Beaconsfield Town 1  - 2  Hartley Wintney

The smartly spruced-up surrounds of Holloways Park failed to inspire Beaconsfield Town to victory as the home side went down to a last minute strike as league newboys Hartley Wintney made off with the three points.

The Rams’ Charlie Losasso had the first action of note, a fine shot on five minutes that was dealt with comfortably by The Rows’ Paul Strudley. As both sides exchanged passages of play, it was the visitors who struck first as they found a way through the Beaconsfield defence when a long throw on 18 minutes was met by the head of Adam New and hooked into the goal by Sam Argent. Simple move but very effective.

Ten minutes later, Paul Hodges fired in a shot that was well saved by The Rams’ Jamie Norris, whilst Losasso again tested Strudley with a fine effort two minutes later. Indeed, as it headed towards half time, the home side began to probe the visitors defence a bit more with both Aaron Morgan and Aaron Minhas going close to equalising.

The second half saw Hartley Winteny seemingly content to soak up the pressure and then play on the counter attack, or ask questions with set pieces. The Rams tried, in vain, to find a way through but the fluency displayed in the second half performance against Aylesbury United forty eight hours earlier was missing. However, as in the previous game,  timely substitutions brought new life to Beaconsfield, with Patrick Ruzika and Kyren Mundle-Smith introduced. The Rams began to ask different questions of The Rows’ defence and, on 74 minutes, Ruzika was sandwiched by keeper Strudley and one of his defenders, the resulting penalty was tucked away perfectly by Losasso.

At that point, the home faithful would have settled for the draw and the point that would have taken them top of the league, albeit for only twenty four hours. It was the visitors however that would end the night top of the pile – a long throw in the last minute of normal time was again headed on and in the resulting melee, with Beaconsfield trying to clear their lines, Liam Eagle managed to poke the ball past Norris to send the visiting supporters home very happy indeed.

In truth, Beaconsfield were nowhere near their best on the night. Time to pick themselves up, dust themselves down and get a result away at Chalfont St Peter in the FA Cup, so Come On You Rams!

BEACONSFIELD TOWN TEAM

Jamie Norris, Jerome Eccleston, Scott Cousins, Jack Smith, Luke Neville, Wes Daly (Captain), Elliott Carey (Sub: Patrik Ruzicka, 54), Aaron Minhas, Aaron Morgan (Sub: Kyren Mudle-Smith, 68), Andre Costa (Sub: Ollie Jones, 81), Charlie Losasso.

Subs Not Used:

Callum Mapley, Stefan Powell

Attendance: 144