After the 1-1 draw and 120 minutes of football last week at Highworth, these two sides couldn’t be separated.
A further 120 minutes today, this time a 2-2 draw, meant that the match would be settled from 12 yards; where Highworth Town demonstrated their proficiency on both sides of the ball to defeat Tunbridge Wells 4-1.
Recent signing, Paul Booth, gave Tunbridge Wells a lead on the day in the 36th minute, only for Highworth’s leading marksman, TJ Bohane, to cut through the Wells defence to equalise 5 minutes after the interval. The visitors took the lead nine minutes into the first period of extra time as Ryan King finally converted as the home side failed to clear a corner. Then, with just four minutes remaining, Brendon Cass fired in the goal that would take the game to spot kicks.
Three out of the four Highworth penalties were taken by substitutes, but all four executed perfect kicks giving Steve Lawrence no chance. Meanwhile, Highworth’s keeper Gary Stevens excelled; not only saving a Booth penalty during the match, although he had no chance with the follow-up for the opening goal, and denying both Booth and Jake Beecroft to see the Wiltshire side through.
The opening exchanges were a typical FA Vase affair, with both sides feeling each other out. Tunbridge Wells were dealt a blow in the 11th minute as defensive powerhouse Perry Spackman was forced off due to a calf injury, which saw the side reorganise with Tom Davey dropping into the back four. As the defence adjusted to the chance, Jon Davoile had the first shot on target, which Steve Lawrence saved full length to his right.
Tunbridge Wells’ manager, Martin Larkin, said about Spackman’s injury that “it was a massive loss; not only as we’d worked on Tom Davey and Jake Beecroft sitting in the middle. There’s no-one better at this level at what those two do, but we missed Perry’s physicality at set pieces at both ends. Rory (Head) has come on, but he’s just 17 and this was a massive experience for him. In the end it’s hurt us on their second goal because Perry normally comes and clears aerial balls, and we didn’t clear our lines properly”.
On 22, Highworth’s 27-goal forward, TJ Bohane, benefited from a quick throw on the right, and a low pull-back from strike partner Callum Parsons, to get a shot away inside the area, but the chance didn’t curl back towards the left post. Just two minutes later, Bohane had a better chance, but couldn’t stretch far enough to meet a ball that Parsons had drilled across the face of goal.
Despite the loss of Spackman, Tunbridge Wells were determined to hold a high defensive line, which meant that Lawrence often had to act as a sweeper with Highworth playing long balls from back to front. On 32, the visitors beat the high line, allowing Parsons to twist and turn in the area. The forward went down over a sliding challenge from Davey, with the defender hooking the ball clear, as Highworth appealed for a penalty.
Although they had been putting some dangerous crosses into the Highworth area, the home side’s first clear chance came on 33, as Tom Bryant’s ball from halfway found Booth on the edge of the box. The veteran striker turned Ashley Taylor and got his shot away; well held by Gary Stevens.
Two minutes later, Tunbridge Wells had the chance to take the lead as left winger Lee Radford powered his way past a weak challenge from Tony Joyce and, as his touch carried him into the box, he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground by a shoulder charge from Taylor. Booth took the responsibility for the spot kick, but his penalty was well saved by Stevens, flying to his left. The keeper was unfortunate that the rebound dropped perfectly for Booth to tap into the empty net.
Other than two Highworth freekicks, which were well defended by the Wells’ defence, neither keeper was tested as both sides seemed happy to settle for half-time.
Highworth were sent out early for the second half, and whatever manager John Fisher had said worked as they flew at Tunbridge Wells at the start of the second period. The quick start unsettled the home defence and it took only five minutes for Highworth to draw level. A long ball over the top of the defence saw Bohane run through. He held off Davey’s initial challenge, and rounded Lawrence to tap into the empty net.
Moments after the restart, an identical ball saw Bohane run through unchallenged again, but this time Lawrence was able to make a save low to his right to deny the Highworth striker. From the resulting corner, Taylor rose to plant a header into Lawrence’s grateful arms.
It took the home side about 15 minutes to work their way back into the game, during which time Davey had 6 minutes off the pitch receiving treatment for a cut to the head. Their effort was rewarded as Booth and Brendon Cass combined with a 1-2 to allow Cass a shot on target that Stevens palmed away.
Highworth had a late chance to snatch victory in normal time, as Bohane smashed a low cross through the 6-yard box, with Dan Drewett unable to convert at the back post. And the home side had time to come close themselves, with Booth’s cross finding the head of Cass. His header deflected off Aitkenhead and seemed to be creeping in at the angle, until Stevens clawed the header away.
Into the first period of extra time and it seemed both sides had thrown caution to the wind. Parsons had a shot saved by Lawrence’s right foot, while at the other end Stevens from both Booth and Cass. The two strikers then combined on 97 to allow Cass a right foot volley that was arrowing into the top corner, until Stevens threw himself backwards to get a hand to the shot, diverting it over the bar.
Within 90 seconds, Highworth took the lead for the first time in the two games, as Tunbridge Wells failed to clear a left wing corner. Ryan King’s initial ball in dropped kindly to the feet of Bohane, whose first shot was blocked by the body of Lawrence. Bohane stabbed another effort goalwards, only to be denied by Jason Bourne on the line, but the rebound fell to the run of King, who made no mistake.
Highworth were now content to sit back and hit on the break, as Tunbridge Wells were struggling to create any chances. All day, set pieces were hitting the front man, but with four minutes left, Davey managed to find Booth’s head. The striker’s flick unnerved Stevens, who allowed the ball to drop into the path of Cass, who slammed in the equaliser.
So it came down to penalty kicks to decide who will face Bradford Town in the Fifth Round. Aaron Maximen converted well, but Booth put his spot kick the same way as in the first half, with Stevens repeating his earlier save. King, Cass and Bohane all scored making it 3-1 to the visitors, before Stevens flew to his right to block Jake Beecroft’s effort. Nathan Blackford was left to make it four out of four, placing his kick in off the underside of the bar to seal the tie.
At the end, a dejected Larkin added “Penalties is never a nice way to get knocked out, and hat’s off to Highworth, they’ve put all four into the side netting, and the last one off the bar. It’s exciting if you win, but it is awful when you lose. Games at this stage of the Vase are always tight and we were happy to go in one up.”
“We’ve done well today with our work-rate, but we’ve had two pops at them now and haven’t shown the quality we’ve got on either day. We didn’t put them under consistent pressure, didn’t kick on after the penalty, and the boys have held their hands up that our dead ball situations were poor today.”
“I gave the boys credit as we’ve reacted really well to going behind, and we deserved to get the second goal. The Vase is very special to us here, and the boys know their responsibilities. We’ve had a few late goals this year and that is a reason never to give up.”
“They (Highworth) are a good side, a direct side, and put us under pressure. We saw last week how they scored their goal, and they’ve hit us again with balls over the top. Fair play, they came here and deserved to go through.”
TUNBRIDGE WELLS: Steve Lawrence, Jason Bourne (Ian Parsons 103), Tom Bryant, Tom Davey, Brad Potter, Perry Spackman (Rory Head 11), Jack Goldsmith (Brendon Cass 69), Jake Beecroft, Paul Booth, Joe Fuller, Lee Radford.
Subs not used: Andy Boyle, Tolley Beatson.
Goals: Paul Booth 36, Brendon Cass 116.
Booking: Tom Bryant 89.
HIGHWORTH TOWN: Gary Stevens, Tony Joyce, Chris Jackson, Ashley Taylor, Sam Wadieh, Jonathan Aitkenhead, Dan Drewett (Aaron Maximen 86), Jon Davoile, TJ Bohane, Callum Parsons (Nathan Blackford 106), Brad Clark (Ryan King 67).
Sub not used: Garry Eggleton.
Goals: TJ Bohane 50, Ryan King 99.
Bookings: Ashley Taylor 35, TJ Bohane 101, Chris Jackson 109.
Attendance: 788
Referee: Mr G Read
Assistants: Mr G Mays and Mr L Pinto Nunes
4th Official: Mr C Myatt