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Deal make Beckenham work hard for their points

Beckenham took it as a mark of respect to their attacking style when Deal Town played in a 4-5-1 formation.

The visitors were under constant pressure throughout the entire match. However, Beckenham found it very hard to break their opponents down and when they eventually did the visitors keeper was in great form.

Possession was almost impossible in midfield and Beckenham constantly tried to get the ball out wide and managed to stretch Deal on several occasions.

The unselfish movement of Paul Vines and Lewis Wood provided gaps for Hall and Edwards to run in to but the visitors wall of defence stood firm.

In the first period Town forced 7 corners and their best chance fell to West who, with his back to the goal spun round and watched as his snap-shot skimmed the bar.

Little changed in the general pattern of play in the second half and Beckenham Town's keeper Hopper became virtually a spectator. While at the other end the visitors keeper continued his impressive display and was outstanding.

With 20 minutes left on the clock Cooney replaced wing back Edwards who could not find the space wide needed to provide his normal telling crosses into the box. The midfield reverted to a flat formation allowing Darren Hall to push further forward. This tactical move paid immediate dividends when Hall gained advantage on the edge of the area and wrong footed a defender before drilling in a perfect pass for the impressive Vines to hammer home from 6 yards.

It should have been two up when Beszant waltzed past two defenders to provide a telling cross only for Cooney to fire over. The two substitutions by the home side were an indication that Beckenham felt comfortable with the single goal advantage and shut up shop for the duration of the match.

Beckenham have beaten far higher-placed sides far more easily at Eden Park Avenue this season but the single goal by Vines was enough to take maximum points. However, the players were not at all happy with their performance and the evidence of this was that it is the custom that after every win the team vote for the man-of-the-match, this week that ritual was skipped.

Beckenham Town's assistant manager Jason Taylor said after the game "Last week Whitstable came at us and we took advantage of the space afforded us by their tactics.

"This week our opponents got players behind the ball and closed down the midfield and played what I thought was a very good offside game. The lads did their best and kept plugging away, it must have been very frustrating for them and our supporters. "

Beckenham Town. Hopper, Paul, West, Sinclair, Belton. Edwards (Cooney), Heaselwood, Smith, Vines, Hall (Watts), Wood (Beszant)