Wells Vase Form Runs Dry - Abbey Rangers vs. Tunbridge Wells

Uncertain skies over Addlestone Moor

After all the travelling mid week I needed a much shorter trip on Saturday and the ideal game showed itself with Abbey Rangers hosting Tunbridge Wells in The FA Vase. Tunbridge Wells have history in this competition losing in the 2012-13 final to Spennymoor Town. Abbey Rangers are based in Addlestone which is within walking distance of Chertsey and that means a short train ride from Wimbledon. I'd visited Chertsey Town's Alwyn's Lane for an FA Cup tip with Metropolitan Police a long time ago. A visit to Tunbridge Wells' excellent Culverdean Stadium in 2012 signalled the beginning of the end of my Olympics shift working nightmare so holds good memories for me. Both sides were in the lower halves of their respective leagues with this being Abbey Rangers' first season at step 5.

Kick off at Addlestone Moor

The Abbey Rangers winger ghosts past the Tunbridge Wells fullback early on but his cross is cut out by the defence. Tunbridge Wells' first chance to put pressure on the home defence comes to a fruitless end when a free kick from a wide position is claimed easily by the keeper. Abbey Rangers come close as the ball falls to the midfielder and his shot strikes a post before the rebound is hit straight at the goalie. Abbey Rangers then come closer when the Tunbridge Wells defender is robbed in his own area and the resulting shot takes a heavy deflection, trickling over the line to make it one nil. Close to half time, Tunbridge have there best chance of the half, a shot from the edge of the area which the keeper does well to tip round the post.  

Poor angle, but this is Abbey Rangers going one up

At the start of the second half, Tunbridge Wells are able to break out of defence after an Abbey Rangers move breaks down but the eventual cross comes to nothing. Abbey Rangers double their advantage as they put together a brilliant passing move which ends with the attacker lashing the ball home to make it two nil. Tunbridge Wells now have to push for the next goal and they have a shot blocked after a good move of their own. Abbey Rangers have a great chance to finish the game but the ball is headed over at the end of a quick break. They do make the game safe when after another break, the ball is squared and the attacker buries the chance to make it 3-0. 

Abbey Rangers attack the clubhouse end in the second half

The Addlestone Moor ground is about half way between Chertsey and Addlestone stations. Trains to Chertsey depart from Waterloo with direct trains taking just over an hour. The ground is then twenty or so minutes walk from the station. In the town centre, The Prince Regent is perfect if you want to watch the lunch time kick off. If you want an excellent Young's pub with a brilliant choice of ales and bottles then The Crown Hotel just around the corner does the job. If you want somewhere a little quieter but with an equally excellent choice of beers then there is The Thyme At The Tavern just across the road. The clubhouse had the usual selection of beers as well the sports channels. I thoroughly recommend the bacon burgers from the food bar. I also have to mention the quality programme which is a brilliant effort.

There was a decent crowd for this first round tie