beckenham220105

Not a classic, but Becks pile more misery on Lords

For the second successive week, Lordswood let a good lead slip only to go on to lose the game and they remain rooted to the foot of the Go Travel Kent League table, seven points adrift of Erith Town.

Looking to eradicate silly mistakes which have hampered them in the last few weeks, they got off to a great start taking a 3rd minute lead.

Lords goalkeeper Scott Muttock's long kick was flicked on by Andy Doerr finding Charlie Almond who controlled the ball and then from 30 yards lobbed the ball over Becks goalkeeper Gary Hopper.

Beckenham overcame this and started to play the football they are renowned for this season and had the lions share of the possession but didn't look to trouble their bottom of the table hosts.

Against the run of play, Lordswood doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Richard Radbourne's corner was half cleared to the edge of the box and Steve Sharp shot through a crowded area and the ball nestled into the back of the net to score his first goal for the club.

Two minutes later a stunned Beckenham almost got back into the game when a free kick saw Matt Belton's header saved at the second attempt by Muttock.

Lordswood, however, almost raced into a 3-0 lead when a throw found Doerr whose first time cross was met by a first time strike from Mike Cunningham, which flew over.

Two minutes later Doerr received the ball on the edge of the box and passed to Sharp but his 15-yard shot was cleared off the line.

Beckenham, however, finally pulled a deserved goal back when a free kick into the area was flicked on and from ten yards Lewis Wood scored.

Beckenham nearly equalised in the 36th minute when Darren Beszant on the right cut inside the box and his cross evaded everyone but James Day was the hero to clear the ball off the line.

Half-time arrived with Lordswood going in with a 2-1 lead but for those at Greenwich last week, fans were thinking if they could go on and win the game, instead of squandering the three points seven days ago.

The second half started with the visitors coming forward for the equaliser and in the 52nd minute they should have scored when  a free kick into the area by Beszant evaded everyone except Nathan Paul but from two yards he stabbed the ball over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

In the 69th minute, however, Lordswood had another piece of much-needed luck when Wood received the ball inside the penalty area on the left and his shot, which beat Muttock, crashed against the post.

In the 73rd minute Beckenham equalised when Wood on the left hand side shot past Muttock and two minutes later they could have taken the lead when former Cray Wanderers, Bromley and Erith & Belvedere striker Paul Vines crossed to former Cray and Thamesmead midfielder Adam Heaslewood whose shot was saved by Muttock but Wood squandered the chance to net his hat-trick from the rebound, firing wide.

A minute later, Wood crossed to Heaslewood who smacked the ball into the net.

Beckenham piled more misery on Lordswood in the 87th minute when Wood hooked the ball into the six-yard box for Darren Hall to shoot into an empty net.

Beckenham Town's assistant manager Jason Taylor said: "This was a bustling game that lacked quality until we exerted a measure of control in the second period and began to open up the home side with determination and neat interaction.

"It was very hard for our ball players on the bumpy pitch.

"This will not go down as a classic as we all know we are not playing well but I cannot complain about the second half that provided the great result."


Lordswood: Muttock, Day, Russell, Crust, Radbourne, Colyer, Sharp, Cunningham, Doerr, Almond, Broad (Brown).  Subs: Dengate, Burrett, Piggott, Beck

Beckenham Town: Hopper, Sinclair, West, Forbes (Edwards), Paul, Smith (Hall), Belton, Heaselwood, Beaszant (Cooney), Vines, Wood