KENT SENIOR TROPHY FINAL LIVE COVERAGE: Beckenham Town 0-2 Thamesmead Town - How the Trophy was won

Sunday 13th April 2008

BECKENHAM TOWN 0-2 THAMESMEAD TOWN
Kent Senior Trophy Final
Sunday 13^th April 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

FULL MATCH REPORT AND REACTION TO FOLLOW

Thamesmead Town clinched the Kent Senior Trophy for the third time in six years as they defeated a Beckenham Town side that were reduced to nine-men after 32 minutes.

Click below for our LIVE COVERAGE

PRESENTATION

Beckenham followers clap their players as both teams line up as the match officials receive their awards. There can be no complaints for the two red cards given to Hall and Maloney during the game. Beckenham’s beaten players get their awards first, as Thamesmead clap them. Thamesmead’s defender Lew Watts goes first to get his award, his team mates follow. Dean Kearley and James Brown hold the Kent Senior Trophy aloft and pose for photographs. Their celebration, however, is muted as they know a win in their last two Kent League games - against Faversham Town and Greenwich Borough - and they will be holding the Kent League title and promotion into the Ryman League.

FINAL WHISTLE

Despite this feisty derby both sets of players gather in the centre circle after the final whistle and a orange jacket wearing steward walk the three match officials towards the presentation in front of the stand.

Fans start making their way towards the exits.

Tommy the Toad joins the victorious Mead players in the centre circle as both sets of players are caked in mud.

RESULT: BECKENHAM TOWN 0-2 THAMESMEAD TOWN

Thamesmead, needing just one win from their last two Kent League games, are on course for the double with a 2-0 win over Beckenham Town to lift the Kent Senior Trophy. Beckenham had goalkeeper Grant Hall red-carded after just 50 seconds after he rushed out of his penalty area to bring down Richard Dimmock and defender John Maloney followed after 32 minutes for a crunching challenge on James Brown.

Beckenham had plenty of possession during the second half but a professional performance from Thamesmead ensured they took the silverware back to Bayliss Avenue for the first time in three years.

90 MINUTES

Reeves’ right-footed free-kick from 26-yards brings a comfortable save from Conneally.

75 MINUTES

Beckenham have had the better chances in the second half and they called Conneally into action with a low save to his left to make a comfortable save from a right-footed drive from 18-yards from substitute Nick Curren.

65 MINUTES

Despite the set-back of only having nine men on the pitch, Fairweather’s run into the box brings a fine save from Conneally at his near post with a left-footed stabbed shot from ten-yards. The normally pristine Park View Road pitch is cutting up.

58 MINUTES

With both sides now with one substitute on the pitch, Beckenham have called Conneally into action.

Healey forced a free-kick in a central position as referee Kelly allowed Healey to ride two challenges before a free-kick was awarded.

Nick Reeves’ right-footed free-kick from 25-yards brought a flying save from Conneally, who dived to his left to tip the ball around the post.

From Youle’s resulting corner, which was headed out, Fairweather cracked a left-footed volley from 25-yards sailed over.

47 MINUTES

This is a pitch where both sets of players have to dig the ball out of a sticky midfield area, but they’re both failing to do this. Healey, however, has the right idea, drilling a right-footed shot from 30-yards, which brings a comfortable save from Thamesmead goalkeeper Chris Conneally.

HALF TIME: BECKENHAM TOWN 0-2 THAMESMEAD TOWN

Goals from Pedro Knight and Junior Baker give the Mead a 2-0 lead as Beckenham Town ended the half with only nine men. Goalkeeper Grant Hall was sent off after just 50 seconds for bringing down Richard Dim mock a yard outside the box and John Maloney followed after 32 minutes for a crunching tackle on Mead skipper James Brown.

INJURY TIME

Jemmott drills a right-footed shot past the far post from sixteen yards.

INJURY TIME

Healey sends his header agonisingly wide of the left upright from 16-yards following a cross from the right flank by Durrand Jemmott.

43 MINUTES

The poor sliding conditions has seen a couple of flashpoints. Williams (Thamesmead) and Michael Ebanks (Beckenham) come together and both are yellow carded by Gillingham referee Mr Paul Kelly.

34:31 BECKENHAM TOWN 0-2 THAMESMEAD TOWN

Beckenham, down to nine men, are now 2-0 down, as Baker’s header from six-yards out, loops over Ward and finds the top left-hand corner.

31:33 - BECKENHAM DOWN TO NINE

Beckenham reduced to nine men, which sparks their manager Jason Huntley to storm onto the pitch in anger and has to be held back by fourth official Mr Adebayo.

Midfielders John Maloney (Beckenham), who was sent off, slides in on Thamesmead skipper James Brown, who needed treatment.

26:42

Healey drills a right-footed shot from 15-yards agonisingly past the far post for Beckenham, following a poor defensive header from a Mead defender on the right-hand side of the box.

24:17

Another headed chance goes begging for Beckenham as central defender John Maloney sends his header from six-yards over following Tommy Youle’s first corner of the game.

20:27

Thamesmead, knowing that Beckenham have a central midfielder in goal, have a trio of long range chances. Knight and Dimmock unleash shots from distance, which Ward saves comfortably and then left-back Junior Baker sends a left-footed lob over the bar, from an angled shot from thirty-yards.

16:45

Beckenham almost equalise but Joe Healey sends his header agonisingly over the crossbar from just six-yards out following a free-kick from just outside the box.

14:20

Thamesmead Town miss an excellent chance to double their lead when Curtis Williams’ defensive splitting pass was latched onto by Knight, who drilled a left-footed shot agonisingly past the far post from 15-yards.

EARLY DRAMA AND EARLY GOAL: BECKENHAM TOWN 0-1 THAMESMEAD TOWN

Beckenham Town goalkeeper Grant Hall is showed a red card after just 50 seconds after bringing down Richard Dimmock just 19 yards from goal.

Beckenham midfielder Danny Ward takes the yellow goalkeeper’s jersey and is relieved to see Rikki Cable’s free-kick from 19-yards deflect past the far post.

Thamesmead took the lead from the resulting corner, taken by Cable, which isn’t cleared by stunned Beckenham and Pedro Knight stabbed the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. Goal timed at four minutes and 41 seconds.

15:00

The players line up in front of the Welling stand to be presented to three KCFA officials, including Keith Masters and Barry Bright.

14:56

Despite concern about the game going ahead, the rain ceases and the sun tries to come out of the dark clouds above.

14:46

Beckenham players are now back in the dressing rooms.

14:32

Balls are zipping of the soaked playing surface at Park View Road.

14:25

Puddles start to appear on the pitch.

14:22

Beckenham continue their jogging routine.

14:21

Beckenham’s players take cover in their dug-out, whilst committed Thamesmead Town - a win in their last two Kent League games will clinch promotion into the Ryman League - continue professionally with their warm-ups.

14:18

A huge clash of thunder begins a huge downpour, soaking both sets of players as they warm up - the players’ wished they had stayed in the warmth of the dressing rooms. How will the pitch effect two sides that like to play football the proper way - on the deck?

14:14

Goalkeeper Chris Conneally and experienced defender Lew Watts are the first Thamesmead players to begin their warm-ups.

14:05

Beckenham Town’s players, wearing white t-shirts with their names printed on the front, start jogging out for their warm-up.

14:05

Former Lordswood and Faversham Town man Paul Piggott starts putting cones onto the pitch in preparation of Thamesmead’s warm-up.

14:00

Sand is being spread onto the pitch at the Park View Road end of the pitch, just outside the penalty area

PITCH

Despite heavy rain during the morning, the pitch is well and truly playable - despite being soggy underfoot.

WHO WINS THE FASHION STAKES?

Both sets of players and management have certainly made the effort for today’s showpiece Kent Senior Trophy Final here at Welling United’s Park View Road ground.

Thamesmead Town arrive on the pitch first and clearly have won the fashion stakes. Black suits, pink ties, and black trousers wearing a white flower.

Some of the Beckenham Toiwn players are also wearing black suits, although some have ditched their suits in the sunny conditions. Their ties, however, match their club colours, although red and white stripes and black trousers.

Let’s hope that the match lives up to its billing.

Admission prices are £5 (adults) and £3 (concessions).

Beckenham Town: Grant Hall, Ryan Pacey (Nick Curren 56), Michael Ebanks, John Maloney, Terry Khan, Nick Reeves, Durrand Jemmott (Charlie Hawkes 71), Danny Ward, Tommy Youle, Joe Healey, Theo Fairweather (Pat Hitchin 72)
Subs: John-Paul Collier, Darren Wise.
Booked: Michael Ebanks 44

Sent Off: Grant Hall (50 seconds), John Maloney 32
Thamesmead Town: Chris Conneally, Danny Chapman (Robbie Tarrant 54), Junior Baker, James Brown (Lee Dawson 77), Lew Watts (Dean Kearley 71), Lee Coburn, Scot Mulholland, Pedro Knight, Richard Dimmock, Rikki Cable, Curtis Williams.
Subs: Peter Deadman, Adam Woodward.
Goals: Pedro Knight 5, Junior Baker 35
Booked: Curtis Williams 44
Attendance: 505
Referee: Paul Kelly (Gillingham)
Assistants: Mr Andrew Mead (Orpington) & Mr Jonathan Gooding (Ashford)
Fourth Official: Mr Babatunde Adebayo (Bexleyheath)