Saturday 26th August 2023

 

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South 

 

Beaconsfield Town 2 Tiverton Town 3 

 

Holloways Park - Att 86 

Ram of the Match - James Dobson 

For the second time in a week, Beaconsfield Town conceded Three second-half goals after going in ahead at the break. Even the heroics of top scorer James Dobson could not secure as much as the point, that their overall display probably deserved. With a  late-late penalty, after a Sam Togwell handball, allowing Tiverton Town to regain the lead and head back to Devon with all Three points.

With Elliott Buchanan sidelined with a tweaked groin he sustained at the end of training on Thursday evening, Jon Underwood turned to his contacts at Slough Town and brought in a familiar face to Rams fans to deputise at the point of the Beaconsfield attack. Jefferson Louis made his latest Rams debut in a starting 11 also without Ibby Sankoh, Suspended after his unfortunate red card against Hendon.The veteran scored his last Beaconsfield goals in a Berks and Bucks cup win at North Leigh in September 2021 before joining the Oxfordshire outfit and helping them to promotion the following season.

The 44-year-old could and probably should have added to his tally in the 14th minute. Played through by Jacob Gardiner Smith, Louis found himself in splendid isolation, just outside the box. As Tiverton appealed for an offside flag, which was not forthcoming, the striker lifted a scooped lob over the stranded Lewis Williams but his effort fell a yard wide of the net. 

Beasant was the busier keeper in the opening quarter-hour stretching to keep out a cheeky 40-yard effort from Cameron Salmon and then making a good low save to his right turning away a Louis Morison diving header.In a bright open encounter, Louis made amends in the 27th minute. In the right place at the right time turning home Dan Bradshaw's low cross from close range after Bradshaw wriggled free of defenders before drawing Williams and bypassing him with the pullback for a straightforward finish. Bradshaw himself then steered a right foot shot narrowly wide. 

The home defence was largely comfortable for the remainder of the half with the three center-half set up winning the aerial battle and only stretched when an inadvertant flick-on from a Josh Payne header created space for the dangerous Niall Thompson who was forced wide before firing in a low shot from a narrow angle which Beasant saved at his nearpost. 

Half time 1-0 

Williams was fortunate in the opening minute of the second half as his clearance well outside his box was charged down by Louis but deflected to a safe position.

At this point the heavens opened and for the second week in a row the Beaconsfield lead evaporated with the first meaningful possession for their opponentsRhys Thomas picked out Tom Bath who rose unchallenged at the far post to head home past Beasant for the equaliser.    

Beasant then saved well turning a Salmon strike wide of the post and from the resulting corner Luke Neville somehow prevented Jamie Richards scoring at the far post.  Then it was Beaconsfields turn to come close first Dobson's freekick from distance flicked off th defensive wall and fizzed narrowly wide with Williams beaten. 

From the resulting corner Sam Togwell drifting into space beyond the far post sent a looping header inches over the bar. 

Jon Underwood sent on Elijah Anthony and changed the formation to a 4-2-3-1 as The Rams went in search of the lead. With his first active contribution Anthony got to the bye line and his initial pullback was cleared only as far as Josh Payne. His low shot from the edge of the box was well saved by Williams diving to his left.

As the Rams pressed it seemed the goal would come but after 70 minutes, with Sam Granville looking imploringly towards Mr Goldrup for a penalty that was quite correctly not given. As he was crowded out on the edge of the six-yard box after a burst through challenges on the edge of the area the loose ball ran through to Williams who collected the ball and launched a swift counter. Luke Neville brought down Morison and from the resulting free-kick Bath stroked his effort round the wall and past Beasant who appeared unsighted and reacted late as the ball flew past him into the bottom corner of his net.The lead lasted Six minutes and the equaliser was something special as James Dobson took aim from fully 35 yards and battered an unstoppable drive that flew past Williams and into the top corner. Its early but it will be a while before we see a better goal than that this season.

Minutes layter he almost did it again. This time from slightly closer but his stinging effort was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Williams.

The Rams continued to press as the visitors seemed increasingly content to protect their point and see what they could pick up on the break with the home defence looking increasingly uncomfortable under crosses and from one such they were rerwarded as Sam Togwell under challenge from Salmon that he felt, with some justification, was unfair stuck up an arm and Mr Goldrup had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick. 

Morison stepped up and stroked it home sending Beasant the wrong way.

Beaconsfield were still not finished though and Sam Granville's chipped cross-come shot drifted past Williams but drifted inches wide of the far post.   As the eight minutes of added time drained away The Rams almost leveled. Dan Bradshaw's deft headed effort converted Jefferson Louis' knock back but the goal was ruled out after the initial cross was judged to have drifted out of play. 

The Rams have now surrendered halftime leads Four times in Five games to start the season without really playing badly in any of them, God knows what they're putting in the tea? 

No time to dwell though as The Rams now travel the short distance to their unbeaten neighbours Chesham United for the Bank holiday Monday fixture kick Off at 3pm .

 

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