TUNBRIDGE WELLS were cruelly denied by two goals in injury time at the end of their local derby against Crowborough Athletic, who stay in second place in Southern Counties East League Premier Division.
It was to prove very different to the match at the Culverden earlier in the season when Crowborough dominated the first half and went on to secure a 4-1 victory.
Neither goalkeeper was called into action in the first 20 minutes with most of the game being played in the middle of the park.
Then the Wells’s gloveman Jack Bradshaw saved -comfortably from Henry Muggeridge.
Perry Spackman and Joe Anderson were -marshalling the visitors’ defence to great effect to thwart the Crowborough attacks.
Wells came close with a couple of efforts from Josh Biddlecombe and Jack Harris before making the breakthrough goal in the 32nd minute.
The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty for handball against the home side and Jon Pilbeam made no mistake from the spot.
In the second half the game opened up as Crowborough committed to attack in order to keep their push for promotion alive.
After 57 minutes the Wells defence got themselves into a mighty tangle but Bradshaw came to their rescue, pushing away an effort from Zac Attwood.
Joe Nwoko was put clean through on the Borough goal with just the keeper to beat but was unable to extend the lead.
He also had another great opportunity in the 83rd minute but again failed to find the net.
Crowborough grabbed the equaliser in the 90th minute when a corner whipped in from the left wasn’t cleared and Tom Phipp scrambled the ball into the net.
Wells suffered the same fate from another corner sent in from the left. Again Wells failed to clear and Dan Perry grabbed the winner.
Now Tunbridge Wells take on another local rival, Sevenoaks Town, at the Culverden Stadium on Saturday (January 6, kick-off 3pm), when they will hope to repeat their victory over the top-of-the–table side in November.
