Prime made the short trip across town to Hawkenbury Rec to face their Division 2 rivals in the Chairman's Trophy. Prime were seeking to end a wretched record in the competition - having lost all of their previous first-round matches.

Despite the relatively short trip, Tunbridge Wells traffic was at it's worst - meaning that Jamie Sykes narrowly failed to make kick-off, and with Tom Gibson pulling out, Prime were forced into a last-minute reshuffle with Buckland in at right-back and Henshall returning in midfield.

Prime kicked off playing down the Hawkenbury slope but it was clear from the outset that this was a much improved Hawks side from last season. They only really threatened Balcombe's goal from distance though and Prime were starting to settle into the game.

The game was very stop-start with the referee giving free-kicks for pretty much any physical contact whatsoever. Betts - on his first start for The Numbers was looking lively up front and he linked up well with Fleming and Henshall as Prime went close.

The visitors looked most dangerous down the left, where Flamank was giving the Hawkenbury right-back a torrid time. It was still though slightly against the run of play when he put Prime in front - lobbing the keeper from just outside the box with a highly effective 'shinner'!

Prime's lead was short-lived though as within minutes, a nod down was volleyed home on the turn by their midfielder - leaving Balcombe with no chance.

Prime were becoming increasingly frustrated with the referee's whistle stopping play and Flamank went into the book for complaining about another mystifying decision.

Ferguson was holding the ball up well up front and Betts was still seeing plenty of the ball as Prime sought to get their noses in front before the break. It was Betts who came closest with a dipping shot from 25 yards that the keeper did well to hold on to.

No changes were made at half-time but Prime knew that they also had the slope to contend with in the second 45. They started the half well though and were on the front-foot for the opening 15 minutes of the half. Both full-backs were replaced by Williams and Sykes in a bid to keep the energy levels high.

But Hawkenbury took the lead midway through the half after their striker made the most of a weak clearance to roll the ball into the corner of the net.

With 15 minutes left, Goldsmith replaced Ferguson up front and immediately won a rare Prime header from a Hawkenbury goal-kick. From then on though, every time he challenged for the ball, Hawkenbury players called for, and received a free-kick from the ref who seemed quite happy to let thigh-high late tackles on Flamank and Sykes go completely unpunished.

Prime's frustration was compounded when after a scramble in the box, keeper Balcombe appeared to have 2 hands on the ball as Hawkenbury's striker slid in to put both the ball and the keeper into the net. Somehow the goal stood and the game appeared over.

Goldsmith was then booked after losing his cool when the ref failed to award a blatant free-kick - citing the fact that he was playing advantage. I fail to see how Prime got an advantage from the ball rolling to their full-back!!

There was still time for Prime to pull one back after Goldsmith appealed in vain for a penalty, the ball rolled to Abu who curled a beauty into the top corner.

With 30 seconds left, Prime piled forward and after Fleming's centre from the right, Goldsmith, Betts and Henshall all narrowly failed to convert and force extra-time.

It always sounds like sour grapes when you get beaten and blame the referee. Fair play to Hawkenbury who arguably deserved their win, and are the best side Prime have faced this season. But the ref is there to ensure a fair and even contest - this was not the case in this match.