Saturday 3rd December 2022
Pitching In Southern League
Premier Division South
Merthyr Town 3 Beaconsfield Town 2
Met Coaches Stadium - Attendance 441
Ram of the Match – Dan Bradshaw
Beaconsfield Town’s unbeaten league run came to an end in a pulsating encounter at Merthyr Town on Saturday.The Rams missed a seventh minute penalty, fell two behind, fought back to level and then hit the post before their hosts went ahead with a superb strike from distance. There was still time for The Rams to be denied an equaliser by the Merthyr cross bar - all that before half the division had kicked off.
Merthyr began brightly moving the ball well and probing on the flanks. They had The Rams at full stretch at times but created only one serious scare for the visitors. When Dan Bradshaw brought down Alex John on the left edge of the box, the resulting free kick was gathered by Ravan Constable at the second attempt as Merthyr forwards converged on the scraps.
The Rams settled and were rewarded when Dan Bradshaw was clumsily checked by Ricardo Rees. Who delivered a typical forwards challenge, barging into the midfielder, as he was in the act of shooting harmlessly over the bar and sending him sprawling to the floor.
Kyel Reid stepped up to take the resulting spot kick but smashed it high over the bar. It’s probably still rising.
The let off galvanised Merthyr, who took control of most of the rest of the first half, dominated possession and moved the ball swiftly and accurately. Threatening down both flanks with the pace of Frazer Thomas and Kieran Evans combining with Noah Smerdon, Thomas Handley on the over lap. With Jack Evans pulling the strings in midfield prompting and Ricardo Rees and Curtis Jemmett-Hutson always available and dragging The Rams central defence all over the place. It seemed only matter of time before they would make the break through.
Kieran Evans made space beyond the far post and was picked out by as Beaconsfield appealed for an offside flag that didn’t come Evans drove his shot past Ravan Constable. Frazer Thomas doubled the lead, played in by the quick feet of Curtis Jemmett-Hutson on the edge of the box he advanced on the angle and smashed his shot into the roof of the net.
The Rams were rocking at this point and you feared for them but with the energy and application of Bradshaw, Sam Granville, Toby Little and Kyel Reid they built their way back into the game in the closing stages of the half with Nathan Minhas a constant threat and Elliott Buchanan always available. They got themselves back in it when Buchanan laid the ball back to Reid on the edge of the box. His low cross shot through a crowd flew past Fuller and into the net.
Half time 1-2
The comeback was complete 10 minutes into the second half as Reid made amends for the missed penalty firing in from 30 yards, an effort every bit as good as the one at North Leigh last month.
Merthyr were rocked and The Rams looked all over the most likely winners. The continued to press culminating in Sam Granville stepping in onto his left foot and sending in a low shot which beat Fuller but crashed back off the base of his right hand post.
Nathan Minhas shot wide having worked an opportunity from nothing and also found the side netting after a Buchanan effort was blocked out to him. In keeping with the game as a whole Merthyr then got up off the canvas and enjoyed a spell culminating in the goal of the game.
Received the ball in the inside left channel. He advanced toward the corner of the box. As the Beaconsfield defence stood off him, inviting the shot. He accepted their offer, producing a curling dipping cross shot which gave Ravan Constable no chance as it flew into the corner of his net.
Harsh on The Rams who again rallied and thought they had equalised when Jacob Muntings 25yard volley dipped late but not enough beating Fuller but crashing away to safety off the face of the crossbar.
There were chances at either end as The Rams tried to get their equaliser but Rees’ effort was the full stop on the scoring.
Next up the Rams have another lengthy away day to Plymouth Parkway where they will face Truro City on Wednesday Night at 7-45pm - At least they wont have to get up at 5am for that trip.
Beaconsfield Town :
Ravan Constable, Charlie Smith [Sub Max Bustamante 85], Callum Webb, Sam Togwell, Keano Robinson, Dan Bradshaw, Toby Little© [Sub Jacob Munting 69], Sam Granville, Nathan Minhas, Elliott Buchanan, Kyel Reid,
Subs - Oliver Sprague, Kai Allsopp, Myles Anderson
Merthyr Town :
William Fuller, Thomas Handley, Noah Simpson, Alex John, Liam Angel, Jack Evans, Frazer Thomas, Matthew Harris, Curtis Jemmett-Hutson, Ricardo Rees, Keiran Evans
Subs - Callum Ryan-Phillips, Ismail Yakubu, Zachary Maher, Craig Norman, Jaimie Cogman