Bearsted were seconds away from being in the draw Monday afternoon when disaster struck as Southall scored the winnEr in the second minute off added on time.
The whole team and supporters would have been gutted after they battled back into the game, on the day showed that there was not much between the teams.
The game started quickly for Bearsted as in the first minute a free kick into the area saw Ollie Freeman rise, his header went just past the post.
Southall after that scare came back in the 14th minute took the lead when a wayward pass out of defence was latched onto by Southall, the ball eventually ended up at the feet of Anthony Mendy in the area and from 15 yards he shot past Frankie Leonard.
Bearsted came back quickly as in the 18th minute when Joel Wakefield passed to Freeman who returned it to Wakefield, from 25 yards his shot came back of the cross bar.
A minute later the ball bouncing around 20 yards out saw Robbie Roberts collect it, put Will Johnson-Cole in and he cut in, his curling effort from 18 yards went just past the post.
The game saw both sides attacking without causing many problems, then in the 40th minute Southall should have increased their lead when Jaden Thompson-Brissett on the left wing crossed into the area for Mendy but from 8 yards he headed over the bar.
Half time arrived and Bearsted were still in the game.
The second half was only two minutes old when a Southall free kick into the area saw a header come back off the cross bar, then in the 53rd minute Bearsted equalised when Colby Wait on halfway threaded the ball forward into the path of Freeman who from 15 yards smashed into the back of the net.
Then two minutes later Wait went down injured, although he got up he did not seem right and five minutes later was substituted would this upset Bearsted losing such an influential player only time will tell.
The game saw both sides trying to win but without really causing any problems, then with time running out Southall took a corner from the left into the near post where Jack Roper rose and flicked into the bottom right hand corner to the delight of Southall’s supporters but gutting for Bearsted who now travel to Mile Oak next Saturday in the FA Vase.
Bearsted:
- F.Leonard 2. D.Agbudume 3. D.Melvin 4. P.Headley (79) 5. R.Blake 6. C.Wait (60)
7. R.Roberts (84) 8. J.Wakefield 9. O.Freeman 10. A.Turton 11. W.Johnson-Cole
Subs Used: 12. C.Mccarthy (60) 16. O.Akanni 17. B.Cock-Bartholomew (84)
Subs Not Used: 14. M.Okundalaya 15. A.Brown 18. A.Saunders 20. J.Savage
Bookings: None
Southall:
- M.Edegbe 2. A.Nolan 3. A.Alibi 4. R.Hope 5. C.Paerce 6. D.Savva
7. A.Mendy (77) 8. J.Thompson-Brissett 9. A.O’connor (85) 10. L.Heneghan 11. F.Taylor (71)
Subs Used: 18. J.Celestine-Charles (71) 14. J.Roper (77) 17. D.Kearney (85
Subs Not Used: 12. K.Diomande 15. D.Amate 16. A.Nurein 19. K.Songola
Bookings: 7. A.Mendy (45+5)
Referee: Mr S.Hughes
Assistants: Mr R.Davies & Mr T.Fleming
Att 139