Having been level at the break, Tunbridge Wells crashed in the second half against improving Erith & Belvedere to lose 5-1 - Steve Ashmore scoring his first competitive goal for the club providing the only bright spot. Park View Road has never been a happy hunting ground for The Wells, and this occasion proved no different.

“I’m very disappointed with our second half performance,” Martin Larkin reflected after the game. “For the first half we were very good and should have been two, maybe three up in the first 10 minutes with the chances we created. In the second half our inexperience showed.

“We had all five of the clubs centre halves unavailable Saturday through work, suspension and injury, so we had a makeshift back four with three of the four playing out of position. I showed. But we won’t use that as an excuse, as that certainly shouldn’t affect work rate and desire.

“This week we welcome Perry Spackman back from suspension along with Andy Boyle, Brad Draper and Jon Lord. James Russell is another two weeks away from starting so we will certainly be stronger in coming weeks. It will be nice to finally have a full squad to choose from, you don’t really expect to wait until late September before you can put your first choice 11 out on the field.”