beck220703

Mohammed inspires Beckenham to victory over neighbours
Bromley 2-3 Beckenham Town

Sean Cooney's wonderful strike in first half injury time sparked this pre-season friendly into life at Hayes Lane on Tuesday, writes Stephen McCartney.

After receiving the ball, the former Cray Wanderers midfielder, who is thinking about a move to Beckenham Town, teased three Bromley defenders, before unleashing an unstoppable left footed curler.  Bromley goalkeeper Danny Harwood
dived to his right, but the shot was goalbound the moment the ball left Cooney's left foot.

After Bromley's Dean Thomas and Beckenham's Paul Smith was asked by Referee Ian Gosling to leave the field early on, Cooney gave Bromley a glimpse of his magic after ten minutes.

After seeing Harwood off his line, his opportunitist strike sailed over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Bromley's talented winger, Kirk Watts, went on one of his trademark runs.  He received the ball inside his own half and teased the Beckenham's defence before reaching the edge of Beckenham's penalty area.  He slid the ball into Adolph Amoako's path but a last ditch saving tackle from Mohammed saved the day for the visitors.

Tony Read, who was at Lewes last term, turned to shoot over Rob O'Hara's crossbar after seventeen minutes.

Mohammed will surely attract the scouts to Eden Park Avenue this season, and showed everyone in the ground his skills on a lush playing surface at Hayes Lane.

Just before the break, Mohammed stole the ball from Tom Ellis in midfield and sprayed the ball upfield for Danny Wilson to run on to but an alert Harwood came rushing off his line to make the save.

As promised by Bromley manager Stuart McIntyre, the Ryman League side made ten changes at the break, and equalised within three minutes of the restart with a goal that matched Cooney's.

Jamie Goodwin, at Corinthian-Casuals last season, found the same corner as Cooney's goal as his cross-goal shot beat Beckenham substitute goalkeeper Lee Nessling.

Two minutes later Mohammed struck gold as he fired past Bromley trialist goalkeeper Neggs from twenty-five yards.

Bromley midfielder Jason McKoy was unlucky not to equalise moments later as his well struck volley screamed wide of the right upright from outside the penalty area.

Beckenham went close on the hour when an unmarked substitute headed wide of the left upright when well placed.

Another run from Kirk Watts, after 67 minutes, was ended by a wild challenge by Russell Kirkby.  The resulting free kick was taken by his older brother, Grant, but the six-man defensive wall stood tall to block the shot.

Beckenham were gifted their third goal after 70 minutes.  Beckenham's David Smith, speculative cross-cum-shot should have been easily collected by trialist goalkeeper Neggs, but after making contact with the ball, the ball found the left hand corner of the net.

Bromley rallied in the closing stages and Jerome Bennett, who had replaced Kirk Watts after 68 minutes, headed over Nessling's crossbar.

McKoy set up a shot for Steve Potterill but he wildly fired a shot wide of the right upright.

Nessling pulled off the save of the match with seven minutes left on the clock when he tipped over Goodwin's goalbound effort. 

Nessling was quick to deny Goodwin a minute later when he saved his header at the post following a perfect whipped in delivery from the right by McKoy.

The Beckenham shot-stopper, however, couldn't prevent Bennett scoring Bromley's second goal in the 87th minute.  Bennett, who made one appearance for Bromley last season, struck the ball with his left foot, towards the bottom left hand
corner of the net, and the ball found its intended target via Nessling's body.
 
Bromley: (First Half):
Danny Harwood, Danny Smith, Colin Luckett, Tom Ellis, Joe Vines, Dean Forbes,
Bobby George, Joe Wade, Tony Read, Adolph Amoako, Dean Thomas (Kirk Watts 10)
Bromley (Second Half)
Neggs, Steve Potterill, Kwabena Amaning, Jason McKoy, John Butler, Mark Willy,
David Smith, Grant Watts, Dominic Barclay, Jamie Goodwin, Kirk Watts (Jerome
Bennett 68)

Beckenham Town squad:
Rob O'Hara, Dave Weatherhead, Lee Fabien, Russell Kirkby, Paul Smith, David
Smith, Matthew Belton, Nigel Kane, Danny Wilson, Sean Cooney, Mark Coleman.
Subs:  Matthew Barnett, Mohammed, Paul Coleman, Paul Gayle, Joe Westphel, Rob
Hudson, Lee Nessling.