TUNBRIDGE WELLS welcomed bottom-of-the-league Holcombe to Kent College Pembury looking to continue their winning streak and keep hold of the top spot in Kent & Sussex Regional Division One.
A couple of Second XI players stepped up for their first-team debut, which may have accounted for Wells’ slow start in the match.
The visitors won an early short corner from which they beat keeper James Harris and the postman on the line.
This breathed some life into the Wells side who, from the restart, swiftly levelled the scores through Kyle Mathieson.
From here the match was end-to-end, nail-biting hockey, with neither side taking advantage of their chances in the D.
Ben Allberry struck just before half-time to give the home side the lead going into the break.
Wells worked out a clear game plan to play simple hockey and to retain possession and the goals would come.
They came flying out of the blocks in the second half. Allberry scored two goals in quick succession to complete his hat-trick, a drag flick from a short corner into the top right-hand corner of the goal and the other strike coming from open play.
Holcombe scored just before the final whistle but it was too little to late. The win keeps Wells on top of the league with four games left.
