Reflecting on a solid-looking opening month to the season, Martin Larkin gives his latest interview off the back of the win over Dulwich Hamlet last night. Read more here:

http://bit.ly/lKbUY

Following Saturdays draw in the FA Cup and subsequent replay on Tuesday night, Bank Holiday Mondays game v Sevenoaks Town has been postponed.

It may have seemed like a quiet time on the Youth team-front - except for the disappointing announcement of the departure of Ryan Waterman and Ben Williamson to Tonbridge. Yet U18 Coach Darrell Cousins reports that overall pre-season has gone well with his side back preparing for the coming season for the past six weeks.

“As you’d expect, we haven't had every player at the sessions due to holidays but overall, the players are settling in well,” he remarked. “We have added some second year U18s in Adam Selmi, Sam Adams and Roman Browne to this year’s squad - and we have others we are looking at, but I’m happy with the way things are shaping up.”

Cousins predicts that this will be a tough year in the Kent Youth League U18 Central Division - but also that there will be some surprise packages with some new teams entering this season (including The Wells).

“I went to watch our first opponents, West Wickham, the other week and they looked a strong outfit,” he offered. “However, we will compete as much as we have done over the last few seasons at U14, U15 and U16 level. Last year’s efforts will be a hard act to follow, and this year could be a year in which we regroup and bring on some more players for Martin Larkin to think about for the season after. The majority of teams will be second year U18s in this league. It’s certainly going to be a good test for our lads.”

Last Saturday, Cousins' side played their first pre-season friendly against Blackham & Ashurst of the Crowborough Premier Division. With players missing due to work/holiday, Cousins himself had to don the gloves and deputise for Callum Hampson - much to the amusement of the rest of the team. “As with all pre-season games this was a chance to have a look at the players who have been training with the squad,” Cousins remarked.

The Wells were immediately on the attack and found themselves in front with skipper Barden running down the right and with a cross-come-shot, eluded the keeper for 1-0. Sam Adams doubled the lead - slotting home a poorly defended corner that followed a spell of good passing play from The Wells.

Blackham & Ashurst responded, putting more pressure on The Wells’ defence and they were rewarded as their forward poked the ball past the despairing keeper… Worse was to come and the home team drew level before the break. Nonetheless, The Wells continued to complete and were producing some decent football in spite of the set-back.

Into the second half, and the game proved an even affair with both teams creating chances but failing to make either keeper work initially. That changed in favour of The Wells though and the predatory Jack Harris was on-hand to pop up and nod home before Selmi secured a 4-2 win with the goal his efforts richly deserved.

All-in-all, a satisfactory performance according to Cousins: “Considering new players were involved, and this was our first game against a senior side this year, it wasn’t bad. Tougher asks will come along, but overall, well done lads.

“Concerning the league, as I said, we will be looking to finish as high as possible - but Kevin Waterman and myself believe we have a squad which can compete in the Central Division. This Sunday we play our final warm-up game against Pembury Sunday Team (seniors) at Woodside, 10.30 kick off, before we go to West Wickham on September 5^th for our first competitive game in the U18 Central Division.”

Tunbridge Wells are delighted to welcome three new signings to Culverden. Darren Ibrahim was on the books with Ashford Town last year, and Anthony Bodle and Alex Flisher join from Maidstone United.

“Darren played a number of games for Ashford in goal and was very popular with the fans at Homelands,” first team manager Martin Larkin told www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk. “Both Hugo Langton and Joe Fuller have recommended him highly, so we are delighted to bring him on board. Michal Czanner is away in Slovakia right now, so Darren will come straight into the side to face Erith Town.

“We have a lot of competition for the outfield places at the moment but we were keen to bring someone in to really push Michal. Darren fits the bill.”

Adding to the competition in Central Midfield is Anthony Bodle. “Anthony featured in nearly 25 games last season in the Ryman Premier League, so has a very strong pedigree.

"He is still signed on Ryman League forms with Maidstone who are keen to keep an eye on him, but Anthony is at an age where he wants to establish himself and play week-in-week-out and we are delighted to have him here as he has looked very good in training. He will be in the squad for Saturday and will be chomping at the bit to get onto the pitch to show what he can do.”

Alex Flisher meantime is a left-sided midfielder who caught assistant manager Brad Sandeman’s eye as early as January/February of this year when he watched Maidstone’s to suss out Keelan Mooney. “Alex is quick off the mark and has an exceptional left foot. He will give us a different option on the left as he is more of a winger than a midfielder like Tom Davey. Alex is also a bit younger than the rest of the guys, so we have plenty of time to bring him into the team.”

Larkin was keen to offer his gratitude to Maidstone manager Peter Nott. “A lot of thanks goes to Peter who has allowed us to sign these guys. Anthony and Alex are good friends with Keelan Mooney, Scott Whibley and Ben Palmer - all of whom have benefited from Peter’s coaching at youth and reserve team level before Peter got the first team job at Maidstone.

“Our hope now is that we can improve them further through regular first team action as they are all players that will only improve our side. All of them are fully committed to doing well for Tunbridge Wells FC and leading us forward.”

Tunbridge Wells FC are delighted that Keelan Mooney has signed forms following the game at home to Beckenham on Saturday, and will be available for selection from next week's FA Cup match at Mile Oak.

A happy Martin Larkin commented, "Keelan enjoyed time with us towards the end of last season, and after spending pre-season with Maidstone United (where he was very close to forcing his way in to the side), he has now decided he needs to be playing week-in-week-out rather than being sat on the bench. He goes straight into the squad for the FA Cup game this week and we hope all of the Culverden faithful will welcome him back when you get a chance.”

Martin Larkin was delighted with Saturday's result at home to Beckenham considering the very serious injuries picked up during the game. "We had worked very hard on our defensive shape over the last two weeks, and although we may not have given the crowd the kind of attacking display they were after, I hope they appreciated the defensive display Michal and his back four produced,” he said.

Following is an update on the injuries picked up on Saturday:

Matt Foreman is in a particularly bad way. His knee is in a brace and he is in a bit of pain. Unfortunately the extent of the damage can’t be assessed until Wednesday when the swelling has reduced. The concern is that is it cartilage damage, but to what extent is not yet known.

Tom Davey has miraculously not broken any bones in his hand - the x-rays were checked multiple times! The huge lump he had was a mixture of burst blood vessels and synovial fluid from the joint that had been forced out from the impact. (Scott Whibley is aparently very relieved as it turns out it was his clumsy size tens that hit him!) Tom will continue to training, but just not do any contact work for now.

Benji Agana has made good progress over the last 48 hours - and that is purely down to the great work Dan the physio which he carried out straight after he came off.

With the peaks and troughs of the pre-season results at Culverden, you might be forgiven for thinking you've just been trecking in the Alps. Martin Larkin make some sense of it all in his summary interview of Pre-Season and looks ahead to the New Season. Read the ins and outs of the summer months here:

http://bit.ly/lKbUY

The draw for the Kent Senior Trophy has been announced on the Kent FA Website, and Tunbridge Wells start in the Second Round with a home tie against Kent County League outfit Phoenix Sports. The game will be played on the weekend of December 11th.

The winner will then face an away-day in the Quarter Final against either Erith & Belvedere or VCD Athletic in the New Year.

Read Martin Larkin's thoughts as pre-season shapes-up ahead of the George Piper Courier Cup this weekend. For his latest interview, click here.

Don't forget this weekend sees the George Piper Courier Cup taking place at Culverden Stadium. Kicking off at 12.00pm, Tunbridge Wells take on Crowborough to be followed at 3pm by Tonbridge v Rusthall.

Then on Sunday, the winner of each game will play eachother for the trophy (3pm kick-off), while the two losing sides will play a 3rd and 4th place play off (12 noon kick-off).