Tunbridge Wells 1-5 Phoenix
Dominant Phoenix hit five in impressive win at the Culverden
Jamarie Brissett scored a hat-trick as Phoenix Sports produced an impressive attacking display to win 5-1 away at Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.
A spectacular early strike from Lyle Della Verde set the tone, before Isaac Hadlow’s solo effort and Brissett’s first gave Phoenix a commanding half-time lead. Jack Gallagher pulled a goal back for the hosts after the break, but two further finishes from Brissett completed an emphatic victory.
Phoenix needed just two minutes to open the scoring, and the goal was something special. Della Verde struck a brilliant half-volley from 30 yards, sending the ball over George Bentley and into the net. Even by the standards of a player who has made a habit of scoring spectacular goals, it was a memorable strike.
The visitors had an opportunity to double their advantage almost immediately when Ricardo Thompson was caught late inside the penalty area. Della Verde stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick, but Bentley made a fine save to keep the deficit at one.
It was a busy opening spell for Della Verde, who tested Bentley again in the ninth minute with a fierce free-kick from distance that the goalkeeper tipped over the bar.
There was an early setback for Phoenix when player-manager Jake Goodman pulled up with a calf injury and was replaced by Harry Barnes after just 11 minutes. However, the visitors continued to threaten and doubled their lead seven minutes later.
Hadlow collected the ball around the halfway line and embarked on a superb mazy run into the penalty area before firing into the bottom corner to make it 2–0.
Phoenix almost added a third just after the half-hour mark when Steve Townsend broke down the left and squared for Khayrie Harris, only for the hosts to somehow clear the danger.
The third goal did arrive in the 36th minute following another excellent move down the left. Ben Morrison found space and delivered a superb cross for Brissett, who guided a volley into the corner to send Phoenix into the interval three goals ahead.
Della Verde picked up where he had left off at the start of the second half, immediately forcing Bentley into another save as the goalkeeper stood firm and tipped his effort away.
Tunbridge Wells reduced the deficit in the 51st minute when Gallagher headed home, giving the hosts a route back into the contest.
Phoenix introduced debutant Rameses Meseorisa in place of Della Verde after 58 minutes, and the new arrival soon made an impression. With 70 minutes played, he fired a powerful effort just wide, before Billy Muckle also shot wide during the next attack
The visitors restored their three-goal cushion in the 78th minute. A Phoenix corner was headed towards goal and Brissett was on hand to scoop the ball in for his second of the afternoon.
Sebastian Levenson and Bobby Hassell then replaced Townsend and Muckle as Phoenix made further changes.
There was still time for Brissett to complete his hat-trick, with Meseorisa providing the assist to cap an encouraging debut. He twisted and turned down the left before cutting the ball back for Brissett to fire home his third and Phoenix’s fifth.
It rounded off an excellent afternoon for Phoenix, whose early quality and clinical finishing secured a convincing away victory that moved that up into fifth in the table and into the play-off positions for the first time this season.
Comments