Bearsted 0 Lordswood 1

Match 60/17/1510 - Wednesday, 15th November 2017 - SCEFL Premier

Bearsted (0) 0
Lordswood (1) 1 Griffin 35
Attendance: 63

Entrance: £4 Senior
Programme: Included
Mileage: 15/3,930

Bearsted are my local club, just 7.5 miles from home, so it is probably a little shameful that this was just my second visit. This was also a visit that was not scheduled but a delay leaving home, plus a 19:30 kick-off put the intended game at Bridon Ropes out of reach.

The visiting hopperatti swelled the attendance to 63 and their tales of where they had been; this ground and that helped pass a first half of very few chances.

Bearsted’s Reece Collins had a couple of efforts that didn’t test Lordswood’s goalkeeper, Ryan Chandler before Frank Griffin put the visitors in front with a shot into the bottom corner from the defensively unmanned right side of the box after 33 minutes.

The second period was one of frustration for the cluster of Lordswood supporters as their side wasted chance after chance to put the game to bed.

Bearsted goalkeeper, Scott Andrews excelled as Helge Orome, Jack Mahon and Charlie Plummer contrived to keep the game alive for the hosts.

In one instance, eight minutes from time, Andrews saved three times with his feet to deny Mahon twice and Plummer in the space of around 10 seconds.

Bearsted's Honey Lane is not an easy place to find, it is actually in Otham, and the long track to the ground tests the car suspension to the limit, but once there it has a rural charm that makes the visit worthwhile. Added to that, I was home in 15 minutes!