Saturday 16th March 2024
Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South
Beaconsfield Town 3 Dorchester Town 4
Holloways Park Att - 156

Ram of the Match - James Dobson

Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got, till it's gone?

So sang Joni Mitchell and so it was for Beaconsfield Town this week.

First long-time loan keeper Matt Rowley was recalled by Reading to be sent to the conference South’s bottom team Dover Athletic, where he kept a clean sheet and earned the man of the match award on debut against Havant and Waterlooville.

Then at Half time with The Rams ahead, skipper Luke Neville was withdrawn as a precaution after sustaining a head knock in a clash with Dorchester keeper Jameson Horlick.

The initial signs were good.

Having fallen behind mid-way through the half, when Dorchester’s Will Spetch rose highest at the far post to nod home a right-wing corner. The Rams recovered and only trailed for Three minutes.

Dan Roth’s forceful run was checked unfairly, good refereeing from Mr Woolmer, who tried to let the advantage develop before calling the play back.

From the free kick, James Dobson’s inswinging delivery found Jacques Kpohomouh who pulled away from his marker and met the cross Eight yards out the big defender pulled the ball down but never exactly got it under control as the ball reared up off the surface via a variety of body parts he completed an uncomfortable juggling finish smuggling the ball over Jameson Horlick in the Dorchester goal before completing the finish with a diving header for the equaliser.

Fifteen minutes later after a quick clearance from new Rams keeper Connor Hunt, Dobson added a lobbed finish from the edge of the box, catching Horlick off his line just before the break to give the Rams the lead.

Half time 2-1

Despite the absence of Neville, the initial pattern of the game was similar to the end of the first and the Rams had the first chance of the second half. Dan Bradshaw and Joe Wilson combined on the right and Bradshaw advanced to the edge of the box before sending a curling dipping drive narrowly over the crossbar.

That was as close as Beaconsfield came for half an hour as Dorchester took control. With pace and a direct approach, they steadily established aerial superiority with Beaconsfield increasingly uncomfortable without their skipper at the heart of the defence and Dorchester took full advantage.

It was no surprise when they drew level.
A high cross bounced around and was half cleared but fell invitingly for Luke Pardoe who fired home home a curling effort from the edge of the box.

Eight minutes later, Spetch added his second.

Arriving late and seemingly unoticed? He soared above the defence to power home another far post header.

When Oliver Haste’s left wing free kick was allowed to travel 50 yards unfettered into the corner of Hunts’ net the game seemed over.

The Rams threw on all their attacking options and began to generate their own pressure culminating in Dobson’s 85th minute penalty. Awarded after Bradshaw was levelled.

The goal breathed some life into the Rams and they laid siege to the Dorchester goal for the remainder but they could not create a clear chance in the face of committed and often desperate Dorchester defending and were unable to find what would probably have been an undeserved equaliser.

The Rams take a break from league pressures with their next fixture, welcoming Flackwell Heath in the quarter-final of the Berks and Bucks Senior cup.

The next league outing will see the boys head to Totton next Saturday.

All images © Neale Blackburn photography 2024
Match Facts - https://southern-football-league.co.uk/match/m/126646/squad/
Images - https://www.chasdog.com/p844001692