Honours even after epic tussle

OLD BORDENIANS 2

TUNBRIDGE WELLS 2

Kent/Sussex Regional 2

TUNBRIDGE Wells played a potential title-decider on Saturday in this top-of-the-table clash away at Old Bordenians.

A win for Bordenians would have put them within two points of Tunbridge Wells, who head the division. A Wells victory would have made the gap eight points.

It was Bordenians who seized the early moments. The Tunbridge Wells midfield struggled to get any sort of rhythm and eventually the Bordenians pressure turned into a penalty stroke after Harfoot had bravely stopped the ball with his body before it crossed over the line.

The stroke was converted and Wells were behind.

After a blasting from coach Pete Turner, Tunbridge Wells found some form in the shape of Jamie Shaw. After a spell of threatening carries and penetrating passes, he broke into the D and crunched a superb back-hand shot past the keeper's near side. The back board thudded loudly from the equaliser and Wells were back in business.

The momentum stayed with Wells. Early in the second half, Ed Norman broke through the Bordenians defence and slammed a reverse-stick shot at the goal. A packed and confused D helped its path and Turner made sure the ball crossed the goal line.

Wells, 2-1 up, were in control, but 12 minutes before the end, a quick free-hit was taken by Bordenians and a penalty corner conceded, which Bordenians converted to level and that was the end of the scoring.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS II 0

OLD BORDENIANS II 1

Kent Area 2

TUNBRIDGE Wells' seconds knew a win would give them equal points with Bordenians, but put them above on goal difference, which meant second place and a promotion spot. A loss would make the challenge for promotion a lot harder.

Tunbridge Wells controlled the game from the start, but their final cutting pass into the D was just off.

Bordenians rarely threatened the Wells goal, apart from the odd breakaway. Unfortunately for Wells, they managed to win short corners from most of these breaks.

Wells kept pushing until they gave away the ball away outside their own 25; Old Bordenians swiftly took advantage and the lead against the run of play.

The second half saw Wells continue to press forward and Old Bordenians got nowhere near the home team's goal.

Wells thought they had scored a short corner after Alex Williams dragged the ball towards the top corner, but their player swatted the ball away off the line.

Sadly, for the hosts the game finished 1-0 to Old Bordenians and left Tunbridge Wells six points adrift of second place and with the huge task of gaining promotion, but with seven games left, it is all still do-able.

Other men's results: Wells III 0, Sutton Valence 1; Wells IV 3, Bromley and Beckenham 0; Wells Vets 5, Ashford Vets 2; Wells Grasshoppers 1, Masonian 0.