Adrian Swan

0-1 Edorh (51), 0-2 Forster (65), 0-3 Edorh (77).

This was a close fought encounter with Premier North leaders Tunbridge Wells finally overcoming hosts Glebe after a strong second half display in the Semi Final of the KitToFit Challenge Cup.

Tunbridge Wells had an early chance on 3 minutes when their centre half Rory Benham launched a free kick from the half way line into the Glebe box where Zak Bystrup’s close range volley flew straight at home keeper Ted McDonald.

Glebe then went close on 12 minutes when Oscar Powell’s right wing cross found Louis Henry rising highest at the far post but his header flashed wide of the target before they had another opening when a deep Jonas Whitmore corner from the right picked out the run of Tom Anstee to the far post but his stooping header flew wide.

Glebe were certainly having the better of things early on but could not make the vital breakthrough.

On 24 minutes Henry pulled the ball back from the right to Opeyemi Abiru who made space well on the edge of the box before firing narrowly wide.

Zak Emmings then made a strong forward run from the half way line before unleashing a powerful 25 yard shot that forced Wells keeper Timothy Walters into a good full length diving save low to his right to turn the ball out for a corner.

Minutes later it looked as if Glebe would break the deadlock when Abiru’s left wing cross found Jack Porter at the far post and although his looping header back across goal flew over Walters who was covering his near post it was headed clear off the line by Benham covering their right hand post.

After this scare the visitors seemed to raise their game and went close to taking the lead on the half hour when Anstee’s pass found Caleb Edorh some 25 yards from goal and he took a touch before hitting a rasping drive that the well positioned home keeper McDonald caught moving to his right.

Then shortly afterwards Harry Forster hit a long range effort just over before Wells had another good opportunity when Josh Pepper’s ball over the Glebe back line saw the powerful Edorh win the ball off Sam Coston before racing through on goal but McDonald was quickly off his line to make a good close range block.

Edorh then made space well on the edge of the box before firing a low shot just wide and then just before half time Forster hit a long range shot that forced McDonald into a good diving save low to his right. With Wells having the better of the latter part of the first half it was the home side that had a great chance to go ahead in stoppage time.

Whitmore’s right wing corner was headed clear but only as far as Powell whose first time volley deflected off  a Wells defender in the crowded box sending the ball flying across to the far post where a stretching Porter could only turn it wide from close range.

The visitors started the second half strongly and early on Jamie Smith’s through ball put the dangerous Edorh in on goal down the right but his fierce shot was saved by McDonald at his near post.

However Edorh was not to be denied and on 51 minutes he put them ahead. Smith did well to win the ball on the half way line and quickly find the forward run of Edorh racing into the left side of the area and he made space well before firing home low to the right of McDonald, the power of the shot beating him at his near post.

The goal from Edorh was even more impressive as all his other shots had been right footed but this one he smashed home with his left.

Glebe almost hit back immediately as Toby Cogswell made a good run into the Wells box before hitting a rising drive that Walters held moving to his left.

Then a quick throw from Wells full back Smith released Edorh down the right and his whipped in cross was turned narrowly wide by Forster at the far post.

However on 65 minutes the visitors doubled their lead with a fine solo goal from Forster who made a mazy run across the Glebe box from left to right before hitting a low drive from the edge of the box that flew home low to the right of McDonald.

Minutes later Forster made another good forward run before hitting a low shot that flew just wide but in doing so he was injured and had to be helped off the field.

Wells made it three on 77 minutes when Ewen Jeffrey’s pass put Tei Johnson in on goal and although McDonald made a good close range block, the loose ball fell back to Johnson who crossed for Edorh to slot home low to the right of McDonald from close range.