Beaconsfield Town’s recent encouraging upswing in performance came to an abrupt end as they exited the Buildbase FA Trophy at their first hurdle, falling 2-0 away at Margate.
Ultimately the result was as frustrating as it was predictable.
Gary Meakin found himself on the eve of the game with 14 players unavailable through injury, availability or illness.
As a result Olly McCoy made a debut of sorts at right back and the match day squad showed twelve changes from the visit to Chesham on Tuesday evening, with assistant coach Wes Daly named among the substitutes and Meakin giving debuts in midfield to Darnell Baxter-Alleyne and Sydney Ibie
With all of the changes, particularly in midfield, it was hard to be anything other than pessimistic for the Rams chances at the outset. Whilst ultimately the game was lost in that area, there were positives to take from the day.
It was no surprise that the visitors missed the steadying influence and control of Scott Donnelly and Matt Harriott and struggled to compete with a far more cohesive, organised and well drilled home side.
The Rams though, defended stoutly with McCoy and Andrei Chiriac putting a shift in on the right flank that held their hosts at bay for more than 70 minutes.
Beaconsfield Town’s recent encouraging upswing in performance came to an abrupt end as they exited the Buildbase FA Trophy at their first hurdle, falling 2-0 away at Margate.
Ultimately the result was as frustrating as it was predictable.
Gary Meakin found himself on the eve of the game with 14 players unavailable through injury, availability or illness.
As a result Olly McCoy made a debut of sorts at right back and the match day squad showed twelve changes from the visit to Chesham on Tuesday evening, with assistant coach Wes Daly named among the substitutes and Meakin giving debuts in midfield to Darnell Baxter-Alleyne and Sydney Ibie
With all of the changes, particularly in midfield, it was hard to be anything other than pessimistic for the Rams chances at the outset. Whilst ultimately the game was lost in that area, there were positives to take from the day.
It was no surprise that the visitors missed the steadying influence and control of Scott Donnelly and Matt Harriott and struggled to compete with a far more cohesive, organised and well drilled home side.
The Rams though, defended stoutly with McCoy and Andrei Chiriac putting a shift in on the right flank that held their hosts at bay for more than 70 minutes. Pat Ohman who was called upon to make the crucial saves.
The first and best saw him produce a smothering block of Sydney Ibie’s low effort when the winger found himself one on one having been played in by Nathan Minhas, who toiled all day and fought for every scrap that came his way. The keeper advanced quickly off his line and spread himself well to deny Ibie.
The second save from the same player saw him stick out a leg to deflect away a well struck cross shot. The rebound popped up and fell invitingly for skipper Toby Little who struck a volleyed effort sweetly enough from 20 yards but the shape on the ball saw it fade just wide with Ohman motionless on his line.
Half time 0-0
In the second half the examination on The Rams right flank continued but Margate persisted feeding Ryan Palmer and Joe Anderson and the highly effective Ben Greenhalgh made regular forays down McCoys side, a clear ploy designed to expose the extremely part time full back but he and Chiriac stood firm and when they were breached AJ Ajanlekoko and Jordan Aghatise were generally on hand to tidy up.
It wasn’t until the hour mark and the introduction of James Bessey-Saldanha that the tide began to turn for the homeside.en then with their most cohesive football of the second half The Rams carved out a good opportunity. Minhas held the ball and played in Dylan Kearney his cross to the far post found Chiriac but under pressure he could not keep his low header on target and it flashed into the side netting.
At the other end Tokarczyk saved well from Anderson afetr an exchange with Bessey-Saldhana and pressure began to mount. The Rams continued to defend stoutly though and thoughts were beginning to turn to penalties when in the 72nd minute right back Crossley Lema found himself in space on the right and sprinted into the penalty area before toe-poking his effort past Tokarczyk.
The Rams tried to rally but their attempts to play their way out became increasingly frantic and error strewn. Tired legs and minds struggled to retain possession and the home side sensing the blood was in the water poured forward.
The increasingly influential Montel Agyemang nipped in to collect a wayward pass in midfield drawing a foul from Darnell Baxter-Alleyne, for which the young midfielder was booked. From the resulting free-kick Greenhalgh shaped a high swerving dipping effort which flew over the wall bending across and away from Tokarcyzk and in.
Moments later Agyemang hit a post with a curling effort.
Gary Meakin added fresh legs and gave first team minutes to Kayne Connor, Nabil Salum and Istaq Araba but The Rams never threatened to get back into things.
Margate were well worth their win on the day but the frustration for Rams fans travelling home will again be ‘what might have been?’ The home side were tidy and effective and played well as a team but you cant help thinking that anything approaching a full strength Rams eleven would have got the job done here.
With a week to recover The Rams next see action at Gosport Borough next Saturday
COYR
Beaconsfield Town
Alex Tokarczyk, Olly McCoy, Olly Sprague, Jordan Ajanlekoko, Jordan Aghatise, Toby Little,(Captain),Mihai-Andrei Chiriac Darnell Baxter-Alleyne, Nathan Minhas, Dylan Kearney, Sydney Ibie
Istaq Araba, Mike Neish, Kayne Connor, Nabil Salum, Sam Thurston, Wes Daly
Margate
Pat Ohman, Crossley Lema, Joe Anderson, Montel Agyemang, Ben Swift (Captain), Ryan Palmer,Sam Blackman, Dan Thompson, Vance Bola, Ben Greenhalgh
Harrison Hartfull, Fynn Rutherford, Owen Kallmeir, Bivesh Gurung, James Bessey-Saldanha, Charlie Hatton, Martial Godo.
Att: 289