There was a Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup upset when Sporting Club Thamesmead defeated Tunbridge Wells at the Masher Brothers Community Stadium.

Two goals by Henry Awokere in the first half an hour put the Division One Acre in control. Although, the Premier Division visitors pulled one back through Rhys Bartlett before half time, and had plenty of possession in the second period, they didn’t test goalkeeper Michael Crabbe often enough and a late goal by Andrea Carrera ensured the home team progressed.

Both teams made changes, Thamesmead eight, Wells five, to their line-ups from their matches on Saturday, and it was the Acre who settled the quicker. Owen Jeavons hit a clean strike that James Poole could only parry, however, he recovered quickly and smothered it before any damage was done. At the other end, Bartlett struck a shot from the right hand side straight at Crabbe.

In the seventh minute, Thamesmead went ahead. Asad Mohamed sent Awokere clear and he finished clinically.

Mohamed then struck a shot into the side netting before Wells had a good spell. Regan Corke cut in from the left only to shoot wide of the near post then Bartlett hit a low shot that was pushed round the upright by Crabbe. Corke again bore down on goal and was denied by Crabbe who came out quickly to block.

However, it was the hosts who extended their lead just shy of the half hour mark. Connor Wilford was slow in playing it out from the back and Awokere closed him down and nicked it away. His initial shot was saved brilliantly by Poole but to no avail as the striker followed up, and despite it coming out awkwardly, his technique allowed him to finish superbly.

Another Bartlett effort was well off target at the near post before he pulled one back three minutes before half time. A spell of penalty area pinball ended when it fell to the Wells’ captain and he made no mistake when thrashing it home. 

Dissent from the home bench resulted in one of the coaching staff being cautioned and Henry Phillips carried it on earning him ten minutes in the sin bin.

That meant that the hosts had to play the first nine minutes of the second period one man short, however, Wells were unable to take advantage of their ‘power play’. They had a good chance when Bartlett slanted it across goal but Corke fired over from close range. Matthew Dunmall then shot straight at Crabbe.

Once Nicholls had returned, both teams started to make substitutions. Corke burst clear and drew a good save out of Crabbe then Ollie Hyland just missed the angle of bar and post.

While Tunbridge pushed, Thamesmead defended stoutly and tried to catch the visitors on the counter-attack. Owen Jeavons hit a low shot that was saved comfortably by Poole. He had another chance when breaking down the left but slid his effort to the wrong side of the near upright.  

Bartlett blasted a free kick well over from thirty five yards out and he again failed to keep a shot down with ten minutes remaining.

Carrera, an Acre substitute, went on a thrilling long solo run before his shot was blocked then fellow sub Abdou Jobe hit a shot from the right that was beaten out by Poole.

They were both involved when Thamesmead killed off the tie with three minutes remaining. Carrera had a shot blocked out by Poole, and the goalkeeper then saved Jobe’s follow up. It again came out and Carrera had stayed alert and fired home joyfully.

Again they combined, and Jobe fired over from Carrera’s pass but it mattered little as the referee’s whistle ended play.

Victory for the Acre means that they will host FC Elmstead in the second round on a date to be arranged.

SC Thamesmead: Crabbe; Cravid, Ifeanyi, Geddis, Solan; Phillips (Suttie 72). Mohamed; Jeavons (Carrera 81), Baughen (Curnow 54), Awokere (Cann 72); Dennis (Jobe 54).

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Awokere (7), (29), Carrera (87) 

Yellow cards: None 

Sin bin: Phillips (44 to 54)

Tunbridge Wells: Poole, Brooks-Rees, Wilford (Montague 79), Alaka, Gallacher; Hyland; Bartlett, Dunmall (Austin 72), Gallagher (Ponselie 55), Corke; Osigwe (Marshall 72).

Sub not used: Minihane.

Goalscorer: Bartlett (42)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Chris Bowdery

Assistant Referees: Tarik Guernane and Kasper Crittenden-Wedge

Attendance: 90