross had been turned into his path by Andy McMath, and followed that up by sliding in to turn Pilbeams brilliant cross home with just a quarter of an hour left on the clock to send the home supporters into dream land!
It was only what Larkin’s side deserved as from first whistle to last, they dominated their opponents from Suffolk who ply their trade in the Thurlow Nunn Premier League and could and perhaps should have been out of sight by half time. As early as the fourth minute, Perry Spackman brought a smart save out of United keeper Dan Heath as Tom Davey’s free kick dropped just right in the box, and then McMath’s audacious over head kick dropped inches past Heath’s right post after the keeper punched a corner clear.
The home side continued to enjoy large chunks of possession and half way through the half they went close again. Pilbeam sprinted clear down the right, and his fine ball in was expertly laid off by Spackman for McMath who’s shot just didn’t curl or dip enough for the home support. The break through finally came on 35 minutes when Irvine reacted quickest to a dropping ball to ram the ball beyond Heath for his 12th goal of the season. It could have been even better had referee Kinseley (who was excellent throughout) not been happy with Mark Goldfinch’s last ditch challenge as Spackman burst into the box just before half time.
Any expectation that Hadleigh would come out of the traps after the break was really misguided as the home side continued to dominate, and it was Irvine who had the half’s first chance and being honest he should really have taken it. Pilbeams dominance of United left back Shane Wardley all afternoon was illustrated when the Wells wide made burst into the box and as the ball fell to Irvine, he skied over from six yards.
A poor defensive header from Spackman almost opened the door for Hadleigh just past the hour mark, but Larkin had his keeper Chris Oladogba to thank for his side still being in front. United striker Lee McGlone nipped in and Oladogba was forced to block the strikers first touch outside of the box before hacking clear as McGlone thought he’d rounded the Wells stopper. It was a chance that the visitors were not to see again, as with the visitors pushing forward trying to breach the Wells back line – led brilliantly by Spackman and Scott Whibley – gaps were left at the back which the home side gleefully exploited on seventy five minutes.
Irvine did brilliantly to win the ball on half way before combining with sub Bradley Large, who released Pilbeam down the right, and Irvine duly completed the move by arriving late to slide home the wingers teasing centre to seal the Wells passage into the last four.
And that passage could have even more conclusive had the home side taken one or more of the chances that presented themselves late on. First Irvine was denied the match ball by a really fine block from Heath after a swift exchange of passes with Large before Pilbeam was only inches away with a drive as Oladonga’s huge goal kick wasn’t dealt with as Large battled through, before the keeper did well to block Pilbeam for a second time as the winger was denied the goal that his performance undoubtedly deserved.
The joy around the Culvenden at the final whistle really was something to behold, and now Larkin faces just one final hurdle until a possible place under the Wembley Arch. Before then though Larkin and his squad will have to overcome a two legged semi final oh and a Kent Trophy Semi Final against Erith and Belvedere and incredibly half their league matches – Wells have so far only pleased 16 of 30 Kent League games because of their success in the respective Cup competitions – guess that comes with being a “successful” cup team!
TUNBRIDGE WELLS – Oladogba, Bourne, Mingle, Davey, Whibley, Spackman, Pilbeam, McMath, Irvine (Harris), Cornell (Large), Stanford (Barton)
Subs – Fuller and Czanner
HADLEIGH UNITED – Heath, Brown, Wardley, Jennings (Canfer), Goldfinch, Donnelly, Josiah (Langer), Calver, McGlone, Bloomfied (Downing), Chaplin
Subs – Gainsford and Da Lara Bell
Referee – Nicholas Kinseley
Assistants – Lloyd Wood and Jonathan Pickford
Fourth Official – Andrew Parker
Attendance 1,118