The Hoops were unable to prevent Beckenham from returning to the
top of the table on Tuesday but Derek Hares’ side certainly gave it a decent
shot.
Beckenham scored their opening goal soon after the kick-off and their second in
added time, but in between there was little to choose between the teams on a
cold night when an uneven surface made sharp passing moves difficult and
genuine chances were thin on the ground.
The game kicked off 15 minutes late because
some of the Beckenham players were delayed en route to the Charles Ground but
the visitors, who had led the table for over four months before Saturday’s 4-1
defeat at Sheppey, quickly revealed their determination to regain the top spot.
With just four minutes gone they won a free-kick just outside the Hoops’ area
and when Joe Bannan’s shot came back off a post Kiki Oshilaja reacted quickest
to prod the ball home.
Deal then suffered another blow soon
afterwards when Ben Chapman had to go off injured, but as the half progressed
they gradually began to test the powerful Beckenham backline who until the
weekend had possessed the league’s best defensive record.
Neither ‘keeper however was seriously tested
before half-time and that remained the case for much of the second half during
which the Hoops competed admirably with their title-chasing opponents but too
often produced a poor final ball in promising situations, especially from
corners and free-kicks.
That weakness meant the long throw-ins of
Jack Paxman remained Deal’s best route towards an equaliser and four minutes
from time the tactic almost paid off. The wing-back launched another probing
delivery to the near post and in the scramble that followed Alfie Foster’s snap
shot struck the woodwork.
Having survived that scare Beckenham then
snatched their second goal deep into added time when Steve Townsend robbed
Hoops’ keeper James Tonkin of the ball on the edge of the area before running
it into the unguarded net. It was harsh on the Hoops who, led by
man-of-the-match Kane Smith, didn’t deserve to lose by a two-goal margin after
the team effort they had put in but for Beckenham all that mattered was that
they were back on top.
Deal: Tonkin, Paxman, Hark (Howard 75),
Foster, Smith, Scott, Munday, Chapman (O’Brien 14), Chapman , Wilson, Walsh,
Reeves.
Attendance: 121
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ITS AN AWAY DAY FOR THE NEXT ROUND OF THE FA VASE
BREAKING NEWS We have been drawn AWAY to Bridgwater United FC in the 5th Round of The FA Vase. The tie will be played at 3pm on