beckvlord270304

Lordswood at the double

Bromley defender Dean Forbes plays for Beckenham to improve his fitness

Beckenham Town 1-2 Lordswood
Go Travel Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 27 March 2004
by Darrell Harman

Despite a quiet start to the game,  it took 25 minutes before either goalkeeper was brought into action.  Lorsdwood had a free kick on the left which Craig Allen knocked to the far post for Sam Colyer but his header was comfortably saved by home goalkeeper Craig Clark.

Moments later, Lordswood almost took the lead when Andy Doerr received the ball thirty yards from goal and flew past two defenders before his shot went just past the post.

Lordswood deservedly took the lead on the half-hour mark when Ronnie O'Connor passed long to Gary Beggs on the edge of the penalty area and set up Sean Hetterley who rifled a shot into the net from 12 yards.

The Eden Park Avenue outfit, however, had two glorious chances to equalise before the break.  A corner to the far post saw Martin West's header tipped over the bar by Lordswood goalkeeper Darren Watson and from the resulting corner, Dean Forbes' header beat Watson but O'Connor made a saving header off the line.

The second half was only two minutes old when Craig Clark made a hash of a clearance which fell at Beggs' feet and after controlling the ball he shot from 30 yards but the goalkeeper was able to scramble back and pushed it to one side.  The loose ball was picked up by Hetterley but the goalkeeper saved his shot from an acute angle.

Beckenham danger-man Steve Shippey almost equalised but after beating the offside trap his shot was saved by Watson's legs but the rebound from Phil Gallagher whose chip beat the goalkeper was cleared off the line by Craig Allen.

Another chance came Beckenham's way in the 61st minute when a long throw into the area was flicked on for Shippey whose flicked shot saw Watson instinctly pushed over the bar.

Allen was unlucky not to score in the 63rd minute when his free kick curled into the area beating everyone but not Clark who pushed it around the post.

Lordswood increased their lead in the 73rd minute when O'Connor's corner was partially cleared to the edge of the area and Shawn Mitchell volley sailed into the net giving the goalkeeper no chance.

It could have been 3-0 when Martin West, under no pressure, passed back to where he thought his goalkeeper was, the ball rolled towards goal but Clark managed to save his defenders blushes to get back and hack the ball clear from the goal line.

Even though they had Bromley defender Dean Forbes in their line-up as he improves his match fitness, Beckenham scored a consolation goal in the 88th minute when Craig Clark blasted a penalty straight down the middle beating Watson.