TUNBRIDGE WELLS exacted revenge over Worthing for their defeat earlier in the season and kept up their form ahead of a key run of fixtures in the Kent & Sussex Regional Division One title race.
Wells enjoyed the lion’s share of possession against a deep-lying defence. But a lapse in concentration saw the ball mistrapped at the short corner and Worthing pounced on the counter attack, leaving Wells exposed at the back.
Worthing were clinical in front of goal and their counter-attacking hockey saw Wells go in at the break 2-0 down and facing a repeat of the last time these sides met.
After a frank and tough team talk Wells looked to start again, and they pulled a goal back through a short corner and Ben Allberry’s strike.
But Worthing were awarded a short corner and after an initial save from the Wells keeper and some scrapping in front of goal they put the ball into the Wells net.
At 3-1 down Wells finally began to play like the side sitting at the top of the league. Simple passing in the middle orchestrated by the centre-half partnership of David Judge and Simon Hare gave the men in red the platform to attack.
A piercing run from Ben Brandt gave him his first goal on his return to the club and with two more goals from Allberry, Tunbridge Wells took the lead for the first time.
Having finally settled the nerves Wells began to dictate the game and sealed victory through Matt Wilson to make it 5-3.
Next week sees Tunbridge Wells take on Maidstone in a top-of-the-table clash.
