Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South
Saturday 28th January 2023
Beaconsfield Town 5 v Chesham United 2
Holloways Park - Attendance 395
Ram of the Match – Elliott Buchanan
Had you arrived at Holloways Park at 3:15 on Saturday. You would have had every right to expect that Beaconsfield Town were in for for a long afternoon.
Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick was preparing to take a penalty after Sam Granville was adjudged to have brought Bradley Clayton in the box. It did look like a somewhat soft award, but you’ve seen them given.
Clayton had already put the visitors ahead on six minutes with a close range finish after the ball was worked across the 6 yard box.
With usual Rams stopper Ravan Constable attending a family event in Jamaica. It fell to Kie Plumley, making his debut in The Rams goal, on loan from Oxford United, to face the spot kick. Hippolyte-Patrick chose placement, rather than power and Plumley plunged to his right to make the save.
The Follow up was shepherded wide by a combination of Tugwell, Callum web and the keeper. There’s no such thing as an easy penalty save but it wasn’t a great effort from Hippolyte-Patrick who never really recovered and was withdrawn at the break.
Chesham were shaken by the miss and with Gary Meakin tweaking his tactics to address the dominance of Chesham’s midfield Plumley’s save proved to be the catalyst for The Rams recovery.
The improvement was immediate with Nathan Minhas and twice drawing saves from Sam Beasant but it still took a little time for The Rams to settle Into the sort of controlled possession football Rams fans have come to enjoy of late.
Midway through the half, Nathan Minhas’’ angle effort appeared to strike Jeanmal Prosper on the arm but Mr Blair, who didn’t have the best of afternoons in fairly unchallenging conditions, was unconvinced.
Despite their greater control it still took until the 35th minute for The Rams to get on terms Minhas and Nathan Buchanan combined with Kyel Reid the ball was worked to Dan Bradshaw on the edge of the box. Bradshaw shaped as if he might shoot, drew defenders to him before rolling in the overlapping Callum Webb who belted a right foot shot into the top corner from just inside the area.
Two minutes later, Sam Granville having conceded a penalty at one end was awarded what looked to be an equally soft one at the other end. Beaconsfield’s 11 Kyel Reid gave his opposite number an object lesson in penalty taking making no mistake, sending Beasant the wrong way to give The Rams the lead for good.
Two minutes before the break yet again, Bradshaw was again the provider making a direct run into the box before playing in Elliott Buchanan who crushed a low drive across Beasant and into the corner.
Half-time came at the right time for the visitors who were somewhat shell shocked as the trooped off at the break.
Half time 3-1
Any one whose watched Beaconsfield Town over the years knows that 2 goal leads can often be precarious. So the home fans enjoyed their half time refreshments knowing their was a lot left to play for and the next goal, would like go a long way to settling the eventual outcome.
Having regrouped and introduced Ricardo German’s physical presence up front Chesham began re-established their early control and pressure and took the game to Beaconsfield. ]
The Rams were again grateful to their young keeper who plunged to his right to make a full length save from a low Liam Ferdinand shot.
As Chesham pressed though the were susceptible to the counter and Beaconsfield warmed to their task and on 52 minutes they made the break through, Reid drew Proper into a soft foul on the left edge of the box. From the kick Reid and Granville exchanged passes. The ball was chipped into the area and Sam Togwells header fell to Buchanan six yards out and he fired home to settle The Rams.
Six minutes later Buchanan finished off Chesham and his hat trick capping a superb sweeping counter attack culminating in Reids cross to the far post Nathan Minhas’ cushioned header back and his strike partners volleyed finish past Beasant.
That was pretty much that Chesham plugged away but never really created the quality chances of the opening moments. They did pull a goal back in the 81st minute after a succession of set pieces and pressure but Beaconsfield had plenty in hand and saw out their second 5-2 home win in a row.
Next up the Rams make a second midweek visit to Bolitho Park to take on Landlords Plymouth Parkway having previous returned with a hard fought draw against Truro City.
Beaconsfield Town :
Kie Plumley, Callum Webb, Olly Sprague, Sam Togwell, Myles Anderson, Sam Granville, Aaron Minhas, Dan Bradshaw [Sub Charlie Smith 89], Nathan Minhas [Sub Max Bustamante 83], Elliott Buchanan, Kyel Reid. [Sub Henry Hawkins 69]
Subs Not Used - Luke Neville, Ben De Lacy Turner
Chesham United : Sam Beasant, Jenmal Prosper© Jack Connors, Lewis Rolfe, Eoin Casey, Jordan Gibbons, Zak Joseph, Omar Rowe [Sub Steve Brown 62], Liam Ferdinand, Bradley Clayton, [Sub Frankie Sutherland 62] , Shaquille Hippolyte Patrick [Sun Ricardo German 46].
Subs Not used - Karl Ollyide, Jordan Edwards, Ricardo German
Referee - Harrison Blair
Assistants - Dylan Ing, Adam Jackson
All images © Neale Blackburn 2023