Scott Whibley up against goalscorer Gavin Cogdon Photo: Martin Apps

by Luke Cawdell

Kent League side Tunbridge Wells suffered Wembley heartache in the FA Vase final.

Wells were a goal behind at the break after striker Gavin Cogdon headed home.

With 12 minutes left Josh Stanford levelled for Wells but Keith Graydon restored Spennymoor’s lead almost instantly.

In the dying minutes Wells pushed for a second equaliser but Spennymoor did enough to ensure it was their name going on the Vase.

Over 12,000 fans were backing Wells inside Wembley. The Kent side had the bigger following, but started the game as massive underdogs, against a side who had won the Northern League for the previous three seasons.

Martin Larkin’s side had played seven games to reach the final and their run included a win over last season’s Vase winners Dunston UTS.

They were only the second Kent club to have reached the FA Vase final. Deal Town won it back in 2000 with a 1-0 win over Chippenham.

Captain Jason Bourne denies Spennymoor as they go on the attack

Wells started the match well, with Andy McMath firing an effort over after 30 seconds. Josh Stanford drew a good save from Town keeper Robert Deam, after beating several defenders with six minutes on the clock, before Joe Fuller shot into the keeper’s arms.

But that early enterprise soon dried up as the Northern League side started to boss the match.

And with 17 minutes played Cogdon silenced the big Kent following with a header past keeper Chris Oladogba, from a right-sided cross.

Cogdon came close to adding a second on 25 minutes, as he raced clear, but Oladogba came off his line to deny the front-man. Spennymoor continued to attack and Wells defender Lewis Mingle headed against his own post from a Wayne Phillips cross. A shot from Mark Davison also needed tipping wide by busy keeper Oladogba.

Larkin’s men went into the break thankful that there was just goal separating the sides.

Wells came out positively in the second half but Spennymoor again soon found their feet.

Spennymoor's Wayne Phillips takes on the Tunbridge Wells defence

It needed a good save from Oladogba to tip Cogdon’s shot wide with 53 minutes gone, as Town had a number of early second half opportunities.

Larkin attempted to change the game with Wells’ leading scorer Jack Harris coming off the bench, along with midfielder Tom Davey, with an hour gone. Harris’ arrival helped Wells keep the ball better and offer more going forward.

Wells forced keeper Dean into a save, when big defender Perry Spackman turned a free-kick towards goal. The same played also headed a chance wide.

At the other end Mark Davison almost doubled Spennymoor’s advantage but he headed a close-range effort narrowly wide.

With 12 minutes left Wells were back on level terms as Dean could only punch a cross into the path of Stanford and the winger calmly lobbed the ball home over into the back of the net.

The joy was shortlived, however, as Spennymoor hit straight back. Desperate defending looked to have kept Town at bay, during a goalmouth melee, but Keith Graydon pounced on the loose ball and smashed it home with 10 minutes left.

Wells: Oladogba, Bourne, Mingle, Fuller (Davey 57mins), Whibley, Spackman, Pilbeam (Sinden 85mins), McMath, Irvine, Cornell (Harris 57mins), Stanford. Subs: Boyle, Czanner.

Town: Dean, Griffiths, Mason, Dodds, Ryan, Capper, Walton (Stephenson 71mins), Graydon, Davison (Rae 75mins), Cogdon, Phillips Peacock 65mins). Subs: Richardson, Knight.

Attendance: 16,751

Match reaction to follow.

ft spennymoor 2-1 tunbridge wells. fa vase staying in the north east for another year. crucially, wells conceded just after equalising.

— steve tervet (@stevetervet) may 4, 2013

Pictures: Barry Goodwin & Martin Apps