One goal was enough to decide the FA Cup Extra Preliminary round replay at Oakley Road when Holmesdale entertained Tunbridge Wells.

Kayden Turner-Bernard was on target for the hosts, however, they were indebted to goalkeeper Charlie Wealands who refused to be beaten. 

Most of the best chances of the first half came from dead ball deliveries as the game was played at a frantic pace. Rory Ward hooked over for the visitors after D’Armando Lawrence caused disarray in the Dalers defence before William Bell climbed higher than Wells’ goalkeeper George Bentley to get on the end of a deep free kick but he was unable to keep it down.

In the thirteenth minute, Holmesdale scored the crucial goal. Lewis Heywood-Oriogun out-muscled his man down the left and drove across goal. Bentley could only push it out and Turner-Bernard fired home gleefully.

Malachi Hudson was brought down and fired the free kick into the defensive wall. That turned out to be his last meaningful action as he went down shortly after with a hamstring strain forcing Holmesdale into making their first substitution. 

Free kicks crossed into the respective penalty areas were met by headers over the bar. Deliveries by Ward were headed over by Thomas Penfold and Christian Lawal and Bell did likewise at the other end when meeting Callum Keeble’s deep free kick. Amidst that action, Holmesdale had a huge appeal for a penalty waved away.

Early in the second period a first time long range drive by Keeble fizzed just over before Penfold stooped to head another Ward delivery but was still unable to keep it down. Ali Mansaray then pulled a shot wide for the hosts from twenty yards.

Rhys Bartlett got on the end of a Lawrence cross and headed it inches wide with Wealands an onlooker before the lively Lawrence dragged a shot wide from twenty yards. Regan Corke tricked his way through and shot hard and low towards the bottom corner but Wealands got down well to turn it around the post.

As the game moved into the last ten minutes the visitors continued to push for a leveller and Wealands did well to turn another Lawrence shot round the post before the Dalers stopper made a stunning save to thwart Corke.

In the fifth and final minute of time added on, Wale Odedoyin burst clear through on the counter-attack but seemed to be in two minds in whether to shoot or take it to the corner flag and ended rolling it wide. It didn’t matter, though, as the referee called proceedings to an end as soon as play restarted.

Their reward for progression will be a tough away game at Ashford United in the Preliminary Round.

Holmesdale: Wealands; Palmer, Mansaray, Bell, Murray; Goodchild; Turner-Bernard (Lewis 90), Clark, Keeble (Roberts 87), Palmer, Hudson (Mbola 24); Heywood-Oriugun (Odedoyin 68).

Subs not used: Glautier, Tuley, Nwitua.

Goal scorers: Turner-Bernard (13)

Yellow cards: Turner-Bernard (45 dissent), Goodchild (49 foul)

Tunbridge Bentley; Nolan (Dunmall 87), Hine, Lawal, Alaka; Penfold, Moseley (Crampton 76); Corke, Ward, Lawrence; Murrain (Bartlett 45+6).

Sub not used: Dyer, Coltress. 

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Penfold (45+2 foul), Alaka (81 dissent)

Referee: Daniel Davis

Assistants: Mark Barber and Alex King

Attendance: 163