A hugely disappointing performance from City who were completely out played and out manoeuvred in what was undoubtedly, their least impressive performance of the season so far. There was little positive to take from the game either, apart maybe, from some distant signs of increased effort in a poor second half that meant it was only marginally better than an even poorer first!

 

In truth, they were well below par, created little, were given the complete run around by the home team and the goal that they scored right at the death, was nothing more than a merest of consolation efforts.

 

City conceded the first goal in just the third minute when a break down the left led to a cross turned home by Nick Curran via Connor Quinn’s diving hand and the post for 0-1. City responded to that early set back with two Renford Tenyue crosses, neither of which got the result the endeavour to produce them had deserved, but there was no sign then of the performance that was to follow. 

 

The rest of the first half became the Beckenham Town show as they ran City ragged, scored twice and with better composure in front of goal, a half-time tally of four or five would not have flattered the home side.

 

On ten minutes a marvellous move from Beckenham saw Alfie Nunn send over a great cross field pass which Carl Gibbs volleyed first time just over the City bar. Three minutes later, Elstrom Die leads the charge as a City corner breaks down and within seconds the visitors are lucky only to concede a corner at their own end. 

 

Nineteen minutes gone and Nunn latches onto a very poor City back pass and finds himself clean through on Quinn, with just the keeper to beat, the home striker somehow manages to shoot wide. Just five minutes later however and Beckenham double their lead. Another shortcoming in the City defence sees them fail to clear the ball and allows Nunn the time and the space to pick his spot firing past Quinn, for 0-2.

 

Beckenham are far too mobile and lively for City. Too often and too easily they penetrate the defence getting down both flanks past the full backs and they enjoy far too much time and space in and around the City box. For their part, the visitors struggle to string together any sort of sustained moves as too many passes go astray and they’re constantly conceding possession.

 

Twenty-six minutes gone and City are fortunate again not to concede a third. A cross from Jake Hobbs finds Gibbs who, unmarked in the City box, completely misses his kick in front of an almost empty net. Thirty-eight minutes past and another piece of good fortune for City as Beckenham break at speed and despite having five against two at one point, somehow contrive not to score as the ball gets wastefully blasted over the City bar. 

 

In the very next minute another chance goes begging as a clever little chip from Hobbs drifts just wide of Quinn’s right-hand post. City were then probably lucky not to concede a penalty four minutes from half-time following a clumsy looking tackle in the box. 

 

Finally, with stoppage time approaching, City do find a way to the Beckenham goal. Wayon Anderson chases a ball down the left and passes to Michael Smissen, who turns in the box but lifts a shot over the bar and then Tenyue goes close when a shot is deflected just wide by a defender.

 

There is still time for Beckenham to miss again though as clean through on Quinn once again, another shot sails over the bar. 

 

It’s not very pretty for the visitors, they look completely out of sorts and trail 0-2 at half time.

 

The second half had to be better for City, and it was crucial that they got the next goal. Beckenham were having none of it however as just five minutes after the restart it was 0-3. A silly free kick given away wide right by City was curled in low and Curran got the vital touch, stooping to deflect the ball past Quinn for Beckenham’s third. 

 

City tried to react, but it just wasn’t their day. A Macauley Murray free kick is knocked wide of the far post by Smissen, a Jake Marsh cross is deflected out for a corner as Anderson comes in to challenge and Joe Kennett fires wide under pressure. But that was about as good as it got for City. 

 

Beckenham plough on as a shot hits the City post and Quinn and a defender just about manage to scramble away the follow up effort and then substitute Ben Suade fires over from the angle. 

 

Changes are made for City as Sam Baker comes on to replace Jake Gess, allowing Kennett to move further forward and shortly after, Scott Punton replaces Jake Marsh, but there is still little spark from the visitors. Nathan Paul ventures forward for the hosts, cuts inside and shoots just over having got through from right-back unchallenged, as City make their final change, Bobby Powell on for Anderson.

 

Into the last ten minutes then and although Kennett heads wide from a free kick, still Beckenham go closer, as Quinn makes a smart save with his feet to thwart another attempt. There’s a little relief for City though as Smissen manages to grab a goal back in the eighty-eighth minute after a run by Tenyue and the City striker almost gets another in stoppage time, when he rolls a ball just outside of the far post.

 

It’s a long drive back home with a final score of City 1 Beckenham 3.

 

City; Connor Quinn, Michael Scott, Chris Elliott, Joe Kennett, Grant Bagley, Renford Tenyue, Macauley Murray, Jake Gess (Sam Baker), Michael Smisson, Wayon Anderson (Bobby Powell), Jake Marsh (Scott Punton)