Beaconsfield SYCOB made a highly impressive first appearance at Clarence Park on Monday night when chalking up a far from flattering 4-2 Red Insure (Southern League) Cup 2nd Round victory over hosts St Albans City.
St Albans fielded a starting XI that looked capable of making further progress in the competition but the visitors dominated proceedings and had the margin of victory been greater for Beaconsfield then there would have been no complaints from the thinly populated terraces.
Time and again Beaconsfield cut City open and after just three minutes Kofi Lockhart-Adams cleverly lifted the ball over Tom Coulton but when nipping behind the City keeper to reach the falling ball could only head against the woodwork.
City’s early attempts on goal were restricted to James Kaloczi having a shot charged down while Elliot Bailey fired over from just outside the penalty area.
Chances came and went with a growing frequency for Beaconsfield as Nathan Poulton twice went close, Lockhart-Adams miscued when well placed and Coulton denied Jack Hamilton.
The inevitable breakthrough arrived on 25 minutes when Hutchinson cut the ball back from the Beaconsfield right for James McCluskey to sweep a crisply struck right-footed shot across Coulton and low into the York Road goal.
Four minutes later and Beaconsfield added a fully deserved second goal.
A low pass threaded through the middle of the home defence sent former Barnet player Lockhart-Adams away only for City defender Kaloczi to win possession on the edge of the penalty area.
Kaloczi, though, then lost his footing and Lockhart-Adams calmly slide the ball wide of Coulton and into the vacant net.
Nathan Webb tried to beat Coulton with a cheeky chip from close in. The City custodian came out on top on that occasion and he also did well to palm away an effort by Hutchinson from 25 yards, with Poulton’s follow up being blocked in a crowded goalmouth.
Beaconsfield continued to pile forward with former Saint Reece Yorke coming close to turning in Poulton’s teasing near post free kick.
Further chances went begging for the visitors before a City breakaway saw Chris Henry free Bailey but the striker’s weak effort failed to seriously trouble Beaconsfield keeper James Reading.
Beaconsfield easily cleared a Chris Watters corner and created another chance of their own that ended with Brooks firing wide.
St Albans suffered a blow ten minutes from the interval when Kaloczi, troubled by a cold, was withdrawn to be replaced by Rian Carroll.
To cover for Kaloczi, Howard Hall moved inside to join Ryan Wharton in the middle of the defence while one-time Norwich City youngster Carroll went to right-back.
The first half shot count of 14-2 in favour of the Buckinghamshire club tells its own story. St Albans did at least make a better fist of the game after the interval, not that Beaconsfield still ran out anything other than worthy winners.
Soon after the restart Henry did well down the City left and when his driven low cross was blocked at the near post by Reading, Bailey stepped in only to be thwarted by the legs of the keeper.
Henry soon set up Bailey for another clear run at goal and this time Bailey, four days short of his 19th birthday, fired high past Reading but into the side-netting.
City’s bright stat to the second half was rewarded with an excellent goal on 52 minutes.
Watters sent Henry a bit wider than maybe he would have preferred with a pass out to the Saints left, but Henry’s cross fell perfectly for Harrison Georgiou to open his account with a spectacular left-footed volley to the right of the static Reading from 15 yards out.
Beaconsfield brushed aside City’s best spell of the game to reopen a two-goal advantage on 57 minutes and again it was a swift counter-attack that cut the Saints open.
Hutchinson, currently on loan to Beaconsfield from Wealdstone, started a long run from midway inside his own half and, after receiving one kind deflection, soared past Watters and showed maturity beyond his 19 years to carefully guide the ball to the right of Coulton and into the Hatfield Road net.
Coulton saved at the feet of Hutchinson before he was beaten for a fourth time on 63 minutes when Jon-Jo Bates exposed a huge gap in the middle of the home defence and set up Lockhart-Bates for his second goal of the night.
Beaconsfield continued to create chances before City reduced the deficit eight minutes from time.
Jamal Lowe ran at the visitor’s defence before laying the ball off to fellow substitute David Keenleyside whose first time angled pass back across the penalty area was collected by the stretching Greg Ngoyi.
The City striker then did well to steer his shot wide of Reading for his third goal in five games.
St Albans exerted some pressure during the closing stages but still required two good saves by Coulton from Lockhart-Adams and Hutchinson to avoid slipping to a more comprehensive defeat.
It was very much a night for City to forget as their passing was inept and their marking close to non-existent at times and after three years of trying the Saints only success in the League Cup remains a penalty shoot-out win at Leighton Town.
City are back in cup action on Saturday with a 1st Round FA Trophy tie against Conference South side Tonbridge Angels.
Kick off at the Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge, is at 3pm. Should a replay be required it will be at Clarence Park on Monday 2nd December.
St Albans expect to have club captain Ben Martin back from injury while fellow central defender Darren Locke is also available after completing his recent suspension. |
