Tunbridge Wells United Reserves 2-3 Ashton Prime

After a month of inactivity due to the the inclement weather, Prime finally resumed their battle to move off the bottom of the table at the Cadogan Ground.

Mellors and Goulding were absent, but Walsh returned in the centre of midfield, with Garside slotting in at left-back. Flamank also made a welcome return but due to Prime's recent good run, he was kept on the bench.

Prime showed no ill-effects from their weeks off as they held the upper hand in the opening exchanges. But Wells had the best chance to take the lead when their dangerous striker Hickmott unleashed a fierce drive which Skovborg-Hansen expertly tipped over.

But Prime were winning the battle in midfield with Walsh and Matthews winning all 50/50's and began to dominate as a result.

Kneebone was a constant thorn in the Wells side and his pace continued to trouble the home side. Prime forced a barrage of attacking throw ins which Goldsmith propelled into the danger area, and Wells were all over the place trying to clear, and eventually the pressure told as Carl Barker stabbed home at the second attempt from close range.

Rather than going into their shell, Prime pushed for a second goal as they sensed their hosts' heads dropping.

Barker and Kneebone linked up well down the right before Kneebone curled in an inviting cross which Goldsmith bravely got his head to - but the header whistled inches over the angle and the striker got a stud in the head for his trouble!

But Prime were given a timely reminder that the job was not done as at the other end, Jamie Barker and Skovborg-Hansen both had to make excellent challenges to keep Prime ahead at the break.

Wells clearly had been given a rocket at half-time and came out for the second period fired up. But Prime were still battling well and should have gone 2 up when yet another long throw from Goldsmith found its way to Walsh who inexplicably fired wide from 8 yards when it seemed easier to score.

It seemed that Prime might pay for this when Wells broke quickly and a firm shot from just inside the box beat Skovborg-Hansen.

Wells were suddenly on top as the heavens opened and the terrible playing surface deteriorated yet further. Flamank entered the action replacing the tiring Walsh, and soon after Barnham took over at left-back from Garside.

Wells forced corner after corner, but Gilbert and Jamie Barker were rock-solid, and Mazurkiewicz made several important challenges.

Having ridden the storm, Prime soon restored their lead. Goldsmith picked up the ball in space and lofted a perfectly weighted ball through for the pacey Carl Barker who took his time before slotting home.

A deserved third goal soon followed as Mazurkiewicz's pass down the line was reached by Kneebone who did brilliantly to squeeze a cross into the near post and Barker was there to emphatically smash home his hat-trick goal.

Leaver replaced Ellis for the last 15 minutes as Prime seemed to be coasting towards victory. But a bizarre refereeing decision gave Wells hope. Mazurkiewicz was adjudged to have slapped his opponent inside the area - despite the ball being at the other end - and the ref gave a penalty which Hickmott converted with 4 minutes of stoppage time remaining.

Minutes earlier, Prime had been reduced to 10 men as the excellent Gilbert got caught under the chin when heading clear and as the blood wouldn't stop flowing, and Prime had used all their subs, they had no option but to see out the last few moments a player light.

With Carl Barker also struggling with a badly gashed leg, Prime were effectively down to 9 men - but despite intense pressure and a couple of goalmouth scrambles, Prime hung on for a deserved 3 points.

Man of the Match: Carl Barker - Hat-trick hero.