Tunbridge Wells 6 v 2 Beckenham Town

Kent Premier League

BECKENHAM cruised to a comfortable win courtesy of superb hat trick's from Ashley Carew and Ross Cable, writes Ian Muir.

After storming into 5-1 lead by half time Becks took their foot of the gas and looked jaded in the second period in this Kent League encounter at Culverden Down.

Town wasted no time in getting into the game with Smith combining well with Carew, while at the other end the home side wasted several chances.

It looked like Beckenham would open the scoring when the impressive Lawson hit the bar with a curling shot after 10 minutes. Debutant keeper Lewington made a fine save from a Wells free-kick and only a minute later some strong running by Carew, who never gave up, latched onto a back-pass then beat two defenders before slipping the ball into the net from a very tight angle.

More chances followed as the home side cleared one-off-the-line.

A quickly taken free-kick by Smith put the ball into the path of Carew who ghosted through to slot home for Town's well deserved second. Ross Cable opened his account with a solo effort turning sharply to place his shot beyond the diving keeper.

An unnecessary free-kick on the edge of Towns' penalty area gave Tunbridge a way back into the game after half an hour as Wells faught hard to compete.

The visitors then put the match beyond Wells as the head of Carew who clinched a hat trick inside 35 minutes met Lawson's telling cross.

A series of neat interchanges between Cable and McDonnell provided another opening but the attack was thwarted by the Tunbridge defence.

Almost on the stroke of half time Cable received as pass just inside the area and he dropped his shoulder and spun round to lash his shot into the roof of the net.

The first half was pretty much one-way traffic and both sets of supporters wondered how many goals would be served up in the second period.

Becks nearly made it 6 from the kick off as Carew spotted the keeper off his line and his shot from the centre spot was tipped over the bar by the retreating custodian.

It was a scrappy opening to the half as the home side took the initiative and threw everything at Town who managed to weather the storm well and continued to press forward, often leaving themselves open to the counter attack.

As the half wore on it was clear that Beckenham had lost their shine and a static Town defence let in Tunbridge from close range after 75 minutes.

Wells to their credit never gave up and showed confidence on the ball put faltered in the last third of the pitch.

There were several bookings in the match and McDollell was showed a straight red for retaliation against an ugly challenge, the perpetrator was only given only a yellow.

Cables' final contribution to the game was Beckenham's sixth goal one he had worked tirelessly for, he chested the ball down and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the net with two minutes remaining.

At the end of the match the 2-6 score line didn't flatter Beckenham.

They created more than enough chances to increase the score line and mixed up their game with some neat one and two touch passing football on the way.

The six goals were well-taken but their overall performance faded as the match went on.

Manager Jason Huntley said: "I was disappointed with our show in the second half.

"We have got to get our motivated going as we looked as if we were just going through the motions.

"It will be back to the training ground during the week for us."

Beckenham entertain Deal Town next Saturday, kick off 3pm and make the short trip to The Arena for the derby match against Croydon on Bank Holiday Monday in a morning kick-off of 11am.