Bearsted go through to the next round of the SCEFL Challenge Cup with a convincing victory over local rivals Lordswood.
The game started well for Lordswood as in the 6th minute Ehis Izokun passed forward to Sam Hallett on the right & his cross found Regan Payne but his shot from 18 yards went well wide.
Three minutes later Bearsted had their first chance when Sam Flisher in the area saw his shot blocked & come out to Brad Webb & his shot was blocked & then cleared from danger, a minute later Bearsted had taken the lead when a long ball forward saw Peter Williams race onto it beating the onrushing Ryan Chantler to it & the ball ended up in the empty net.
Two minutes later & it could have been two when Stephen Sage’s free kick into the area found Williams on his own but his header from 12 yards went wide. In the very next minute Payne on the left passed inside for Alex McKay but his shot from 20 yards went wide.
In the 14th minute Bearsted doubled their lead when Charlie Epps in midfield slid the ball forward for Webb to run onto & he went into the area unopposed & slid the ball past Chantler. Bearsted were now controlling the game & 8 minutes later a Flisher free kick from his own half saw Andy Irvine flick on for Webb who cut inside & his shot from 6 yards was deflected for a corner.
Bearsted were now creating loads of chances as in the 35th minute a Flisher low cross saw Epps volley from 18 yards but go just wide then a minute later a ball forward to Irvine who chested it down for Matt Garner whose shot from 30 yards was tipped onto the bar for a corner by Chantler.
In the 41st minute Scott Andrews threw the ball out to Webb on halfway & he raced forward & his shot from the edge of the area was pushed around the post by Chantler, then from the corner which went to the back post Irvine on his own headed in from 5 yards.
Lordswood nearly pulled a goal back in the 2 minute off added time when a corner into the six yard box saw a scramble & then the ball came out to McKay but his header from 5 yards was cleared.
The second half saw a much improved performance from Lordswood as they drew 1-1, Bearsted took a while to get going & it was 8 minutes into the half when Garner on the edge of the area saw his shot deflect away for a corner & from the resulting corner the ball was cleared off the line.
In the 66th minute Bearsted wrapped the game up when Flisher down the right wing swung in a low cross to the near post where Williams flicked in from 5 yards. Lordswood were now playing for pride & in the 70th minute David Smith battling away in the box finally got the ball & his curling effort went in for a consolation goal.
As the game came to a close Lordswood had a couple of chances & sending off but firstly David Smith on the left cut in & his shot from 20 yards was easily save by Scott Andrews, then in the 85th minute another controversial refereeing decisions as Steven Miles was sent off for a challenge which to most people was probably a yellow at most, then in the 89th minute Adam Hooper latched onto a loose ball & his shot from 20 yards was pushed around the post by Scott Andrews.
The final whistle went & Bearsted now have a home tie against Lydd to look forward to whilst Lordswood will dust themselves down & hope they can get back to winning ways against Sporting Club Thamesmead in the Kent Senior Trophy.
BEARSTED:
- ANDREWS 2. B.WEBB 3. S.SAGE (45) 4. A.FORSTER 5. G.ANDREWS 6. C.EPPS (66) 7. S.FLISHER 8. M.GARNER 9. A.IRVINE (58) 10. P.WILLIAMS 11. K.MOONEY
SUBS USED: 15. O.BARTRAM (45) 14. J.HAYES (58) 12. M.HOLIDAY (66)
BOOKING: 14. J.HAYES (71) 10. P.WILLIAMS (77)
LORDSWOOD:
- CHANTLER 2. E.IZOKUN 3. A.HOOPER 4. B.OLAJIDE 5. S.LOVAGE 6. C.DONADIO 7. J.ALDERMAN 8. A.BLANCHARD (45) 9. R.PAYNE (45) 10. A.McKAY (66) 11. S.HALLETT
SUBS USED: 12. DANNY SMITH (45) 16. S.MILES (45) 14. DAVID SMITH (66)
SUBS NOT USED: 15. C.PLUMMER 17. H.SHERIDAN
BOOKINGS: 6. C.DONADIO (16)
SENT OFF: 16. S.MILES (85)
REFEREE: Mr P.CONN
ASSISTANTS: Mr J.ANNANDALE & Mr S.ROOTS
ATTENDANCE: 51