Saturday 26th November 2022

Pitching In Southern League 

Premier Division South

Beaconsfield Town 1 Weston Super Mare

Holloways Park - Attendance 86  

Ram of the Match – Elliott Buchanan 

Weston Super Mare arrived at Holloway’s Park on Saturday in fine fettle. 

Top of the Southern League premier South table. One defeat and 48 goals at better than 2 a game to show from their 18 matches so far this season. 

With Truro falling to Chesham United, The Seagulls missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top as Beaconsfield Town produced one of the best and most complete team performances of Gary Meakin’s second spell with the club.

Perhaps not unreasonably, Weston began with the confident swagger of a team in form who were confident of their obvious superiority.  

With Beaconsfield forced into a change immediately prior to kick off, Myles Anderson failing a late fitness test, which saw Toby Little promoted from the bench and Sam Togwell dropping back to centre half the early omens weren’t hugely promising for the home side but they settled quickly and the leaders had a game on their hands. 

Togwell and Keano Robinson settled quickly and with Callum Webb and Charlie Smith on either side and the ever industrious Dan Bradshaw and Sam Granville stepping in to good effect their was a solidity about the Rams rear guard and whilst Weston enjoyed possession and territorial superiority it was The Rams who countered to good effect and created the better chances in an absorbing first period. 

Elliott Buchanan capped a surging run with a low cross which was met by a sliding Nathan Minhas on the edge of the six yard box but the strikers effort was too close to Max Harris in the Weston goal.

Weston carried a constant threat and moved the ball with pace and precision with Rueben Reid and Dayle Grubb prominent throughout. Reid had Weston's best early effort sending Ravan Constable diving to his left as the midfielder's dipping volley flashed inches wide. 

At the other end Dan Bradshaw’s burst into the box was thwarted inches outside the area by Weston centre half Loyd Humphries. Beaconsfield were sure it was a penalty but referee Mr Oxenham was well placed to make the correct decision. Kyel Reid could not get the free kick up and down quickly enough and the chance came to nothing but The Rams were starting to assert themselves. 

 

Nathan Minhas flashed a volley narrowly wide, and Elliott Buchanan drew a smothering block from Harris who was quickly off his line to close down the striker bursting onto a Sam Glanville through pass. Charlie Smith delivered a deep cross to the far post which Minhas narrowly failed to make good contact with. 

As half time approached Weston fought back and forced a succession of corners most of which were delivered too close to Ravan Constable who was as solid as usual under the highball. On the one occasion where the ball was shaped away from goal Scott Laird made a good run toward the near post to meet it with a firm connection but could not get over it enough and headed narrowly over. 

Half time 0-0 

As the weather deteriorated Beaconsfield got better.

Weston were increasingly discomforted by the industry and the tenacious battling of The Rams. Sam Granville was everywhere and Dan Bradshaw, nominally a right winger was seldom more than 10 yards away from him with Callum Webb, Charlie Smith, Toby Little, and Kyel Reid linking on the wings Weston became increasingly frustrated with their afternoon.

The Rams went close twice in quick succession. Nathan Minhas made space and saw a low effort pushed away by Harris for a corner, which was worked quickly to Kyel Reid who sent a dipping curling effort inches wide. 

Buchanan gave notice of what was to come finding space on the edge of the box he sent in a low drive that zipped off the turf and canoned off the inside of the post. 

That effort completed the set for Buchanan who hit the other post and the crossbar at that end on Monday night but he didn’t have to wait long for his luck to finally change.  

Right back Jason Pope slid in on Nathan Minhas and Mr Oxenham Somehow decided that the challenge was legal and the resulting throw in was Weston’s ?

Pope elected to throw the ball back to Harris, who got himself into a terrible tangle, trying to get the bouncing ball under control. Pinned to the byeline by his near post, with Kyel Reid pressing, he hurriedly tried to pass across his box but the pass was behind Baird, and Rams skipper Toby Little stepped in to intercept before calmly getting the ball out of his feet and rolling in Buchanan 10 yards out with the goal at his mercy.

The long wait for a league goal was over as the striker christened his new boots with a low finish into the corner.

Moments later he almost doubled his tally, flashing a 20-yard effort narrowly wide of the post with Harris scrambling to cover.

Weston rang the changes and pressed hard for the equaliser but Beaconsfield stood firm with Ravan Constable standing firm under the high ball and dealing well with a number of lower efforts which he pouched or smothered well in the deteriorating conditions. Weston huffed and puffed but The Rams defence held them at arms length and restricted them to shots from distance without a genuine guilt-edged chance being created.

A terrific and thoroughly deserved 3 Points for The Rams which will be particularly sweet for Gary Meakin who has long held Weston in high regard as one of the best footballing teams in the division. A great day too for Elliott Buchanan who is developing a good understanding with Nathan Minhas and providing a genuine threat of his own. Whatever he may tell you it's not just the boots. 

Next up the Rams head to Wales to take on Merthyr Town next Saturday .  

 

Beaconsfield Town:

R’avan Constable, Charlie Smith, Callum Webb, Sam Togwell, Keano Robinson, Dan Bradshaw, Toby Little ©, Sam Granville, Nathan Minhas [Sub Max Bustamante 85], Elliott Buchanan, Kyel Reid.

Subs not used: Olly Sprague, Myles Anderson, Jerome Ecclestone, Kai Allsop

 

Weston Super Mare

Max Harris, Jason Pope, Scott Laird, Jacob Cane, Lloyd Humphries, Samuel Avery, James Dodd, Marlon Jackson [Sub Elis Watts 83], Dayle Grubb, Jordan Bastin, Rueben Reid [Sub Jay Murray 83]

Subs not used: Alfie Moulden, Noah Coppin, Luke Purnell

Officials: Jack Oxenham

Assistants: Harry Organ - Marc Rister