Regan Corke’s spectacular solo goal helped Tunbridge Wells to a 5-2 win over Bearsted at the Culverden on Tuesday evening in a game littered with wonderful strikes.
Matt Gething put Wells ahead but Jordan Abibio levelled in the first half before James Nurden, Ryan Cheek and Corke’s Puskas contender put Wells in control with Sam Stace getting a consolation from the spot and Corke scoring directly from a corner to complete the scoring.
The hosts came into the game on the back of successive 4-1 wins and got off to the best possible start when Gething, who had netted four in his last two, recieved the ball from John Shea turned his defender and sent a brilliant left footed strike past Illia Saukh and into the top corner.
But that was as good as the first half got for the home side as the Bears dominated the remainder.
The impressive Harrison Hatfull almost levelled when his cushioned volley beat everyone but the post and soon after Aaron Lee-Wharton denied the midfielder following some smart link up play with Stace.
Abibio then saw a shot fly wide after good work from Bears skipper Jon Rogers who himself came close twice.
Eventually the visitors got their equaliser when Abibio picked the ball up on the right hand side beat two Wells defenders and blasted home on 34 minutes.
Bearstead nearly went ahead before the break when Abibio crossed for Andy Irvine whose header went inches wide of the upright.
The sides went in all square though and whatever Tunbridge Wells manager Richard Styles said had the desired effect.
Within 60 seconds of the restart the home outfit were back in front, Shea’s cross found Nurden who netted with a half-volley.
On 51 minutes Corke’s corner was met by Cheek who headed in to give Wells a somewhat flattering 3-1 lead.
Irvine came close to reducing the deficit with 20 left on the clock but Lee-Whartons superb reactions kept the score to 3-1.
Then came the moment on the game, Corke twisted and turned through the Bears defence before hitting a ferocious striker into the top corner to seal the points fot Wells.
Bears sub Stephen Haffner was brought down by Cheek and Stace smashed home the resulting spot kick to make it 4-2 with just under a quarter hour to play.
Corke’s corner evaded everyone in stoppage time and bounced home to complete the scoring on a hugely impressive night for the winger and register Wells’ 16th goal in five league games as things look to have clicked into place at the Culverden.
Wells move up one to 9th while the Bears remain 14th.
Man of the Match: Regan Corke
Tunbridge Wells: Aaron Lee-Wharton, Jack Hope (C) (Yellow 86) (Frankie Griffin 87), James Nurden, John Shea, Ryan Cheek, Robbie Bissett, Regan Corke, Danny Keyte, Matt Gething, Joshua Froggatt (Zak Wolvey 85), Kyron Lightfoot (Euan Sahadow 39).
Scorers: Gething (2). Nurden (46). Cheek (51). Corke (72, 90).
Bearstead: Illia Saukh, Jason Dawson, Cameron Croucher, Jon Rogers (C), Scott Wibley, Adesima Luqman, Jordan Abibio, Daniel Melvin, Andy Irvine (Yellow 39) (Giorgio Russo 73), Harrison Hatfull (Stephen Haffner 70) Sam Stace.
Scorers: Abibio (34). Stace (77)
Attendance: Unknown