Beckenham Town 0-0 Erith Town - Wastell leaves dominant Becks frustrated

BECKENHAM TOWN 0-0 ERITH TOWN
Kent League Cup Semi-Final First Leg
Tuesday 18^th March 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Eden Park Avenue

A STRING of stunning second half saves from recalled goalkeeper James Wastell, a post and three goal-line clearances, ensured Erith Town escaped with a draw in this one-sided Kent League Cup semi-final first leg tie at Eden Park Avenue tonight.

Classy Beckenham, second in the table, had defeated their fifth placed opponents 4-1 in the Kent League last weekend, but were left frustrated as they found the former Welling United goalkeeper in top form.

Erith Town had, somehow, kept the score goal-less at the break, and their first shot on Grant Hall’s goal didn’t arrive until the 50^th minute.

Striker Kevin George cracked a left-footed half-volley from thirty-yards, which was palmed over by the former Cray Wanderers goalkeeper.

And the Dockers almost delivered the sucker punch on the hour-mark, calling Hall into action twice.

The keeper rushed quickly out of his penalty area to thwart striker Simon Mitchell causing damage as he was played in behind the home team’s defence by Alan Matthews.

And he made a brave save at Matthews’ feet as the central midfielder ghosted in behind Becks’ defence moments later.

But Beckenham went on and turned the screw against their out-played visitors and striker Joe Healy flashed a left-footed angled drive agonisingly past the far post, before finding Wastell was not going to be beaten, as he displayed the form that enabled him to play in the highest level of non-league football earlier in his career.

Healy cut in from the left on a mazy run and from a central position cracked a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which although spilt, Wastell ensured the ball didn’t find the bottom corner.

Wastell made amends just two minutes later when he got down to keep hold of John-Paul Collier’s left-footed drive, which flashed across a crowded goal-mouth from the left.

But the longer the game went on, the better the saves became.

Ryan Pacey unleashed a right-footed half-volley from 30-yards, which was flying towards the right corner, but the goalkeeper was on hand to beat out the rasping shot.

Beckenham utilised the pace of wingers Durrand Jemmott and Theo Fairweather as they sensed that Erith Town were desperate to hang on.

Fairweather was played in behind the Dockers defence but Wastell managed to block the shot with his body and was relieved to see the ball bounce just past the foot of the right-hand post.

But man-of-the-match Wastell saved his best for last in the final four minutes, parrying Nick Curran’s drive, his reactions were spot on as he got up to prevent Fairweather from scoring with the follow up shot, the ball striking his body before looping over.

The goalkeeper’s luck was in at the death when Beckenham skipper John Maloney headed Collier’s free-kick against the near post from six-yards out.

With Tom Youle and Healy also having attempts cleared off the line, Beckenham Town’s manager, Jason Huntley was a frustrated man.

But he believes his side can go to the Erith Sports Stadium on 2^nd April and seal a place in the final.

“First half, I don’t think we’ve done enough,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“Second half, we absolutely destroyed them, just camped in their half.

“They’ve got a lot to thank their keeper for to be fair, he's pulled off three very, very good saves, and we had chance after chance.

“We just didn’t take our chances but it’s not over by a long mile. I’m sure we’ll go to their ground and we’ll bring the game to them again.”

Huntley is fully aware of the pitfalls that the Erith Sports Stadium has in store for them, compared to the excellent playing surface here at Eden Park Avenue.

“It’s tough when you go to their ground,” he said. “The pitch isn’t the greatest, you see the pitch here, it’s lovely, it suit’s the football we play.

“Erith’s ground, the pitch isn’t the greatest down there at the moment. We’ll do a job down there, we’ve got very good players here. If they perform on the day, we’ll get the result.”

But Erith Town’s player-manager Mark Tompkins was pleased that his side escaped with a draw so they can take advantage of home comforts in the second leg.

Tompkins admitted after last Saturday’s meeting that his side squandered many chances before falling to a flattering 4-1 defeat.

“It was a role reversed the other day,” Tompkins said, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk after his side got away with it.

“We had a load of chances Saturday and tonight they did. Joe (Healy) up front is a good player (for Beckenham) and that’s why we brought Wazza (Wastell) back in. But half-time isn’t it? - 0-0 - bring it on!

“We’ve got a few boys back as well (for the second leg). I said to you we’ve got three or four out so they’ll be back for the second leg, so yes, looking forward to that.”

One of those quartet of players returning is the player-manager himself and he hopes his team can make it through to the final, most possibly against Hythe Town.

“I mean, down here they can knock the ball about,” Tompkins said of the playing surface at Eden Park Avenue.

He added: “Our pitch is a bit bobbly, our lights aren’t the greatest, no atmosphere there so it will be a different game completely.

“When we came here tonight we sat our stall out. Me, Bill (Edwards) and (Dennis) Abboh said come here and frustrate them.

“Wastell was immense, that’s why we’ve done well this season. I mean, he’s the best keeper in the league as far as I’m concerned, probably in the league above.”

But Tompkins, whose side rode their luck on many occasions tonight, thought he got his tactics right.

“I brought Wazza (Wastell) and Danny Twin back in tonight. We learnt from Saturday, Beckenham’s two wide boys are good players.

“We pushed up Charlie Burgess, who I thought was immense tonight, little Charlie Burgess, he stayed with 11 (Fairweather) wherever he went. He went with him and Adam Healsewood went with the 7 (Jemmott) on the other side and it worked for us. These wide boys didn’t really create that much against us tonight, Saturday they were the key.”

Beckenham Town: Grant Hall, Ryan Pacey, Michael Ebanks, John Maloney, John Collier, Terry Khan, Durrand Jemmott, Nick Curran, Joe Healy, Tom Youle (Pat Hitchins 77), Theo Fairweather.
Subs: Danny Ward, Darren Wise, Charlie Hawkes, Jason Thompson.

Erith Town: James Wastell, Danny Twin, Danny Bower, Bill Edwards, Alan Hanlon, Charlie Burgess, Adam Heslewood, Wayne Grizzle (Bobby Cooper 78), Simon Mitchell, Kevin George, Alan Matthews (Marcel Dennis 89)
Subs: Mark Tompkins, Danny Edwards, Stuart Harvey.

Booked: Danny Bower 87

Attendance: 40
Referee: Mr Daniel Wyatt (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Andy Butler (Sydenham) & Mr Jamie MacLeod (Welling)