Blues grab three points against Becks
Photos by Ray Turner and OB Photography
The Blues returned to Hanbury Park with a point to prove following their 5-0 defeat to Cray Valley last weekend. They took on Beckenham Town who sat in the top-half of the table and had just come off the back of a 3-0 victory over Three Bridges.
Martin Dynan made several changes to his side: cover signing Alex Zamani taking the place of the suspended Billy Collings, whilst Chesworth, Dickson, Lindsey all stepped up from the bench with Dean Gunner returning from suspension.
The home side started strongly with James Dickson having a ranged shot from outside the box go just wide of the post. Heath found an opening goal just fifteen minutes into the half. With usual free-kick taker Alex Laing on the bench it would be Tom Collins stepped up to drive a low free kick past the Becks keeper. A fantastic goal to open the scoring.
Unfortunately, the lead wouldn’t last for long, the ball hit from deep into the feet of Louis Theophanous, Zamani trying his best to get across to block his shot but his Theophanous showed composure as he waited to place it into the net. Despite the Blue’s appeals for handball in the initial touch by the striker, they were to no avail and the goal would stand.
Minutes later, however, Heath were gifted a chance to regain the lead, as the Becks attempted to play out from the back, the defender mis-controlled the ball allowing Ibrahim Jalloh to latch onto the loose ball, the pacey winger took his time with the one-on-one, but Nick Blue made himself big to close down the angle and get fingertips to it, his touch just enough to tip it onto the post.
Unfortunately, the lead wouldn’t last for long, the ball hit from deep into the feet of Louis Theophanous, Zamani trying his best to get across to block his shot but his Theophanous showed composure as he waited to place it into the net. Despite the Blue’s appeals for handball in the initial touch by the striker, they were to no avail and the goal would stand.
Minutes later, however, Heath were gifted a chance to regain the lead, as the Becks attempted to play out from the back, the defender mis-controlled the ball allowing Ibrahim Jalloh to latch onto the loose ball, the pacey winger took his time with the one-on-one, but Nick Blue made himself big to close down the angle and get fingertips to it, his touch just enough to tip it onto the post.
Minutes later, however, Heath were gifted a chance to regain the lead, as the Becks attempted to play out from the back, the defender mis-controlled the ball allowing Ibrahim Jalloh to latch onto the loose ball, the pacey winger took his time with the one-on-one, but Nick Blue made himself big to close down the angle and get fingertips to it, his touch just enough to tip it onto the post.
The first half came to a close, Martin Dynan would undoubtably be the happier of the two managers following the chances his team created in the first half.
The teams emerged for the second half, and in the 56th minute Callum Chesworth was able to regain the ball and create space in the attacking third, he found Club Captain Byron Napper just outside the box and his shot on goal had real force as it flew past Beckenham’s keeper into the bottom corner, putting the home side back in front in style.
Beckenham refused to lie down though, and they nearly levelled the game following a goalmouth scramble, Tom Gilbert his body on the line to prevent a great chance for Beckenham drawing them level. A moment of real heroics from the defender!
Again just a few moments later Alex Zamani was forced into a fine reaction save low-down following a free-kick from deep, the header a powerful one and the goalkeeper applauded Stadium wide for his save.
No matter how hard either team knocked on the door for another goal, both keepers were not really troubled for the rest of the game. The full-time whistle music to the ears of the home fans who made their support for their team known, the players’ appreciation was given in return.
A fine game packed with chances, one for the neutral that sent the majority 300+ strong crowd home smiling.
Player of the Match: Callum Chesworth
