PHOENIX 1-4 TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Phoenix fall to consecutive defeats on disappointing night in DA7.

Phoenix endured a tough evening on Tuesday night as they fell to a 4–1 defeat at home to Tunbridge Wells.

Tunbridge threatened inside the opening ten minutes when a moment of hesitation at the back was almost punished, but Jensen Grant showed great awareness to get back on the line and clear the danger.

Phoenix soon grew into the contest, with Lyle Della Verde causing problems for the visitors. His curling free-kick in the 12th minute forced a brilliant save from the visiting keeper, George Bentley before Jerson Dos Santos fired wide moments later.

Dos Santos came close again five minutes later, sliding in to meet a pinpoint cross from Della Verde, only to be denied by Bentley in the Tunbridge goal.

The visitors struck first in the 19th minute with a stunning effort from Muiz Alaka that flew into the top corner from 25 yards out.

Phoenix responded well, and just after the half-hour mark, Della Verde got his fourth goal of the season, finishing superbly from a Kristian Campbell cross to bring the game level at 1–1.

Phoenix might have gone in ahead at the break, with Della Verde rattling the bar with a brilliant half-volley right on the stroke of half-time a moment which may have been the turning point in the contest.

After the restart, Dos Santos went close again, forcing Bentley into another smart stop. Tyler Anderson was introduced just past the hour to freshen up the midfield, but it was Tunbridge who found the breakthrough. A flicked finish from central defender Thomas Penfold put the visitors 2–1 up on 69 minutes, before Rhys Bartlett added a third just two minutes later.

Phoenix showed little signs of recovery with Dos Santos striking the post in the 77th minute, before Tunbridge sealed the win deep into stoppage time with a fourth goal.

It was a hugely frustrating night for Phoenix, who once again will rue missed opportunities and lapses at the back. The team now face the challenge of regrouping quickly as they look to bounce back at home to second placed Bearsted on Saturday.