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Edwards scores dramatic late leveller

A last gasp goal from Beckenham Town's Asher Edwards was enough to give the visitors a share of the points at Greatness Park on Saturday, in a game that both sides created enough chances to have won with relative ease.

Sevenoaks started the better of the two sides even though Beckenham goalkeeper Gary Hopper was not called upon to make any serious saves.

Former Dover Athletic striker Gary Wood should have done better from close in by the near post and Andy Constable's twenty-yarder had the goalkeeper scrambling to make a save.

Beckenham's Mario Celaire - a player wanted by Maidstone United earlier in the season - was the pick of the visiting players and he went close with a shot that went wide of Darren Smart's goal and then the same player set up Danny Vella but the midfielder's effort was off target.

Sittingbourne based Sevenoaks defender Ricky Underdown was unlucky when, from a Stuart Clarke cross, his powerful header went just past the far post.

The second half started at the same high tempo, with both sides always likely to carve an opening and in the 57th minute Wood did just that.

A quickly taken free kick from Underdown found Wood who outpaced Martin West as goalkeeper Hopper came out the striker's initial effort was blocked but as the forward laid on the ground he was able to improvise and fire the ball into an empty net.

The home side should have wrapped up the points when Constable's dipping volley clipped the top of the crossbar and Wood was unlucky not to double his tally but his shot was smothered by Hopper.

As the game entered the latter stages the visitors threw caution to the wind and attack after attack on the home goal couldn't provide dividends.

In doing this the visitors were always exposed to the breakaway, eventually this happened and Constable's effort was blocked and in the ensuing melee Beckenham's West powered his clearance against his own woodwork.

Beckenham continued to press forward and in the dying embers of the match they scored a dramatic late equaliser through Edwards.

A surging run from his own half by the right back saw the player cut into the penalty area and fire an unstoppable shot past Smart for a deserved leveller.

Sevenoaks Town: Smart, Aldridge, Miles, Clarke, Underdown, Forster, Draper (Balmer), Ralph, Constable, Bryce (Pursey), Wood (Spillane).  Sub: Hart