CAMBRIDGE CITY 1 BEACONSFIELD TOWN 2
Beaconsfield returned from the long journey to deepest Cambridgeshire with three hard earned points after an opening ten minute two goal salvo put The Lilywhites of Cambridge City to the sword.
An attack minded Rams got at their hosts from the first whistle, passing the ball around well when in possession and hassling and closing down when Cambridge had it. They reaped a reward on seven minutes when a fine bout of one touch football saw a shot by Stefan Powell parried by City keeper Niall Conroy but Aaron Minhas was following up and calmly slotted the ball home.
Three minutes later Spencer Bellotti fed the ball to the in form Charlie Losasso and his shot flew in with the aid of the post to put The Rams two goals up and their hosts wondering what had hit them. Indeed Beaconsfield could have been out of sight as early as the 17th minute but for a fine save by Conroy from a Losasso shot and then an effort by Bellotti that went mere inches wide.
Cambridge then started to come into the game and Rams keeper Jamie Norris made two good saves – on 22 minutes from a decent shot by Michael King and then eight minutes later from a free kick by Tom Knowles – though after such an explosive beginning the rest of the half was quite tame.
The second period saw a fired up home side take to the field looking for a quick goal to get back into the game and it came on 51 minutes when the otherwise excellent Jerome Eccleston dived in on a striker and a penalty was given which was duly dispatched by Knowles.
The Lilywhites sensed the whiff of at least a point but were denied on a couple of occasions by good saves from Norris and, when he was beaten, by some fine last ditch defending by both Eccleston and Luke Neville.
A 71st minute free kick by Losasso, which was turned over by Conroy, was the main Rams effort of note and they were relieved in the final few minutes when Salim Relizani not once but twice spurned two highly presentable chances to salvage a point for Cambridge.
This was Beaconsfield’s second away league win of the season and even at this early stage it keeps them in touch with the pace setters near the top of the table. With a good few players to return from injury they have a strong squad with healthy competition in every position. There’s a lot more to come from this team so…
Come On You Rams!
BEACONSFIELD TOWN TEAM
Subs Not Used:
12. Jack Smith
13. Andre Costa
Attendance: 160