Lordswood booked their place in the second round of the SCEFL challenge cup after beating Bearsted at the K G Property Stadium.

A first half goal from Harvey Welford and two late goals from Josh Carter and Callum Peck sealed the victory for Lordswood, which books their place in the second round with a tie at home against Rochester United.

The game came into life after just four minutes; George Miles runs down the right wing and produces a tame cross. Harvey Welford took a touch to set himself up and lashed a shot past Savage in the Bearsted goal to put the home side ahead.

Just before the fifteen-minute mark the game was played with many long balls between the sides trying to beat the offside trap, but nothing came to avail, until Liam Gillies produced a shot which was comfortably saved by the Lordswood Goalkeeper.

Just a few minutes later a weak back pass from Bearsted’s Colby Wait, fell to Lordswood forward Peck and unfortunately for the forward, he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet and the onrushing James Savage made a challenge to clear the ball.

After falling behind Bearsted did well on the ball and created chances but the Lordswood back four did very well to get in the way or give the away side a half chance. On the stroke of the clock hitting the forty-five-minute mark Bearsted had an effort that rattled the crossbar.

Unfortunately, in added time of the first half Bearsted’s Tyler Hatton saw red after saying something to a Lordswood player which the referee heard, so the official deemed it to be bad enough for the defender to leave the pitch.

Half time 1-0 to Lordswood.

With eight minutes played of the second half Lordswood striker Peck thought he added a second goal of the night after doing the hard work of driving into the box and turning a defender his shot was cleared off the line by Conrad Lee.

After a few near misses by Lordswood’s Peck and an effort by Bearsted’s Conrad Lee, the game had another turning point with just six minutes to go. Lordswood’s Alfie Clark saw red for a bad foul. Both teams were now down to 10, could this give Bearsted a lifeline to grab a draw and take it to penalties?

Unfortunately for the visitors in added time Lordswood added a second. The ball reached Josh Carter who elegantly chipped Savage in goal to clinch the win for Lordswood. Just 2 minutes later it got worse for the visitor as Lordswood added a third. A driving run from Nathaniel Murray on the left-hand side drove towards goal, played the ball across goal and Peck tapped in from one yard to seal the victory for Lordswood.

An emphatic win for Lordswood who progress into the second round for the SCEFL Challange Cup.

Full-time Lordswood 3-0 Bearsted

Att: 162

LORDSWOOD

Hall, Miles, Tristram, Clark, Plummer (C), Sheminant, Welford, Nago, Peck, Adams, Sterling

SUBS

Murray, Richards, Kimberley, Manning, Carter

BEARSTED

Savage, Jones, Brum, Hatton, Wait, Lee, Wilson, Gillies, Stace (C), Clark, Marchenko

SUBS

Swift, Kanik, Grigorov, Salifou, Radojevic

Images Courtesy of Sophie Barnes