Beaconsfield Town 1 Met Police 2

Rams Man of the Match - Reece Yorke

Improved Rams fail to take their chances and pay the price.

An authoritative debut for new keeper Louis Wells and the return of Reece Yorke in a revamped defensive formation saw Beaconsfield put in their best performance of the season so far but they could not capitalise on their first half display and allowed Met Police to re-organise at half time and take all three points with a second half dose of good fortune.

The first half began slowly enough, a sensible pace, in keeping with the blistering Bank Holiday temperatures. Neither side could exert control or create anything of attacking note in the opening quarter of scrappy error strewn play. For The Rams Reece Yorke, restored at the centre of The Rams defence, Luke Neville and Jordan Ajanlekoko dealt comfortably with initial attacks from Met Police. In front of them Jon-Jo Bates patrolled the midfield like an angry Jack Russell in search of a postman, snapping into challenges, pressing and harrying and upsetting the visitors at every opportunity.

The Rams though were similarly unable to penetrate the Met Police rear guard and were reduced to efforts from distance from Charlie Losasso and Bates.

On 21 minutes Dean Morgan tweaked his groin and was replaced by Brendan Matthew. His introduction and the injection of extra pace helped The Rams to stretch the visitors and created space for Charlie Losasso and Wes Daly to begin to pull the strings and exert a modicum of control.

Chances followed as Brendan Matthew pressured Charlie Burns under a high ball, the fumble fell to Shawnikki Clement-Peter but was bouncing awkwardly. As a result he scuffed his effort but it was chased down by Matthew who hooked it goal-wards where a combination of Lucas Ness and the post somehow kept it out. A slick one touch combination between Bates, Daly and Losasso saw the skipper fire in a low effort from 20 yards which Burns did well to turn away at full stretch.

Ryan Parsons and Clement-Peter combined down the right and Parsons dangerous near-post cross was smuggled wide for a corner.

Next, Matthew was set free by a Losasso through pass. The forward got off a good strike under pressure from the recovering Ness but Charlie Burns was quickly off his line to make himself big and deflect the effort to safety. A succession of corners followed but without further alarm for the Met who offered little as an attacking force.

Next it was Jon Jo Bates sent through but he was forced wide by Luke Robertson and the midfielder sent a low drive fizzing wide of the far post. 

As half time approached the visitors almost punished The Rams for failing to capitalise on their good play. A deflected clearance fell to Ross Murdoch 20 yards from goal and his curling effort was fingertipped inches wide by Louis Wells at full stretch.

The Met then enjoyed a brief period of pressure but the home side retained their solidity and made it to the break on terms.

 

Half time 0 - 0

 

Beaconsfield started the second half slowly as it became apparent that the visitors had re-organised at half time to try and exploit the width and space available behind the home teams wing backs. Beaconsfield could simply not get going and the Met camped in the home half but the opening goal when it came was still a simple fluke.  Credited to Jack Mazzone it was entirely due to an unlucky deflection off Luke Neville’s shin which saw the forwards speculative cross shot balloon into the air and loop over the helpless Wells and into the net.

It was harsh on the home side who were rocked but pressed forward in an effort to get back into the game. Bajram Pashaj and Luke Heneghan were introduced to freshen the attack in the energy sapping conditions but before they had chance to settle into the game the visitors were two up.

A counter attack of quality and pace released Oliver Knight whose low cross to the far post was forced home by the on rushing Murdoch.

Seven minutes later The Rams were back in it. Pashaj beat his full back and drilled in a low cross which somehow eluded Oliver Robinson and the edge of the six yard box and was rammed home by Brendan Matthew at the far post.

With 15 minutes to go there was real hope that The Rams could salvage a result, which their overall performance probably deserved. Strangely though with the introduction of two capable wide threats play became more and more through the middle and chances were few to non- existent. In fact the visitors could and probably should have increased their lead as a freak bounce found Murdoch 18 yards out and clear on goal but he could not guide his effort on target.

The Rams almost snatched a point in the dying moments when Mayo Balogun skipped past his man on the left and pulled back a dangerous near post cross that Burns plunged to save. He could not hold the ball and it rolled invitingly out in front of goal but there was no red shirt in the area and the danger was cleared.

A disappointing afternoon for Beaconsfield but Gary Meakin can at least take comfort from the overall improved display and the greater solidity. Results will come but everyone involved at Holloways Park will hope they come soon!

 

Beaconsfield Town   1.  Louis Wells 2.  Ryan Parsons 3.  Mayo Balogun 4.  Reece Yorke 5.  Luke Neville 6. Jordan Ajanlekoko   7.Wes Daly ©  [16 Bajram Pashaj 61]   8. Jon-Jo Bates 9. Dean Morgan [ 14 Brendan Matthew 21] 10. Shawnikki Clement-Peter [15 Luke Heneghan 61] 11. Charlie Losasso   Subs Not Used: 12. James McCluskey 13. Andrew McCorkell   Manager: Gary Meakin

Met Police FC   1.  Charlie Burns 2.  Lucas Ness 3. Alex Fisher 4.  Oliver Robinson © 5.  Jeremy Arthur 6.  Luke Robertson [15 Bilal Sayoud 79] 7. Oliver Knight 8.  Tom Nyama 9. Jack Mazzone [14 Hani Berchiche 75 ] 10. Ross Murdoch 11. Sean McCormach [16 Rudy Appaih-Allen 45]   Subs Not Used: 12. Daniel Akinwunmi     Manager: Gavin Macpherson