The Numbers visited old foes Woodlands Reserves at the familiar territory of Tonbridge Farm. With gaffer Goldsmith away the responsibility was left to the partnership of Sykes and Sander to select the line-up and deliver the result Prime needed to get their promotion campaign back on track.

With Greg in hiding after his nation's humiliation to the Three Lions during the week, Buckland was handing a starting role at right back, and shot stopper Kerton returned between the sticks replacing the absent Goldsmith, leaving Sykes and Nowak as the replacements.

With Abu arriving 1 minute before the referee and at 13:59, Prime's preparation was far from ideal for the novice management team. Woodlands employed their left back as a makeshift goalkeeper while ex-prime man Balcombe stuck on a train somewhere between Tonbridge and London.

Sander delivered a rousing team talk and sent the troops out, with his words still ringing in their ears Prime started sluggish and it looked like the team had all been out on the sauce, not just the suffering Flamank. The boggy pitch and wet conditions upset Prime's usual passing and samba football reducing them to a battling performance.

A rare moment of note during the first half came when a short back pass from the impressive Turvey left Kerton struggling to get to the ball. However, the keeper saved the day with another impressive block. The temporary management set up were left holding their heads in their hands. Nevertheless, there was no Goldsmith like rage coming from the side lines. The trend continued throughout the 1st half with mistakes leading to Woodlands chances and Kerton pulling off a string of fine saves.

Shortly before half time Prime won a freekick, Sykes watched with anticipation from the sidelines hoping to see Prime finally test the keeper. He was left disappointed, Abu and Ellis somehow managed to squander an excellent opportunity.

Half time arrived and Prime were the happier of the two teams - being very lucky for the game to still be 0-0. Maybe it was just the oranges provided by the management team for the day?

Prime came out raring to go and a few more challenges being made especially on the first and second ball as asked for by Sykes at half time. 5 minutes into the second half, Buckland appeared to go down like a girl complaining of a sore ankle and stomach pains, Sykes introduced himself into the middle of the park with the blowing Ellis moving to left back and Sander reverting to his more natural right side.

Prime were still hanging on and with Kerton, Cary and Turvey battling at the back Woodlands were still finding it difficult to break down the trio. Abu left the action and was replaced by Nowak in another reshuffle of the midfield moving Henshall into the middle and the still intoxicated Flamank to the right hand side reuniting him with Sander.

With the captain off, Prime leapt into life, with Ferguson and Excell working hard and chasing down many lost causes for Prime. Ferguson finally got a goal deserving of his work ethic. A free kick from just inside the attacking half lofted in by the rejuvenated Sander at right back flicked on by Cary, to Sykes stood in a horribly offside position, only to not be flagged, which he laid off into the path of Ferguson who stuck away, his 6th goal in 4 appearances for Prime this season. Sending Woodlands into a frenzy of abuse against themselves.

Prime had 10 minutes to hang on, and hang on they literally did. Kerton once again saving two handed certain goal from a free kick, definitely one for the cameras. Some say he should have held it.

There was still time for Woodlands to earn themselves a booking with the clock ticking down, Sykes collected the ball and ran it into the corner to the surprise of everyone and shielded the ball receiving a couple of kickings and showing some of the samba magic that is displayed on a Tuesday night at Tunbridge Farm. Shouts of ‘play football’ from both sides did nothing to change his mind where Excell helped hold the game out for Prime to claim an undeserved, yet hard fought victory.

UP THE PRIME!