Bearsted had a great chance to win after Phoenix Sports had a man sent off but Phoenix to their credit held on & fully deserved this victory.

The game started quickly with both sides looking to score & in the 4th minute a Alfie Evans free kick 20 yards out curled around the wall & the post.

Two minutes later it was Bearsted’s chance when Omotunmise Akanni cross to the far post found Elyon Marshall-Katung but his header went wide. In the 10th minute Phoenix opened the scoring when a header back to Tom Benham was short & Andy Pugh got to it first & Benham stretching bought him down & a penalty was given, David Martin stepped up & stroked the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

The game changed in the 14th minute when Joe Denny was sent off for a bad foul although he can count himself a little bit unlucky but this did not stop Phoenix trying to score.

In the 20th minute Luke Leppard saw his shot from 20 yards come back off the post & came out to Pugh but from six yards he hit it straight at Benham.

Two minutes later a Dave Martin corner to the back post evaded everyone except Tache Jay Kwayle who chested it just past the post. Phoenix carried on creating chances & in the 42nd minute Kwayle had his 20 yards shot saved by Benham, then in the third minute of added on time Bearsted nearly equalised when Akanni received the ball on the right cut inside & saw his shot punched away by Andy Walker for a corner.

The second half started with Bearsted on top with Phoenix holding on. In the 49th minute Jordan Tingley saw his 25 yard shot beat Walker but not the post as it came back into play.

In the 54th minute Phoenix should have got their second goal when Walker’s long clearance was flicked on by Kwayle for Pugh who ran into the area & a man of his experience should have scored but Benham rushed out & tipped it away for a corner, would they regret that miss?

In the 57th minute Bearsted had a glorious chance to equalise when in a breakaway Shae Echema on the right saw his low cross into the area find Elyon Marshall-Katung but his first shot was blocked & his second effort went wide of the post.

In the 61st minute a Rob Lawrence 25 yard free kick was save by Walker, then in the 72nd minute Phoenix got their second when Walker’s long clearance found Kwayle whose volleyed cross ftom the right wing into the area found Pugh who from 10 yards headed in.

Phoenix were now in control of the game & they with held pressure from Bearsted Bearsted nearly got a consolation goal in the 3rd minute of added on time when Marshall-Katung’s low cross found Alfie Saunders effort was saved by Walker & then in the 5th minute of added on time another cross from Marshall-Katung found Sam Satace but his shot from 10 yards was tipped over the bar by Walker.

BEARSTED:

T.BENHAM 2. S.ECHEMA (74) 3. J.TINGLEY 4. P.HEADLEY 5. C.WATT 6. D.MELVINE. 7. MARSHALL-KATUNG 8. J.ROGERS (87) 9. O.FREEMAN ( 56) 10. S.STACE 11. O.AKANNI

SUBS USED: 12. R.LAWRENCE (56) 15. A.TURTON (74) 16. A.SAUNDERS (87)

SUBS NOT USED: 14. R.BLAKE 20. J.SAVAGE

BOOKINGS: 9. O.FREEMAN (45), J.TINGLEY (64)

PHOENIX SPORTS:

A.WALKER 2.H.DOUGLAS 3. T.COUSINS 4. F.BABALOLA 12. J.DENNY 19. D.MARTIN (69) 14. A.PUGH (73) 8. L.BIRD 9. L.LEPPARD 10. T.J.KWAYLE (84) 11. A.EVANS.

SUBS USED: 18. K.KING (69) 17. M.ELLIOTT (73) 16. F.AITKEN (84)

SUBS NOT USED: 13. R.YOUNG

BOOKINGS: NONE

SENT OFF: 14. J.DENNY (14)

REFEREE: Mt T.GEORGE

ASSISTANTS: Mr M.CHEESEMAN & Mr G.SMART

ATTENDANCE: 98