Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South

Monday 19th December 2022

 Beaconsfield Town 2 Bracknell Town 3

Holloways Park  - Attendance 231

Ram of the Match – Dan Bradshaw

Goals in either half by Dan Bradshaw twice put The Rams in a winning position but Bracknell town capitalised on fragile defending and a slice of luck to fight back and take all three points with a last gasp winner in a five goal thriller. 

Referee John Perry added to The Rams selection headaches issuing red cards to Toby Little, for alleged violent conduct, which will attract a Three match ban. Then showing Callum Webb a second yellow, for a foul comitted by Sam Granville? That will sideline the right back for 1 game.   

The Rams weathered an early storm with some discomfort as the visitors pressed with pace and aggression without causing too much alarm for Ravan Constable despite some uncharacteristic mishandling by the big keeper probably exacerbated by the rain sodden conditions.

Michael Eacott at the other end had his own handling problems but he too avoided punishment for an early spill and showed good volley ball skills to deny Nathan Minhas as The Rams leading scorer burst. On to a through Ball and aimed to lift the bouncing ball over the advancing keeper. Eacott closed the space quickly enough to bat the ball up in the air and as the striker attempted to adjust his body to head the bouncing ball goal wards the recovering keeper batted the ball away from him and collected his own knock down. 

It was evidence that The Rams had settled though and they enjoyed a productive 10 minute spell culminating in the move that gave them their first lead. 

Nathan Minhas got the better of Guy Hollis advanced to the byeline and pulled the ball back for skipper Toby Little his effort from Seven yards was well saved by Eacott. The rebound fell to Elliott Buchanan, faced with defenders and Eacott scrambling to cover Buchanan played the ball back to Dan Bradshaw who banged it home from Eight yards.

 

The Rams had chances to extend their lead but failed to capitalise on their continued pressure and Eacott was not tested further before Bracknell made their hosts pay for failing to drive home their advantage. George Knight rising to head home from a 31st-minute corner. The Rams responded but it was the visitors who finished the half the stronger. 

 

Half Time 1-1 

 

That was as good as it got for The Rams on the night. 

The visitors equalised from another set piece when a left-wing free kick was flashed across the six-yard box possession was recycled and the ball was crossed back in. Under pressure from Knight, with Luke Neville in close attention Constable could only help the ball on its way but when it fell to Keano Robinson beyond the far post the center-half miscued his attempted clearance back across goal where Magnus Suen Jr Abisogun bundled it home in the melee.

Gary Meakin rang the changes his currently somewhat threadbare squad allowed and the visitors appeared happy enough with a point until the encounter flashed back into life with a little over Ten minutes to play.

Dan Bradshaw and Darryl Sanders clashed in midfield, Bradshaw's boot was a little high and Sanders was stooping forwards towards the ball with arms flailing already looking for a freekick when Bradshaw nicked it away, as Sanders fell to the floor clutching his face. Mr Perry well placed, waved play on, as Sanders lay motionless on the turf. 

Bradshaw advanced skipped around one challenge and set off down the wing. Hollis sprinted out from his centre back position to cover and launched a full-blooded challenge sliding in with barely disguised intent. He may have got some of the ball but he got all of Bradshaw, which looked like it was probably what he intended. 

He may have been more easily defended if either target had been in play. 

Hollis then set off to remonstrate with the assistant who was flagging for the foul. 

He was cut off by Rams skipper Toby Little who pulled him away from the official and received a head butt from Hollis for his pains. Little aimed to retaliate without apparently making contact and multi-player handbags followed. 

After a lengthy conference [4 minutes] Mr Perry somewhat debatably dismissed both players, Hollis for the tackle and Little for the afters A red and a yellow may have been more like it.

Bracknell faired better with 10 men than the Rams and when Sam Granvilles attempted block served to completely miss out Callum Webb Abisogun advanced into the area before providing the cross which was turned in by Joe Grant.

Mr Perry then indicated Five added minutes, despite the 4-minute conference over cards and at the end of that his last act was to issue Callum Webb a second yellow and subsequent Red card after Sam Granville committed a desperation type foul and pushed his victim into wobbled on and without ever retaining control fell into Webb.

There wasn’t even time for the restart,    

Disappointing for the Rams more for the pressure it will place on the squad than the manner of the defeat.

There was little between the sides and in the end luck deserted The Rams when they need it. There was enough in this performance to suggest they will have better days. Especially when everyone is fit and over the various viral illnesses that half the players and staff seem to be recovering from. 

Next up the Rams visit Hanwell for the first fixture of the new year on 2nd January 2023 kicking off at 1.30 pm. 

 

Beaconsfield Town :

Ravan Constable, Callum Webb, Luke Neville [Sub Aaron Minhas 76], Sam Togwell [Sub Max Bustamante 80], Keano Robinson, Sam Granville, Toby Little ©, Dan Bradshaw, Nathan Minhas, Elliott Buchanan, Kyel Reid.

Charlie Smith, Kai Allsop,  Myles Anderson

Bracknell Town  :

Michael Eacott, Sean Fraser, Ethan Burden, Guy Hollis, Daniel Bayliss©, Ashley Lodge, Magnus Suen Jr Abisogun, George Knight, Joseph Grant [Sub Liam Tack 84], Darryl Sanders [Sub Max Herbert 84], Kamaron English [Sub Mickel Platt 68]

Subs Not Used - Jack Dean, Ben Harris.

All images ©2022 Neale Blackburn Photography 

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