Merstham 4-2 Beckenham Town - We can't have too many more of these off days, says Beckenham Town boss Del Oldfield

Merstham 4 – 2 Beckenham Town
Location	Moatside Stadium, Weldon Way, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3QB
Kickoff	16/11/2024 15:00

MERSTHAM  4-2  BECKENHAM TOWN
Isthmian League South East Division
Saturday 16 November 2024
Stephen McCartney reports from Moatside Stadium

BECKENHAM TOWN manager Del Oldfield says he wants to see how his players’ are going to react to his first league defeat in charge of the club after losing their 12-match stay at the Isthmian League South East Division summit.

Four of his players turned up late at Weldon Way and that set the tone, as eighth-placed Merstham raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening eight minutes, through central midfielder Lee Lewis and attacking midfielder Samuel King, both scoring from outside the box.

Beckenham Town swiftly pulled a goal back through right-wing-back Freddie Nyhus’ deflected free-kick, to score his third goal of the season.

Merstham went 3-1 up in the second half through Charlie Greenwood’s penalty, before Beckenham talisman striker Louie Theophanous, 33, clinically scored his 12^th goal of the season.

Jamie Decruz’s side notched their fourth goal through King’s fifth of the season as the home side ran out deserved winners against the lacklustre and now toppled league leaders.

Oldfield has seen his men beat Lancing (1-0), Deal Town (4-1), Ashford United (3-0), Sheppey United (1-0) and Broadbridge Heath (3-2), since leaving Kent County League Premier Division side Kent United on 17 October to take over, although they lost 6-1 at National League South side Tonbridge Angels in the Kent Senior Cup on Tuesday night.

“I don’t feel great, it feels horrible,” admitted Oldfield.

“I hope it feels horrible for the players as it does for me and the management team because I’ve just said to them in there, those last six games have got nothing to do with a new management team, they’ve got to do with them as players’, them as a group.

“I was very fortunate to come into a very, very good group of players’.  I’ve inherited a very good group of players’, so those last six games was definitely down to them but it might be one of those things now where we might have to do a little bit more as a management team.”

When asked to elaborate, Oldfield replied: “Who knows? I’m still thinking on that. It might be some things I have to do.

“The good things, we found ourselves getting back into the game a couple of times. We were making silly mistakes.

“I could be wrong here, but apart from the penalty, I think every other (Merstham) goal was outside the box and that’s disappointing.

“Obviously, it means we’ve got a problem with closing down on the edge of the box and we’ll put that right.”

Beckenham Town played with three centre-halves and in the middle of Oscar Williams (left) and Robert Carter (right) was the 32-year-old Jack Holland, who fouled physically strong Merstham targetman striker, the five-goal Korrey Henry.

Goalkeeper Archie Burford lined up a two-man wall for Lewis’ right-footed drilled free-kick from 35-yards, the ball taking a deflection as it flashed past the diving goalkeeper and nestled inside the bottom left-hand corner to give Merstham the lead after only 78 seconds.

“To be honest, I said to the staff before the game, ‘something didn’t feel right’.  I said after the warm-up, ‘something didn’t feel right’, so I had a feeling anyway that was how we were going to start.

“You can have those feelings and you try to get it through to the group in the team-talk before the game that you feel that something’s not right and you can only give them so much as a management team and they have to find that themselves and unfortunately they didn’t.”

Beckenham Town played out from the back with holding midfielder Abbas Agoro rolling the ball back to Burford, whose poor clearance saw Dominic Morgan-Griffiths having his pocket picked by Greenwood in the defensive third, before his through ball played in left-winger Finlay Johnson and his left-footed shot was blocked by the legs of the advancing Burford (7:01).

“That’s just typified our start.  Archie’s been brilliant since he’s come in.  You could see it all around the pitch, we’ve got people making mistakes that they haven’t made in the last six games and it was just one of those days today,” admitted Oldfield.

However, Merstham deservedly doubled their lead with seven minutes and 50 seconds on the clock when Henry played an inside 10-yard pass to King, who emphatically drilled a sublime right-footed finish into the top right-hand corner from 25-yards.

“Again, we’ve got to look at what we can do to stop that happening,” said Oldfield.

“The 20 (Henry), I thought he has a good game actually. He’s a big, strong lad, uses his body well, caused us problems no doubt but we have got to do better in that transition of losing the ball and getting back behind it.

“I’ll be honest, even at 2-0, 3-1, 4-2, I’ve seen what we can do, so there was always that belief that we can get back in the game.  We’ve got back in the game a couple of times and then just made silly errors but I always had that belief because I have seen what we can do.”

King split open Beckenham’s high left-wing-back Akeem Belford to play in right-winger Olumayowa Lawal but Holland came across to make a vital slid tackle from inside the Beckenham six-yard box.

Beckenham Town scored with their first shot on target, timed at 12 minutes and 36 seconds on the clock.

The combative Lewis fouled Nyhus out on the right and Nyhus’ whipped left-footed free-kick from 30-yards, took a deflection off the wall, bounced in front of goalkeeper Robert Tolfrey and into the far corner of the net.

“Yes, a little bit like their first goal, obviously, a great strike. Both were good strikes, hits someone, there’s nothing keeper’s can do about that. It’s one of those things,” added Oldfield.

The first half was played in an open, end-to-end fashion.  Beckenham linked up well down the left through Belford and 13-goal Jamarie Brissett and the away side often found pockets in front of Merstham’s centre-halves Matthew Drage and Dean Gunner, as Greenwood and Lewis failed to cut out balls along the deck.

Tolfrey was the busier of the two goalkeepers and Beckenham Town played a couple of balls along the deck to create a chance in the 18^th minute.

Holland slipped the ball through to Nyhus, who played a 30-yard pass in behind Drage to play in Theophanous, who swept his right-footed shot towards the bottom near corner, only for Tolfrey to rush off his line to tip the ball around the post.

Oldfield said: “Tolfrey had a good game. Like you say, he probably was the busier of the two, which sounds weird because they’ve scored four and we only scored the two but you’re probably true what you say there.

“He was a bit busy but he is a very experienced goalkeeper. He has been around a lot and he’s done his job extremely well today.”

Nyhus (playing as a high wing-back) played the ball down the line to release Theophanous down the right and he played in a cross towards the near post where Morgan-Griffiths (playing in a 10 role behind the striker) flicked his first time shot straight into Tolfrey’s gloves.

Greenwood shrugged past Morgan-Griffiths and won a free-kick some 28-yards from goal and Lewis’ drilled a low right-footed free-kick towards the bottom left-hand corner, which was comfortably saved low down by Burford, who started his career in the youth ranks at Cheltenham Town.

Beckenham Town swiftly went up the other end and just 14 seconds later, Theophanous unleashed a right-footed angled drive which flashed across Tolfrey and past the far post from 16-yards.

“They’re pivotal moments in games that can change a game one way or the other.  Unfortunately, we wasn’t as potent in front of goal as we have been over the last six (league) games,” admitted Oldfield.

Morgan-Griffiths floated a free-kick from midfield, which was knocked down by Williams inside a crowded Merstham penalty area and Theophanous jumped up to loop his header straight into Tolfrey’s gloves, stepping to his left to comfortably catch the ball.

Johnson skipped past Agoro just inside the Merstham half before feeding Lawal down the right and the otherwise quiet winger easily cut inside Williams before hitting a left-footed drive whistling over the crossbar from 20-yards.

Beckenham Town’s good attacking play came to a halt when Belford took a bang to his ankle and was replaced in the 43^rd minute.

Oldfield brought on Tylah Wallace-Ming and played him as a right-wing-back, moving Nyhus over to the left and from that moment, Beckenham Town didn’t play like a side that are challenging for the title.

“To be honest, I still haven’t spoken to Hakeem about this, so I’m not entirely sure.   The guy stepped across him but stepped on his ankle. There’s nothing in it. It caused him a problem.  We’ll asses Hakeem, hopefully that’s not more than a knock,” said Oldfield, who was then asked about other injuries.

“We’ve had some good news on Tom Hever.  His broken bone in his (left) arm but it’s now fusing back together, so he may be back before Christmas, fingers crossed, but he’s certainly healing a lot better.

“We’re looking to get Mudiaga Wanogho back.  We’re actually going to get Mudi a little bit longer to recover because he had a hamstring injury. I wouldn’t say we rushed him back but he came back when he felt it was right to but this time we’re going to give him that little bit longer, so maybe the middle of December.”

Lewis was penalised for his third of hisfour fouls, fouling Steven Townsend and Nyhus sent in a left-footed free-kick from the left and Holland came up from the back to steer his free-header into Tolfrey’s midriff from 15-yards, as Merstham went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

“I just thought we weren’t doing the things we have been doing and if we get back to that, we will still be in this game,” said Oldfield.

“We done it in patches in the second half, just not consistent enough and we made too many mistakes.”

Morgan-Griffiths played the sole holding midfield role in the second half, as Merstham bossed possession in an often cagey, stalemate.

“I think us not being at the races for a lot of the game has maybe contributed to that,” admitted Oldfield.

“I think maybe the threat we do that, obviously most of them were aware of that and we maybe were a little bit cautious at times but I’ve got to be honest, I think Merstham have had an easy afternoon, I really do.

“I think Merstham played extremely well by the way, that’s got no reflection on them. I think they’ve had a real good afternoon and we haven’t and that’s what it comes down to.”

Beckenham Town had a chance to grab an equaliser following their fourth (penultimate) corner of the game.

Nyhus swung the ball in from the right towards a crowd of players and Holland emerged to scramble his shot towards the bottom far corner, only for the excellent 37-year-old Tolfrey to dive to his left to push towards safety.

The Eden Park Avenue outfit revealed that Holland has been the subject of a seven-day approach from Isthmian League Premier Division side Chatham Town.

“Jack’s not going anywhere! From what he’s told me, he’s not going anywhere,” insisted Oldfield.

“It’s very flattering for every player to be (approached) and as we’re top, we’re getting a lot of interest in our players, I wouldn’t say maybe all will stay, there’s always going to be the odd one or two that are maybe going to be persuaded in one way or another but at the moment Jack ain’t going anywhere!”

Nyhys then swung in the away side’s final corner, which was met by Theophanous at the near-post, steering his header over the crossbar.

Merstham killed the game off by scoring their third goal, timed at 21 minutes and 3 seconds.

Greenwood’s first time ball from inside the Merstham half close to the half-way and touchlines released Henry in behind Carter and Holland clipped the heals of Henry and referee Oliver Kaya pointed to the spot.

Greenwood placed his right-footed penalty into the bottom left-hand corner, sending Burford the wrong way.

“We are on the other side of the pitch, so it’s really difficult to tell. It doesn’t look like there’s a lot in it but I’d like to see it back and make a better opinion of it,” came Oldfield’s reply.  Unfortunately, this website doesn’t have the budget for on-the-spot action replays for post-match interviews.

“It’s too far away from our distance. From what we saw, it looks like they go shoulder-to-shoulder and the big lad went down. I’m not saying the big lad went down easily. I just think he went down. If that’s not the case, then fair enough but that’s what it looks like from where we were sitting.”

Beckenham Town showed good character, however, scoring their second goal, with 29 minutes and 58 seconds on the clock, a second or third phase from Townsend’s hanging free-kick.

Last defender Morgan-Griffiths clipped a long ball straight back up the heart of the pitch, the ball was flicked on by Holland and Theophanous took a touch inside the box before clinically placing his left-footed shot across the keeper to find the bottom far corner from eight-yards.

“That’s what Louie does.  You get the ball at his feet in and around the box and he can be extremely dangerous, so it’s no surprise for anyone. It was a good finish, it was just a shame there weren’t a few more of them,” said Oldfield, who was asked what was missing today, as Beckenham Town suffered their third league defeat of the season.

“That’s a tough one. I think we’ve done too many mistakes. I think we’ve had too many people not doing the consistent things they have been doing and contributed to good all-round performances.  Maybe our work-rate was a little bit off and these days are going to happen.

“You can’t reflet on it too much. All you can do, like everyone knows at this level, you can’t have an off day. If you have an off day, you get punished, it’s as simple as that. We can’t have too many more of these off days!”

Beckenham Town looked like the side that could potentially gone on to claim an undeserved point, as Oldfield pushed winger Townsend up to partner Theophanous but offered little threat – that was until Merstham punished some more poor defending to score their fourth goal, timed at 37 minutes and 29 seconds on the clock.

Last defender Morgan-Griffiths had his pocket picked by a pressing King, who strode forward before drilling an emphatic right-footed shot into the top left-hand corner from 25-yards, despite the hapless Burford diving to his right and getting a hand to the rasping drive.

“Again, another mistake we’ve made, at a time where maybe in the game which took us out of it again – so it’s just disappointing,” added Oldfield.

Burford was off his line and was relieved to see Lewis’ quickly taken free-kick from 45-yards sail over his head and only just clear the crossbar, after Holland was booked for sending substitute holding midfielder Bradley Wilson rolling along the deck several times.

Lewis cut in from the right and teed up substitute five-goal right-winger Aaron Jenkins, who looped his shot harmlessly wide of the Beckenham goal from 16-yards.

The referee played 48:08 in the first half and 53:19 in the second, not helped by four players coming on late and making no impact on the game.

Decruz made three pointless substitutions with Billy Oram (44:11), Aidan Brown (49:52) and Harry Pointing (51:17) coming on, while Beckenham Town brought on targetman Alfie Bloomfield (45:35) and his only contribution was to be third player to be cautioned.

After Ben Smith’s Ramsgate came away from Herne Bay with a 2-1 win in midweek, the Rams have reached the summit tonight and have three games in hand on Beckenham Town.

Unbeaten Ramsgate have picked up 43 points from their 15 games – and Joe Taylor scored a hat-trick – taking his goalscoring tally to a very impressive 26 goals – in a 3-2 win at Sevenoaks Town today.

The four-play off places contain Beckenham Town (41 points from 18 games), Sittingbourne (35 points from 14 games), Margate (35 points from 16 games) and Burgess Hill Town (33 points from 15 games).

Erith Town (29 points from 17 games), Sheppey United (29 points from 15 games), Merstham (26 points from 16 games), Deal Town (24 points from 16 games) and AFC Croydon Athletic (20 points from 15 games) make up the top 10 in this eighth-tier division.

“Listen, Ramsgate are an extremely good team, obviously been favourites from the very beginning,” acknowledged Oldfield.

“We’ve had a good run. Are we surprised that Ramsgate are top? No. Will anyone be surprised? No. I don’t think so.  That’s not going to surprise anyone.

“I think we are the surprise package. For us to be where we are, especially after the season that we had last year (finishing second-from-bottom and reprieved from relegation), so whatever happens to us for the rest of the season, it’s already been a good season and we’re not even halfway yet.”

This is Oldfield’s first manager’s role in this division, although he has previously worked at this level at Phoenix Sports (under Paul Bryon) and VCD Athletic (Nick Davis).

Oldfield said: “I think there’s always things you can learn as a manager or coach, whatever you want to call us these days.

“If there’s one thing that never changes and we say this quite a lot of our players’ is that generally the team that works the hardest, wins the game and we didn’t do that today and Merstham deserved the win today.”

Oldfield was asked what success looks like for Beckenham Town this season.

“If I’m honest before I took the job, it was one of the very few questions I asked Jason (Huntley). I said ‘what are your expectations?’ and the expectations of the club ‘were just to stay up this year’.

“I mean, with winning streaks and being where we are in the table, maybe it comes a little bit more expectation, so I think it’s too hard to tell you.

“Listen, if you’re going to ask me staying up, yes that’s great but we’re better than that and I think we’ve proved that we’re better than that.”

Danny Kedwell’s Ashford United claimed a 3-0 home win over East Grinstead Town and are in 13^th place in the pecking order tonight with 17 points from 14 games, eight points clear of the relegation zone, that contains Three Bridges, Lancing, Steyning Town and Phoenix Sports.

“We’ve shown that we can mix it with these boys. It’s now going to be down to how we react to a defeat and how we move forward,” said Oldfield.

“We’ve only played Ashford a short while ago, so what they do and how they do it, is going to be no surprise.

“What I do know, if we play like we did today, it will be another not very good day.

“As we all know in football, winning’s a habit and so is losing, so we can’t make a habit of losing.”

Merstham: Robert Tolfrey, Oliver Khinda, Jude Molloy, Charlie Greenwood (Bradley Wilson 74), Matthew Drage, Dean Gunner, Finlay Johnson, Lee Lewis (Harry Pointing 90), Korrey Henry (Aidan Brown 90), Samuel King (Billy Oram 90), Olumayowa Lawal (Aaron Jenkins 73).

Goals: Lee Lewis 2, Samuel King 8, 83, Charlie Greenwood 67 (penalty)

Beckenham Town: Archie Burford, Freddie Nyhus, Akeem Belford (Tylah Wallace-Ming 42), Jack Holland, Oscar Williams, Robert Carter, Jamarie Brissett (Tyler Anderson 67), Abbas Agoro (Alfie Bloomfield 90), Louie Theophanous, Dominic Morgan-Griffiths, Steven Townsend.
Subs: Henry Griffin, Luke Hedges

Goals: Freddie Nyhus 13, Louie Theophanous 75

Booked: Tyler Anderson 81, Jack Holland 84, Alfie Bloomfield 90

Attendance: 462
Referee: Mr Oliver Kaya
Assistants: Mr Matthew Funnell & Mr Stephen Saunders