BASINGSTOKE TOWN 2           BEACONSFIELD TOWN 1

Rams Man Of The Match: RAVAN CONSTABLE

Beaconsfield’s first away game in the Evo-Stik League South Premier South ended in defeat at the hands of Basingstoke Town after they played over half the match with just ten men.

With Baj Pashaj out injured and Tony Mendy unavailable manager Gary Meakin had to reshuffle his pack, bringing in Alex Cathline to partner Brendan Matthew in attack. Basingstoke featured ex-Ram Sam Deadfield in their side and they were the first to show, a second minute free kick having to be dealt with by Rams keeper Ravan Constable.

A fairly even and uneventful first twenty minutes then passed by with little to comment on. However, on 22 minutes a great cross by Luke Neville was met by Louis Stead and his looping header went over ‘Stokes keeper Colm McAdden to give him his first goal in a Beaconsfield shirt.

Two minutes later Saturdays MOM Jerome Eccleston had to go off forcing another reshuffle. Sam Argent then forced a good save out of Constable on 25 minutes but The Rams keeper was unable to do anything about the home side’s equalizer as a shot by the excellent Sam Smart took a strong deflection to wrong foot the keeper.

The two sides then traded periods of possession before a major turning point came on 43 minutes when Smart went on one of his mazy runs and was seemingly clipped in the area by Jordan Ajanlekoko, filling in at right back for the injured Eccleston. Ref James Robinson not only awarded a penalty (fair enough) but also issued a straight red to AJ (seemed very harsh). Ravan, however, guessed correctly and dived to his left to push the spot kick away.

It was always going to be a tough ask to play ten v eleven for a whole half and The Rams defence coped manfully until they were undone by a fine 54 ^th minute turn and shot by the lively Zidan Akers that gave Constable no chance.

Charlie Losasso did sting McAdden’s hands with an excellent long range strike on 56 minutes but that was the closet The Rams came to getting back in the game. In the main they were forced to repel a wave of ‘Stokes attacks and only a series of fine saves by Constable and some wayward finishing by the home side prevented them adding to their total. To a man though The Rams ran themselves into the ground and never gave up and that spirit will stand them in good stead as the season goes on.

Now for the long trip to title favourites Weymouth!

Come On You Rams!

BEACONSFIELD TOWN TEAM

1. Ravan Constable
2. Jerome Eccleston (Sub: Charlie Losasso, 24)
3. Mayowa Balogun
4. Reece Yorke
5. Luke Neville
6. Wes Daly ©
7. Louis Stead (Sub: Tre Mitford, 81)
8. Jordan Ajanlekoko
9. Brendan Matthew
10. Alex Cathline (Sub: Stefan Powell, 46)
11. 11.Daniel Brown

Subs Not Used:

14.  Andre Costa
16.  Omar Vassell

Attendance: 371