Thamesmead Town 2-3 Beckenham Town

Thamesmead Town’s hopes of a lucrative FA Cup run were dashed on Saturday when they stuttered badly at home to Kent League side Beckenham Town.

Beckenham missed a hatful of chances and so were only one goal to the good at the break, Danny McKone blasting into the roof of the net from 15 yards after 17 minutes following a touch on by Durrand Jemmott.

Other opportunities for Beckenham included two early efforts by Gary Gorman (too wide) and James Holder ( too high). While as half time approached a complete miscue by James Campbell allowed the keepers clearance to carry on to lively striker, Quinton Conteh, who easily rounded home custodian Sam Mott, only to screw wide of a gaping goal. Only seconds later Gorman hit just as wastefully wide of the other post.

In addition the middle of the half had young goalie Mott, earning his spurs, with a point blank range reaction save from Conteh, followed by a fine tip over the bar when a fizzing volley from Gorman took a wicked deflection of Lew Tozer.

By comparison, the action in the box at the top end of the ground was pretty negligible. Even so, in the 33rd minute, an incident, clearly inside the penalty area, could and should have seen Mead go level. An attempted high clearance by Gorman was deemed to have endangered the head of Raphael Momodu, and a penalty was awarded. Andy Constable’s 12 yard pot lacked conviction, and Nick Blue moved to his right to parry the shot.

A few well chosen words – no doubt, plus positive action by manager Keith McMahon at half time, seemed to have ‘done the trick’ and got Thamesmead motivated when the second half got underway. Inside a minute of the restart, Marcus Perona (one of two substitutes introduced) made an instant impact. Neat interplay with Alex Tiesse had Perona sweeping smartly into the box before rifling home a low drive past keeper Blue.

Meads first corner quickly followed, from which Campbell netted – but an offside decision prevented the home side moving into the lead. A bizarre 2 minutes then arose, and with their shooting boots at last properly fitted, Beckenham banged in two quick fire goals. Jemmott’s drive through a crowded box ended up just inside the upright. Then McKone slipped Conteh through and he promptly registered the games first close range goal on 53 minutes.

Raphael Momodu was prominent down the right flank as Mead took their turn to make it one way traffic, but they lacked a cutting edge up front and it took headers from defenders Ashley Probets (saved) and Campbell (just over) to offer any threat. On 71 minutes a Probets blast was literally just inches too high, while Becks Chris Hill did well to sweep the ball away off Constable’s foot, as a set piece on the edge of the box so nearly worked.

Two yellow cards resulted in Gorman’s dismissal and Beckenham were left hanging on resolutely. Yet another quality strike around the 15 yard mark, this time from Robbie Tarrant in the 87th minute greatly added to the tension. Blue got a hand to the ball, but could only divert it onto a post from where it entered the net. Added time saw Probets pump a final cross into the visitors box, captain Tozer made contact, but his glancing header was some way off target. Becks last move was to introduce sub Allie Jaward with instructions to visit the corner flag and play out time. This mission was accomplished. Beckenham were home and dry, and Thamesmead could have no complaints