Pitching In Southern Premier League Division South 

Saturday 26^th March 2022

Beaconsfield Town 2 Wimborne Town 2

Rams Man of the Match: Aaron Minhas 

Beaconsfield and Wimborne played out an entertaining and open two all draw at Holloways Park. While both sides could reasonably feel they should have won the game, a draw was just about a fair result over an encounter that swung back and fore as The Rams failed to convert early chances and Wimborne showed togetherness and flair that bellied their lowly, apparently doomed, League position. 

A half of poor finishing and missed opportunities cost the Rams all three points. Nathan Minhas began it on five minutes. Released by Callum Webb, Minhas lifted the ball over the advancing Gerard Benfield but the effort fell wide of the post.

Four minutes later the visitors took the lead when a rebound from a clearance fell to Harry Morgan, 8 yards out on an angle, seemingly in an off side position. As the Rams waited for the flag, Morgan drove his low shot across Ryan Hall and into the net. It appears the linesman, though unsighted judged that the rebound came off AJ Ajanlekoko, missing the fact that it appeared to have then struck a Wimborne player before falling for Morgan. 

The Rams levelled six minutes later. Minhas atoning for the earlier miss with a much tougher effort making room on the edge of the box, holding off two defenders before driving in a low cross shot that nestled in the bottom corner.

Beaconsfield then dominated the remainder of the half but the shooting radar was largely off and on the few occasions they did find the target they failed to really extend Benfield. Wimborne were reduced to sporadic counters but forced two smart saves from Ryan Hall, the best of which saw him stand tall to beat away Connal Morrison’s cross shot. 

Half Time 1-1 

The Rams opened the second period on the front foot and it was no surprise when they took the lead on 54 minutes. After a save and half block the rebound fell kindly for Nathan Minhas who made no mistake. 

You would be forgiven for assuming that would be that but the visitors battled bravely and showed togetherness and spirit to get themselves back in the game. The equaliser when it came was well deserved, Dan Bartlett adding a driving run and clinical finish to a passing move that covered the length of the park. 

The Rams then found themselves in a real battle as the final 25 minutes ebbed and flowed with chances and desperate, barely legal, defending at both ends.

Wimborne battling for their Premier South survival seemed to be finishing the stronger. Bouyed by the equaliser, they poured forward but somehow failed to convert two golden opportunities as the ball richoted around in the box. 

Then it was The Rams turn to finish the stronger.  Benfield saved well

 from Aaron Minhas and Toby Little before producing the save of the day to turn away Olly McCoy’s well struck goalbound effort at the nearpost.

Honours even and in the end that was just about right.

Next up The Rams head to Hendon on Saturday afternoon.

 COYR       

Beaconsfield Town

Ryan Hall, Olly McCoy, Callum Webb, Luke Neville, Jordan Ajanlekoko, Matt Harriott (Sub: Toby Little 63), Aaron Minhas, Scott Donnelly ©, Nathan Minhas, Josh Fawole, Kaine Kennedy-Sinclair (Sub: Andrei Chiriac 63)

Subs Not Used: Jordan Aghatise, Mike Neish

Wimborne Town

Gerard Benfield, Connal Morrison, Scott Arnold, John White, Harry Morgan, Dan Bartlett ,Lewis Beale, Jez Bedford (Sub: Regan Mason 80), Louis Kellaway, Aaron Roberts, Owen Palmer

Subs Not Used:  Joseph Freak, Reece Mitchell, Mark Gamble

Att: 103

Referee: Jonathan Bollard

Assistants: Colin Wordsworth - Steven Matthews