Bearsted came away with a point, but it could have been so much more as visitors Phoenix Sports equalised in the third minute of added on time to keep their unbeaten run going, the point for the hosts does also ensure they maintain their spot in the play-off places.

The home side got out of the blocks the quickest when in the fourth minute Ashton Mitford received the ball in the area and his shot from fifteen yards out went just past the post.

Phoenix had their first chance in the 13^th minute when Lyle Della-Verde saw his twenty yard shot easily saved by Frankie Leonard, they then started to control the game and in the 28^th minute Jamarie Brissett running from halfway looking just offside ran on unoppossed into the area before stabbing the ball past Leonard but for Phoenix it was not their day as it rolled past the post.

The very next minute Bearsted took the lead when Aiden Clark running forward passed into the path of Jarrod Trespaderne and from fifteen yards he shot past Ryan McCourt. From here the Bears took control of the game and in the 38^th minute Sam Stace controlled a pass and hit a shot from twenty yards forcing McCourt into a good save.

The second half saw Phoenix come out the quickest after manager Jake Goodman’s half time team talk. In the 51^st minute a cross into the area was headed in by Louie Downey to equalise.

Five minutes later Taylor Fisher on the angle saw his shot saved by Leonards legs, in the 59^th minute Leonard lost possesion in the area and in trying to get the ball back appeared to foul the attacker, but the referee had other ideas. In the next minute Bearsted took the lead again when the ball in the area was half cleared to Trespaderne whose first time shot hit the defender’s hand for a penalty.

Although the referee took a while before blowing his whistle to award the spot kick, up stepped Jake Embury who shot into the top right-hand corner. In the 66^th minute Bearsted nearly scored another when a free kick to the back post was headed back by Ryan Blake for Josh Wisson whose overhead kick went just over the bar.

Another chance came three minutes later when Clark on the left wing crossed into the area for Mitford but stretching for it volleyed over the bar. In the next minute Phoenix had a chance to draw level when a ball into the area saw Brissett fouled in the area and a penalty given, up stepped Della Verde and he hit it just a bit off centre allowing Leonard to make a great save.

The visitors were now going hell for leather for the equaliser and in the 83^rd minute a corner into the Bearsted area saw the ball go everywhere apart from the back of the net before eventually being cleared.

With time running out another seven minutes of added on time were all that was left for Bearsted to take the points but in the third minute of added on time Phoenix grabbed the equaliser when a corner to the near post was headed in by Jensen Grant.

The remaining four minutes saw both sides go for a winner but eventually the referee called time on an entertaining game of football, in which both sides had chances to take all three points.

        Bearsted:

1. F.Leonard   2. R.Jones  3. S.Flisher  4. J.Wisson (74)  5. R.Blake    6. P.Headley 

7.   A.Mitford  8. A.Clark (89)  9. J.Embury (74)  10. S.Stace (74)  11. J.Trespaderne

Subs Used:  12. N.Light (74)  14. B.Lewins (74)  16. J.Palmby (74)  17. M.Hagen (89)

Subs Not Used: 14. R.Jimoh

Bookings: 3. S.Flisher (53)

        Phoenix Sports:

1. R.Mccourt   3. A.Belford  6. J.Goodman  8. L.Della-Verde.   9. T.Whitlock (45)  10. L.Downey

11.  J.Brissett (85)  12. B.Morrison  15. T.Fisher  19. K.Mccann (85)  20. P.Lee

Subs Used: 5. J.Grant (45)  7. W.Efambe (85)  16. K.Animpong (85)

Subs Not Used: 4. H.Barnes  17. E. Ezenwanne

Bookings: 9. T.Whitlock (34)  10. L.Downey (65)  1. R.Mccourt (90+7)

Referee: Mr A.Tabi

Assistants: Mrl.Stephen & Mr V.Bottacchi

Att: 85

Image courtesy of Bearsted FC