Tunbridge Wells are through to the last 32 of the FA Vase but what a scare Wallingford Town gave them considering that they play in a league below.
This would be there second defeat this season both coming in cup competitions & Wells will be glad to have got through this game, probably the hardest game they have encountered this season.
Tunbridge Wells got the start they dreamed about as in the 2nd minute when James Nurden saw his cross from the left half cleared to Kieron Lightfoot & his curling effort from 20 yards beat Sam Baldock in the Wallingford goal.
Wallingford got over this & in the very next minute nearly equalised when Ty Hamilton on the right cut in & his shot from 20 yards flew just wide of the post but five minutes later they were level when Ricardo Benjamin on the left wing got to the by-line & his low cross to the back post found Ben Taylor who from 1 yard tapped in.
In the 13th minute Kingston Nyanney passed to Jack McLaughlan who’s first time shot was deflected on to the roof of the net. Tunbridge came back & in the 16th minute in this see saw game Regan Cook on the right received the ball & cut in & from 20 yards his shot went over the bar.
In the 23rd minute Aaron Lee-Wharton came to Wells rescue when a quick free kick to Hamilton who saw his shot parried away for a corner. In the 26th minute Wells regained the lead when a corner to the back post was headed back by Ryan Cheek for fellow centre back Robbie Bissett to head home from 6 yards.
Two minutes later Wallingford nearly equalised when Luke Hayward in the area saw his shot pushed away by Lee-Wharton & then Cheek for a corner.
In the 31st minute they nearly did equalise when a corner into the mix was punched clear but only to Hamilton & his first time shot beat everyone but the post & was then cleared.
In the second minute of added on time Wells got their third but this was a bit contentious as a free kick was given against the Wallingford defender for a high boot but most people thought it was ok as what was he suppose to do anyway Lightfoot received the ball & from 20 yards his shot hit the back of the net.
In the 49th minute Wells nearly made it four when Captain Jordan Wells in the area passed sideways for Hudson & from 6 yards out saw his goal bound effort saved by Baldock for a corner & from the resulting one a goal bound header was cleared of the line.
Wallingford were still in this & were causing a few problems when they came forward & in the 56th minute Benjamin on the counter attack ran from halfway into the area & his shot was pushed around the post by Lee-Wharton.
In the 75th minute Wallingford pulled a goal back to make the game interesting when a corner was half cleared to Bradley Walton & his 20 yard shot was deflected into the net. Wallingford were on a high & were pressing forward then in the 82nd minute Wells made sure of the result when a corner to the near post was flicked in by Matt Gethin.
To be fair to Wallingford they were in the game for 81 minutes & they kept going but in the end Tunbridge Wells deserved to go through & then the sending off of Jack McLaughlin in the 85th minute did not help them.
Tunbridge now go into the draw on Monday, the last 32 in the country.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS:
- A.LEE-WHARTON 2. F.GRIFFIN 3. J.NURDEN 4. C.PRING (60) 5. R.CHEEK 6. R. BISSETT 7. R.COOK 8. J.WELLS 9. M.GETHIN 10. H.HUDSON 11. K.LIGHTFOOT (81).
SUBS USED: 14. J.SHEA (60) 12. J.HOPE (81)
SUBS NOT USED: GK F.LEONARD 15. J.PHILLIPS 16. E.SAHADOW 18. Z.WOOLLEY
BOOKINGS: 9.M.GETHIN (85) 8. J.WELLS (87)
WALLINGFORD TOWN:
- S.BALDOCK 2. B.TAYLOR 3. T.DOS SANTOS 4. L.HAYWARD (65) 5. C.YOUNG 6. T.STONE (65) 7. T.HAMILTON 8. J.McLAUGHLIN 9. K.NYANNEY 10. B.WALTON 11.R.BENJAMIN.
SUBS USED: 14. A.MUNDY (65) 16. C.SILKSTONE (65)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. K.COOPER 15. J.HOLISTEE 17. K.MORTEI 18. M.HINDS.
BOOKINGS: 8. J.McLAUGHLIN (49)
SENT OFF: 8. J.McLAUGHLIN ( 86)
REFEREE: Mr J.DAN-PYE
ASSISTANTS: MrD.HAGUE & Mr J LANGLEY-FINEING
ATTENDANCE: 336