Beckenham slipped to their second consecutive Isthmian League Division One South East defeat on Saturday as they were beaten by a resurgent Ashford Utd side at Eden Park Avenue. 

The game went ahead thanks to the superb playing surface at EPA, which held up superbly well despite the persistent driving wind and rain. 

Beckenham made the more positive start to the match, Steven Townsend going close early on and they went in front after 6 minutes when Louie Theophanous struck a low powerful drive from the edge of the area, which beat Michell Beeney to make it 1-0.

Beckenham continued to looked the more likely to score for a spell until United rallied and started to create their own chances. Craig Stone had a header saved by Archie Burford, who then denied Mikey Berry’s shot from range, but the visitors did eventually find a way past the home keeper on 28 minutes.

A deep cross from Jack Saunders on the left was met by a fantastic diving header from Gary Lockyer who diverted the ball into the net to make it 1-1.

Louis Collins then went close with a free kick for the Nuts and Bolts and Saunders fired over after great work by Tolulope Jonah down the left.

On a are break up field for Becks, Freddie Nyhus has a powerful shot deflected wide, before Jack Holland prevented Ashford taking the lead right on half time with a superb tackle to deny Collins just inside the box.

The second half saw Ashford start the brighter, Lockyer making it 2-1 on 49 minutes when he headed home a great cross from Barry Fuller in almost identical style to his first goal, but this time the cross came from the right.

Lockyer then had an effort saved by Burford after he latched on to a poor clearance and Jonah also forced a save from Burford connecting with a Berry corner.

The visitors pressing game pushed Becks deeper and they just couldn’t get out of their half for long spells. Just before the hour Ashford made it 3-1, when Stone pushed Lockyer as he entered the box and the referee pointed to the spot.

James Dunne powered his penalty down the middle and it crashed into the roof of the net off Burford’s legs.

Late on Beckenham rallied for a spell with Nyhus causing problems down the left, but the ball just wouldn’t fall kindly in the area for the home side. Theophanous did have a shot saved by Beeney, but that’s as close at the hosts came.

The final chance of the match falling to the Nuts & Bolts when Burford save bravely at the feet of Collins. 

Ashford were worthy of their three points, coming back from going one down early on and dominating the final hour of the match to secure the win for manager Danny Kedwell and move them up to twelfth in the table.   

Beckenham: Burford, Nyhus (Griffin 77), Anderson (Kwaill 82), Holland, Williams (Wallace-Ming 67), Theophanous, Brissett, Townsend. Subs Not Used: Bloomfield, Hedges. 

Ashford: Beeney, Moses, Stones, Fuller, Jonah, Dunne, Saunders, Duprey (Bodkin 72), Berry, Collins, Lockyer. Subs Not Used: Wincott, George, P Kedwell, Beckwith.         

Goals – BTFC – Theophanous 6mins. Ashford – Lockyer 28 & 49mins, Dunne 58pen. 
HT 1-1 FT 1-3
Att: 288