Holmesdale 3-2 Beckenham Town - Hughes gives Beckenham an electric shock

The unpredictable striker netted a clinical hat-trick as Holmesdale, a side that finished third from bottom in their inaugural season, stormed into a 3-1 lead at the break.

Beckenham Town have only bagged a solitary point from their first two games, having drawn 1-1 at Deal Town at the weekend.

Striker Lenny Piper scored his second goal of the season tonight, from the penalty spot after 23 minutes, and Jason Huntley’s side had to wait until the death for a consolation goal, scored by Charlie Hearn.

This was the first League game to be played underneath the new floodlights at Oakley Road.

And after a blue generator at the corner of the ground, switched them on after seven minutes into this match, this sparked Hughes into life.

He opened his account for the new season after 14 minutes, as Holmesdale scored against the run of play.

In truth, Beckenham couldn’t cope with Hughes and Lee Morgan, a defender turned striker. 

And it was Morgan’s delightful diagonal ball from the half-way line that lit up Hughes’ night.

Morgan found Hughes in acres of space down the left hand side and after taking a few chances he left the advancing Stuart Copeland grounded and drilled a right-footed shot past a couple of back-tracking defenders on the line.

Steve Diamond, a summer signing from Thamesmead Town, squandered an excellent chance to double Holmesdale’s lead within minutes of their opener.

Morgan got a lucky bounce off Beckenham defender Danny Lawson and crossed the ball low to the unmarked Diamond, who lashed his left-footed shot over an empty net from eight-yards.

Holmesdale were punished for that glaring miss as Lenny Piper won his side a 23^rd minute penalty.

Piper got up and was relieved to see his right-footed penalty loop into the left-hand corner, despite 35-year-old goalkeeper Danny Harwood diving the right way and getting a hand to the ball.

But Beckenham’s joy was short-lived as Holmesdale snatched the lead again, just 54 seconds later.

Morgan was met by an onrushing Copeland on the edge of the area but the Holmesdale striker cleverly shielded the ball from Copeland and cut the ball back to Hughes who stroked the ball into the bottom far corner, via the feet of sliding Beckenham left-back, Michael Ebanks.

Morgan again turned provider just before the hour-mark, playing in nippy winger James Dadson, but Copeland blocked with his legs at the foot of his near post.

Hughes sealed a memorable day for both himself and the club, scoring his hat-trick just five minutes before the break.

Central midfielder Jason Thompson played the ball over the top of a poor Beckenham back-four and Hughes latched onto the pass and with his right-foot, stroked his angled shot into the bottom far corner from the edge of the box.

Much-travelled striker, Wade Falana, crashed a right-footed volley just past Holmesdale’s left-hand post on the stroke of half-time for stunned Beckenham.

Huntley sent his side out early for the second half, bringing on two substitutes, including striker Lewis Wood, 25, who has played for Cray Wanderers, Erith Town and Margate during pre-season.

And despite Beckenham playing winger Alex Tiesse, who played Ryman Premier League football for Maidstone United last season, he was made to look very ordinary by a very organised Holmesdale side.

Holmesdale, once again cut open Beckenham early in the second half and this time it was hat-trick hero Hughes who played in Morgan, but his first touch was poor and his shot was beaten out by Copeland at his near post.

Beckenham did get back into the game, but only as Holmesdale started to tire for the last twenty minutes.

Tiesse, who went missing before this 71^st minute chance, cut the ball back to Hearn, whose right-footed 25-yarder was brilliantly tipped over by Harwood.

Tiesse then stole the ball from Holmesdale substitute Steve O’Rourke and burst forward before cracking a right-footed angled shot, which was well held by Harwood.

Lenny Piper’s shot just cleared the crossbar after Falana had knocked down a left-wing cross from Ebanks, who was now playing much further up the pitch.

Copeland made two fine saves late on, tipping over Hughes’ snap shot from the edge of the penalty area, and turning a shot from substitute Peter Afalayan around his post.

Beckenham substitute Pat Hitchin arrowed a shot agonisingly past the far post but when Hearn drove a shot across Harwood and into the bottom far corner inside stoppage time, it was too little, too late for the visitors who finished third last term.

The defeat left Becks’ assistant manager Dave Mehmet very disappointed at the final whistle.

“Very poor tonight,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “Lack of effort, lack of ability, lack of everything really to be honest with you!

“We’ve lost a few players from last year, I weren’t here, but we’ve lost quite a few players and it will take a bit of time, but you can’t legislate for today.

“Work rate 90%, it’s unthinkable, (but) we’ll sort it out, we’ll get to the bottom of it and bring some players in.

“Everyone who were watching the game could see they worked harder than us, end of story.

“People know the way Beckenham play and a lot of sides work hard and they stop you playing and you’ve got to work as hard as them.”

Despite playing some players that have played at a much higher level than this, Beckenham fell against a Holmesdale side that were up for this local derby.

And Mehmet fumed: “It don’t mean nothing! They’ve come to Beckenham and if they want to play for Beckenham, they’ve got to work harder.

“I’m not going to (blame) individuals. You win as a team, draw as a team and lose as a team. It’s down to the whole squad really, as managers and players, to stick together and start working harder, all of us.

“We’re looking for a big improvement on Saturday.”

Holmesdale’s co-manager Ken Thurgood was a very proud man at the final whistle, winning their first league game underneath their new floodlights.

“I’m just so pleased for everybody that’s been involved,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.   “I’ve not been here long but it means a great deal.

“I’m very passionate about football and we was here all summer to make sure this was ready. You have set-backs and to have a game like that tonight, it had everything for the people that we’re here.

“And it’s cast in stone now. The first time under lights and we’ve managed, somehow, to get a victory!”

Hat-trick hero Hughes was part of the Dalers’ side that clinched the Kent County League title two season’s ago and Thurgood is pleased that the striker shone on the big stage tonight.

“He’s a person that can frustrate the life out of you, your team mates and everyone connected with the football club,” explained Thurgood.

“Last year he had an in and out year and we started all things equal at pre-season. He’s come in, he’s got his head down and basically showed a great deal of form.

“We just felt tonight, after having Beckenham watched Saturday, that he would be the person that could unlock the door.

“It’s just a hunch, sometimes they come off, sometimes they don’t. Luckily enough for us it worked.”

Thurgood, however, admitted he was disappointed with Beckenham’s late second goal, but admitted that was down to tiredness.

He said: “Their second goal, very sloppy. Basically it nearly took the gloss of what was a very good performance.

“But the way Beckenham play, they’re very clever. They out think you, as well as out-fight you and out muscle you so you really have to pit your wits against the best really.

“We’re a young side, still learning basically so you’ve got to accept sometimes people make the wrong decision at the wrong time.

Tonight’s result will go down as a shock to go with Slade Green winning 3-0 at Erith & Belvedere and title favourites VCD Athletic going down 1-0 to improving Tunbridge Wells on Saturday.

And on tonight’s result, Thurgood added: “You’ve got to be totally honest, it is a shock and we’ve got to take it as that.”

Holmesdale: Danny Harwood, Christos Nicoli, Ricky Hardie, Charlie Corneille, Tom Macquad, Ray Tolfrey, James Dadson (Steve O‘Rourke 66), Jason Thompson, Lee Morgan (Peter Afalayan 71), Joel Hughes, Steve Diamond (Danny Parrish 84).
Subs: Ross Mitchell, John White.

Goals: Joel Hughes 14, 24, 40

Booked: Joel Hughes 87

Beckenham Town: Stewart Copeland, Ryan Pacey, Michael Ebanks, Danny Lawson, Aaron Barnett, Matthew Piper (Pat Hitchin 45), Charlie Hearn, Nick Curran (Lewis Wood 45), Lenny Piper, Wade Falana (Danny Ward 76), Alex Tiesse.
Subs: Darren Wise, Luke Milner.

Goals: Lenny Piper 23 (pen), Charlie Hearn 90

Booked: Wade Falana 70

Attendance: 91
Referee: Mr Saul Kay (Whitstable)
Assistants: Mr Peter Gill (Bexleyheath) & Mr Gareth Garrey (Grove Park)