AFTER last week’s solid win, Tunbridge Wells Mens 1st XI were keen to continue their good run of form to see off league leaders Eastbourne.
The East Sussex visitors started well and on another day would have been given a penalty flick after the Wells’ goalkeeper James Harris brought down the striker in the first five minutes.
Wells began to take a greater foothold, James Beck and David Judge controlling possession in the middle of the park.
A decision from the umpire lead to a short corner for Eastbourne with Harris saving excellently down low to his left, but the rebound fell to the visitors, who made no mistake within the D to put them up 1-0.
From then on Wells went on the attack, and a short corner was expertly put away by Ben Allberry to make it 1-1. The home side looked more dangerous and soon capitalised with Callum Wood making it 2-1 before half-time.
Man of the match Kyle Mathieson was at the centre of some excellent passing moves, and Wood made it 3-1 when a well-worked move down the right left him with a simple tap-in.
Eastbourne hit back and drew level at 3-3 with two quick goals. But Wells restored their composure, and through another team effort they went 4-3 up with Wood completing his hat-trick.
Good work by Allberry created a chanc e in the D with Jack Garwood finishing the move off to make the score 5-3.
In the quarter-finals of the Kent Cup against Ashford, end-to-end hockey dominated proceedings, with Wells emerging 2-1 winners courtesy of strikes from Allberry and Dan Barnaby.
