Tuesday 14th November 2023

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South

Beaconsfield Town 3 Harrow Borough 1

Holloways Park - Att: 140

Ram of The Match - Matthew Rowley

Beaconsfield Town produced the best first half performance seen at Holloways Park for some time. Scoring Three good goals and playing some irresistible high press football, sending Harrow Borough chasing shadows for most of the first half.

The transformation after the break was almost total as they evoked the early season demons of Swindon Supermarine and had the home fans watching through their fingers as the visitors totally dominated. If someone had told you the teams swapped kits at half time it would have seemed believable.

Fortunately for Beaconsfield the continued excellent form of Matt Rowley in The Rams goal, coupled with some very poor finishing from Harrow Borough, saw them through to a crucial Three points and lifted the mood as they now look ahead to their trip to Bath City in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

The young keeper produced two top draw saves in the second half to preserve The Rams lead. The pick of these saw him make ground to his left to block away a powerful close range header from Harry Seabrook.

Jon Underwoods starting 11 had a youthful look about it pairing Tom McElroy and Zidan Akers up front whilst Jacob Gardiner-Smith and Sam Granville began in midfield in front of Josh Payne and they produced an energetic and irresistible opening spell capped by Joe Morrisons ninth minute opener.

The big centre half rising to head home James Dobsons freekick after Asher Yearwood had been fouled on the bye line.

Zidan Akers added a sublime second after 18 minutes, collecting a Dobson ball over the top, two more assists on the night for him, the chance initially seemed to have gone as he meandered through a pirouette which allowed defenders to get goal side but crucially neither central defender stepped out to engage the striker who looked up and curled the ball home from 25 yards.

So dominant were the home side that Harrow’s best and only first half chances were presented to them by Rams mistakes and they were presented a way back into the game on 35 minutes when Josh Payne’s slip allowed Reece Mitchell to drive into the area where Joe Morrison was adjudged to have brought him down. Penalty number 11 against for the season was dually despatched by Mitchell who sent Rowley the wrong way.

It took Beaconsfield just four minutes to restore their two goal advantage with an excellent team goal.
Dobson found Asher Yearwood on the left he advanced towards the box and checked right apparently seeking to make room for a shot before sending a crossfield ball into the path of Sam Granville on the right. He drew the full back, took him on and made space to deliver a low cross which was met by Tom McElroy, who opened his Rams’ account with a deft finish across the face of goal and just inside the far post.

The half ended with Harrow Borough Borough incensed that they were not awarded a second penalty after an apparent coming together between Rowley and Theophilus Ofori. With the naked eye it looked very adjacent and with Beaconsfield penalty fortunes this season, hearts were in mouths for a moment but Mr Kaya who was very well placed didn’t see enough contact to warrant another award and in fairness to him the video highlights tend to back him up.

Half Time 3-1

The second half was a mirror opposite of the first. Harrow Borough were quickest into the tackle and all the pace and precision that The Rams showed in the first half was absent as the home team struggled to gain a foothold in the game. There was a grim familiarity about proceedings for experienced Ram watchers.

Fortunately though Rowley was on hand and with the assistance of some occasional erratic and keystone cops defending, as the ball ricocheted around on occasions, they defended as a group and held firm.

Akers was unfortunate not to extend the lead when he set off on a 60 yard run and saw his low finish loop up off the boot of Tyler Tobin and glance off the face of the bar before being cleared.

The Rams held on and now look forward to a break from league pressures as they head to Twerton Park on Saturday to take on National league South high flyers Bath City in the Third round of the FA Trophy

#COYR.

 

Images ©Neale Blackburn Photography 2023

Team and match facts (Southern league web site)
[https://southern-football-league.co.uk/match/m/127319/squad/]

Match Gallery https://www.chasdog.com/p45921880