Saturday 15th November 2008
F.A. vase 2nd Round

CHRISTCHURCH FC v TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Christchurch faced their visitors from Kent with the following line up:

1 Stewart Kearn
2 Colin Dand
3 Dan Taylor
4 Dan Crutchley (capt)
5 Chris Dillon
6 Steve Linpow
7 Paul Rideout
8 James Burden
9 Russell Cook
10 Mark Burrows
11 Michael Green

12 Ben Osborne
14 Gareth Barnes
15 Adam Wiltshire
16 Sam Longman
17 Paul Manning
GK Jason Collins

As is the norm lately, Christchurch started slowly and improved as the match went on. Tunbridge Wells were by far the best side in the first half hour and went close to taking the lead several times. The movement of the Tunbridge forwards was proving difficult for the Christchurch defence to cope with and only the heroics of Stewart Kearn in goal kept the Priory in the game. One double save in particular drew massive applause from the appreciative crowd. As Christchurch gradually clawed their way into the game it became obvious that in this very tight contest the first goal would be massively important. Just before half time a Tunbridge free kick whistled just over the bar.

Half time: Christchurch 0 Tunbridge Wells 0

The second half saw a much improved Christchurch performance as they attacked with much more menace and 6 minutes in the Tunbridge keeper thoughtlessly picked up a back pass to concede an indirect free kick just 9 yards from goal. Christchurch took the kick quickly and Paul Rideout put the ball in the back of the net but the referee deemed that it had been taken too quickly and disallowed the goal. With the bizarre sight of all 11 Tunbridge players on the goal line the eventually retaken free kick was deflected for a corner to cheers from the large section of away supporters. A Russell Cook run was saved by the legs of the keeper and Marc Burrows just lost out in the contest to win the ball from the rebound. Tunbridge had their chances as well and one particular attack proved to be very dangerous. The attack down the right wing ended when a cross ran threateningly across the Christchurch goalmouth when a touch could have resulted in a goal. Russell Cook went on another great run and with three defenders chasing him he was brought down just outside the penalty area and from the resulting free kick Michael Green struck a thunderous shot just over the bar. With 15 minutes remaining of this pulsating contest it was Marc Burrows who finally broke the deadlock. Dan Taylor played a delightful ball out of defence and into the Tunbridge area where Dan Crutchley rose like a salmon to nod the ball down to Burrows. The diminutive forward made no mistake with his right foot finish to send Hurn Bridge into raptures of delight. Christchurch were now playing with confidence and a superb move started when Paul Rideout fed the ball through to the quicksilver Burrows who crossed for Green to shoot first time just past the wrong side of the post. Cook was now causing all sorts of problems to the Tunbridge defence with his surging runs but still Tunbridge had chances at the other end. A shot from outside the penalty area went through a mass of bodies and curled wide of Kearn’s far post and then the giant stopper saved comfortably as another Tunbridge attack came to nothing. Cook again left defenders in his wake and forced the keeper to save at his feet. The ball ran loose and Cook recovered first to stroke the ball into the net, however the referee again disallowed the goal for an alleged foul on the keeper. Ben Osborne who had come on as a late substitute shot and the ball hit the keeper’s legs and rolled agonisingly wide of the goal. Christchurch then played out the last few minutes to record a fine victory against a good Tunbridge Wells outfit.

Final score: Christchurch 1 Tunbridge Wells 0

Christchurch Man of the Match sponsored by “Den’s Diner” STEVE LINPOW

The Bridgeman