Aldershot & Farnham (A&F) Hockey Club head coach Ian Jennings was pleased with his side’s efforts after they picked up a point at league champions Tunbridge Wells in the South East Men’s Premier Division on Saturday.

The point kept the Shots in fourth place in the league table.

“My message to the guys before the game was based around the fact that having been the only team so far this season to take any points off Tunbridge Wells after a 4-0 home victory, they were going to be after vengeance,” said Jennings. “However, on the other hand, it was an opportunity to inflict further damage on their otherwise perfect season – and that’s exactly what we did.

“After a difficult journey down because of traffic, and a warm-up I can only describe as extraordinarily lacklustre, followed by a verbal blast to buck their ideas up, we actually started really well. It would be fair to say we produced one of our most consistent performances all season. We always looked in control and players were making good decisions all around the park, and it was a genuinely good game of hockey. Certainly any neutral watching from the sideline would have had difficulty telling which team were the league leaders.

“This season could have been so very different. If we had been given the clearly outlined, necessary support, which in effect was going to be self-funded, I honestly believe we would have been playing National League hockey next season. The extra funding would have been used to secure a couple of players of notable quality to help fill the gaps that we currently have. I feel it’s been a missed opportunity and one that I wonder if it will ever present itself to the club again. The lack of ambition that requires more than just words has become evident to the players and I know they share my disappointment with how things have turned out. We will of course carry on to the end and I’m very proud of what the players and we have achieved.”

A&F hit the ground running at Tunbridge Wells. They were happy in possession and in control of the game from the first whistle. The full-backs were able to comfortably outlet through the Tunbridge Wells press, most notably down the left where Chris Boot was filling in for the absent Kevin McCafferty. Scott Perry and Stu Morhall were working well out wide, and it wasn’t long before the home side’s goal was threatened, with Josh Frost unable to convert a Morhall cross from the right baseline.

For all their early pressure, A&F found themselves behind. Tunbridge Wells showed their ruthlessness and converted a penalty corner following a neat one-two move at the top of the circle.

It looked like A&F would fail to be rewarded for all their control and good work in possession. They had one further chance before half-time, as they won a penalty corner of their own. Perry notched up his 24th goal of the season as his drag flick found the top left-hand corner to make it 1-1 at half-time.

The intensity ramped up for the second half. The game was played at breakneck speed, aided by Tunbridge Wells warming up for the National League by inviting ball boys and ball girls to ensure play wasn’t halted unnecessarily. Both sides had a tough time beating goalkeepers that were on top form, with Hamish Hall making a number of smart saves throughout the half to maintain parity.

Despite the high intensity, A&F kept their discipline. Tunbridge Wells found themselves down a player when they lost a midfielder to the sin bin for breaking down a counter-attack as A&F drove forward through Connor Wilkinson, but A&F couldn’t make the numerical advantage count.

With Tunbridge Wells restored back to 11 players, the game continued at a high speed, but neither team could carve out any further opportunities and it finished 1-1.

Following the Easter break, A&F will finish their season on Saturday, April 6, with a visit from a Sittingbourne side who are battling against relegation. A win will see A&F reach 40 points for the first time in the Premier Division and maintain fourth place.