In front of a sparse crowd Beaconsfield SYCOB lost their third home match in a row against, in truth, not the strongest Daventry Town side to visit Holloways Park in recent years. In parts - like the opening and closing five minutes of the first half - The Rams played some neat passing football and perhaps a point each would have been a fair result but as the young Rams are finding out, you get punished for any mistakes you make at this level.
Captain Lee Togwell had a strong shot saved by Davo's Justin Cerea on two minutes and the opening exchanges saw SYCOB play some good on the floor football that might have had one pass too many but still gave them the edge in the early stages. Daventry's 'man of three shirts' Josh O' Grady (who wore 11, 16 and 19 due to a bloodied top) forced SYCOB's Sam Bunting into a good save on twelve minutes as the teams traded half chances. However, on 24 minutes Daventry turned a half chance into a goal when Jamie Calyin got onto a quality cross to his put his side one up
The Rams continued to probe with Omari Patrick shooting just wide after good link up play between Togs and Charlie Hill whilst Sam Bunting at the other end dealt with a succession of corners. Just before half time SYCOB really should have equalised when a fine run by Omari saw him put in a teasing cross that should have been buried but was somehow put over the top from two yards by Lee Thompson. Omari also had a shot wide and Charlie Hill a free kick just over as The Rams finished the first half strongest of the two sides.
The second period again saw both teams swap half chances - Kelynaz going close for The Rams with a shot on 49 minutes and Daventry's O'Grady and Fitzgerald spurning at the other end. Ryan Howell did thunder a header off the SYCOB bar on 58 minutes and two minutes later Lee Togwell saw his effort cleared off the Daventry line. However, The Rams finally made the break-though on 70 minutes when some nice build up play - along the floor rather than in the air - saw top scorer Aaron Berry convert his fourth of the season.
For the next ten minutes SYCOB looked the more likely to take a lead but it was Daventry who did when some hesitancy in The Rams defence allowed Fitzgerald to plant his shot past Bunting. Even the dismissal of Davo;s Josh Cole in the 89th minute for two yellow cards didn't offer up any real hope of a second SYCOB equaliser and the game drifted away as the rains fell down.
An unwanted hat track of home defeats is not the best way to start a new season but with the addition of a couple of experienced heads there is more than enough quality in Andy Hurley's side to turn the tide and to start climbing the table.
Come On You Rams!
SYCOB side:
1. Sam Bunting
2. George Berkes
3. Tom Gant
4. Charlie Hill (Sub: Jed De Souza)
5. Jon Munday (Sub: Jordan Chandler)
6. Alex Murray
7. Ashley Kelynack
8. Lee Togwell (Captain)
9. Aaron Berry
10. Omari Patrick
11. Lee Thompson (Sub: Ollie Jones)
Attendance: 58