Beckenham Town 0 Chatham Town 2

Match 116/18/1709 - Sunday, 14th April 2019 - Kent Senior Trophy Final

Beckenham Town (0) 0
Chatham Town (0) 1 Hagan 100
After extra time
Attendance: 1,128
Played at Maidstone United

Admission: £5 Senior
Programme: £2 donation
Mileage: 20/6,775

Now entering the time of the season when I become a little jaded when it comes to blogging, so I took the opportunity of putting down the notebook and pen and left the posting to the esteemed Timmy_Tabby who reported the day as thus:

Having last attended the Gallagher Stadium for the Kent Senior Trophy final in 2016 and seeing and (unfortunately remembering) a frustrating goalless draw with Sheppey United and Ashford United being the offenders, there was the vain hope that the 2019 final would yield a goal laden classic. Needless to say that the hopes were misguided....

Becckenham Town 0 v 1 Chatham Town - Kent Senior Trophy Final
Prog 12 pages* - Admission £8.00 - Att nothing official seen thus far but approx 550

*Typical final prog but at least given away though in accordance with the KCFA request a donation to a charity was given and in the interests of financial transparency it can be disclosed that a pound was donated.

.....Rarely an entertaining spectacle, two well matched teams huffed and puffed to little effect for most of the duration of the contest. Numerous half chances but few that were of any danger, plenty of routine catches for either keeper to make and far too many moves created through midfield that evaporated on the edge of the area.

Expectations probably set too high by what was an entertaining opening few minutes, where Chatham should have taken the lead from the likes of Walker, Vines & Bodkin but opportunities were spurned as McEntaggart made saves that he was not expected to make if the shots had been in the intended direction or if possession had been taken one step too far.

Chatham had the better of the first half but could not find the net with McEntaggart making a crucial save from a Bodkin free kick and seeing a Fitzgerald header from virtually off the line. However, it was clear as the first half neared its conclusion that the Beckenham defence was not being prised open as easily as it was earlier.

Much the same in the early minutes of the second period and shortly after the restart a clumsy challenge by Wilson that felled Pilbeam on the right gave us a penalty, which if it had been converted would have given us the goal that this contest craved. Problem was Vines' posture in running up for the penalty was laboured and his attempt cleared the bar by some distance. McEntaggart made an excellent double save to Walker and then Butler as the Beckenham keeper had to change direction quickly.

Gradually though Beckenham were much more in contention over the final half hour, few chances but in keeping with what went on at the other end before as a dangerous loose cross from Healey eluded a close range touch. Slight upturn as the 4th official indicated four additional minutes but Ellis managed to block a header from Medina and extra time (which was not a feature on 2016 final, which went straight to penalties) could not be avoided.

Early on during the additional thirty, Wright had a goal chalked off for straying offside for Beckenham and at this stage, conclusion by penalties looked a certainty, this outcome was avoided by a low cross from Bodkin a touch from Hagan almost certainly not what was intended but gave him the required space and he place past McEntaggart to put Chatham in front. Positive response from Beckenham and they were unfortunate to have a second goal disallowed for what was a much more marginal offside, however on the basis of a first half performance when they had very much the better of play they just about deserved to lift the Trophy.

Did not stay for the presentation, as after a laborious journey down where engineering work shutting part of the c2c route and also the Medway Valley line meant a longer than journey down, there was a need to return to the abode as soon as possible. Thanks to Geoff of this parish for the lift back to Upminster and a timely connection meaning return was facilitated at 18.55.

The time in Maidstome was not entirely in vain as there was sufficient time for a trip to the excellent Flower Pot which is mere minutes from the ground but unlike the Gallagher Stadium rooted in a bygone age. Mein host was particularly generous with the two halves ordered pouring them unusually into pint glasses. Excellent selection including those sampled from Musket and McCanns (AKA Angels & Demons) and an array of others. The gift of hindsight would surely have meant that the afternoon could have been put to a more profitable use.