It was a day to forget for the Fish as they lost heavily on a boggy pitch at Culverden.
Fisher, competitive throughout, lost out to a Tunbridge Wells side who demonstrated superior finishing and took full advantage of the space they were allowed in attack. Steve Firkins had a limited squad to choose from with personal commitments and injuries leaving the squad a little bare. Nevertheless, it was a strong starting line-up that took the field.
The pitch at Culverden had passed a morning inspection but was very boggy, especially down the middle. Wells got off to a flying start as a good move down the right was finished by Andy McMath after just three minutes. Wells continued to push forward after the goal, though only a good save denied Adam Wadmore as he connected with a free kick and headed towards goal.
But it was Wells making the running, and they hit the post twice before taking the lead just before the half-hour mark. Fisher looked to have cleared their lines and retained possession, but the ball was lost at the halfway line and was worked back into the box leaving Jack Harris with an easy finish.
A third followed as Wells exploited enormous gaps on the Fisher left, Rook left with a virtual tap in as the Fish tried to cover. Chris Hubbard was brought on as Fisher switched to a 4-4-2, and they got back in the game as Wadmore fired home on the half-volley on 38 minutes – Wells protested that an arm was involved in controlling the ball, but the referee deemed that it had hit the top of Wadmore’s chest.
Any hopes of a Fisher revival were dashed two minutes after half time as McMath was allowed far too much space on the edge of the box and he smashed the ball past Joe Hagan. Wadmore, at the heart of many good moves for the Fish, shot wide from a corner but the game was up at this stage.
Wells added a fifth through Rook, this time after attacking Fisher down the left. The Fish continued to work hard and Jamie Humphris, another who impressed in a losing cause, went on a mazy run only to see his shot well saved.
Both sides were reduced to ten men shortly afterwards – Jon Pilbeam recieved a second yellow for a late challenge on Wadmore, and incredibly the referee decided that Wadmore’s cry of frustration at the challenge was also a crime worthy of a second yellow card.
Wells then added a sixth through Gary Clarke, before they were awarded a soft penalty in the closing stages. Hagan however, who could not be blamed for any of the six goals, pulled off an excellent diving stop to at least prevent a repeat of last season’s debacle at Culverden where we conceded seven.
A poor display from the Fish, who face a resurgent Greenwich Borough side on Saturday at Champion Hill.
Fisher: Hagan, Monan, Tipple (Humphris 55), Walton, Helps (Hubbard 37), Beavan, Wadmore, Wilson-Joseph, Sisson, Afolayan, Jarrett-Elliott
Goal: Wadmore 38
Attendance: 157
