Roselands Reserves 2-1 Ashton Prime

The Numbers returned to Tonbridge to face familiar opponents Roselands Reserves. The home side were buoyed by last week's fine 1-0 win over title-chasing Penshurst Park - and Prime knew they were in for a tough encounter.

Prime made just 2 changes to the starting XI with wingers Walters and Skovborg-Hansen replacing Ellis and Goldsmith. The skipper was joined on the bench by the returning Jamie Barker and Postlethwaite.

Roselands started brightly and Prime seemed strangely lethargic and were inviting pressure onto themselves.

After a few early scares, Prime eventually fell behind after about 10 minutes after a long through ball over the top of the centre-backs held up in the muddy pitch and their striker nipped in ahead of Kerton to get to the by-line and cut back for his team-mate to tap home into an empty net.

Prime nearly went further behind as again Roselands cut through the Prime back line - and only a superb last-ditch tackle by Davis saved the day.

Suddenly Prime seemed to awaken from their slumber and produced a wonderful equaliser as a fine flowing move involving Walters, Excell and Joe Walker resulted in Abu lifting the ball over the advancing keeper and into the net.

The move was in stark contrast to Prime's first half performance and the confidence seemed to flow back as Skovborg-Hansen's pace got him into several dangerous positions down the right wing.

But the revival was short lived and Roselands were back in front before the break and it could have been worse but for a brilliant headed clearance by Hodges from under his own bar.

At half-time changes were needed and any of the starting lineup could have been sacrificed, but Goldsmith settled on taking off Sander and bringing on Jamie Barker's pace at centre-back - with Garside moved to right-back.

Prime were certainly battling hard to get back into the game - but the home side were keeping them at arm's length and the ref seemed determined to give them free-kicks whenever a light-blue shirt went anywhere near a Roselands player.

Goldsmith brought himself on with half an hour to go - replacing Excell, with Skovborg-Hansen moved up front.

The game was getting stretched and Walker and Skov's pace up front was looking a real threat, but the latter was frustrated by the ref when his shoulder to shoulder challenge with the last man was adjudged to have been a foul.

Roselands were taking their time over every free-kick and throw in - and a frustrated Goldsmith drew some abuse from the Roselands bench after two thunderous tackles taking both ball and man.

Prime just could not get their normal passing game going and they had to rely on Skovborg-Hansen's pace and power to create a couple of half-chances for himself - but on each occasion his finish lacked power.

An ankle injury forced Davis off with 10 minutes left, with Postlethwaite coming on for the closing stages.

The Numbers threw everyone forward in the closing minutes with a succession of long throws and corners. From one well delivered Walters corner, Goldsmith looped a header towards goal, but the ball came back off the top of the bar and then, in the scramble that ensued, Matt Walker's fine turn and left-foot shot was somehow blocked on the line by the Roselands full back.

The referee's final whistle sounded just as Abu's corner sailed into the 6-yard box - yet another contraversial piece of officiating.

In fairness though Prime got precisely what they deserved for an abject first half performance. The effort was there in the second half but they lacked a cutting edge and Roselands deserved their win.

Man of the Match: Andy Skovborg-Hansen - Always looked dangerous