Beckenham Town missed their chance to make up points on their play off rivals on Tuesday night as they conceded at goal at the end of each half to lose 2-1 to local rivals Croydon Athletic in an entertaining encounter at Eden Park Avenue.
Town got the game off to a positive start looking to attack, but it was The Rams who had the first chance when Brandon Pierrick hit the side netting from a tight angle.
Beckenham did make their pressure pay though taking the lead on 9 minutes when a long ball through to Louie Theophanous saw him cut in from the left and drive the ball home in off the keeper and the inside of the near post for 1-0.
Pierrick had an effort saved by Mitchell Beeney as the game opened up, while Abbas Agoro fired over for the home side.
Another good spell of pressure later in the half from Beckenham saw Sam Wood have a free kick saved by Amadou Tangara and Theophanous also go close.
Heading towards half time Croydon started to put some sustained pressure on Becks and they drew level on 44 minutes when a good passing move down the right saw the ball come to Ibby Akanbi on the edge of the area and he turned sharply and crashed the ball into the far corner of the net to equalise right at the break.
The second half saw The Rams continue to have the better of things, Luke Dreher forcing a save from Beeney and Pierrick hitting the post early on.
Josh Bayliss then had a free kick saved, before Becks went close when a Wood free kick was flicked narrowly wide by Jack Holland. Theophanous, who was the home sides outlet ball all game, held off four defenders to shoot but was denied by by Tangara in the visitors’ goal.
Midway through the half Croydon pressed again, Akanbi was thwarted by Beeney when one on one, but they kept pressing for their winner. After more well worked build up play The Rams did eventually go in front on 88 minutes when David Omilabu saw his deflected shot sneak just inside the far post and put Croydon Athletic 2-1 up.
In injury time Beckenham threw everything forward with a series of set pieces, but the closest they came to drawing level was when a long throw found it’s way to Theophanous whose shot was saved by Tangara to preserve the three points for the visitors.
Becks: Beeney, Nyhus (Dudley 93), Douglas, Holland, Wanogho, Carter (Tyrie 19), Agoro (Rye 54), Wood, Theophanous, Romian, Ryan (Bloomfield 88).
Subs Not Used: Dudley.
Croydon Ath – Tangara, Savane, Boateng, Kamara, Dreher, Sow, McCarthy, Bayliss (Omilabu 66), Kedwell (Thompson 90), Pierrick (Siaw 92), Akanbi.
Subs not Used: Daniel, Gnahore.
HT 1-1 FT 1-2
Goals; BTFC – Theophanous 9mins CAFC – Akanbi 45, Omilabu 88mins.
Att: 228
Referee: MY Kaya