A second-half brace from substitute Tunde Aderonmu – the winner a last-minute penalty – stole all three points as Becks won at home for the first time this season. 

The victory against a spirited Fisher side in front of 285 – the third highest Step 5 crowd of the day – moved Beckenham up to sixth in the table ahead of the visit of leaders Chatham Town.

Storm Alex had battered the South East for over twenty-four hours by the time kickoff arrived, but the Eden Park pitch had stood up well and was to provide a classic game of two halves.

After a busy opening ten minutes, that saw the visitors moving the ball around well on an understandably ‘fast’ surface, it was Fisher who had the first real chance. Christian Udo’s shot from the edge of the area being saved after good work from Jamie Yila.

Thirteen minutes in, ‘The Fish’ took the lead. The impressive Jacob Katonia picked up possession wide on the right, left Becks holding midfielder Junior Kaffo trailing as he cut inside and on into the box before breezing past Ike Roberston and smashing a shot into the roof of the net – beating Becks keeper Michael McEntegart at his near post. 

Skipper Harvey Brand wasted a good chance to equalise when he headed over from a corner shortly afterwards. But after that it was Fisher in the ascendency. Yila tormenting Harvey Hanifan down the left flank and both full-backs Peter Ojemen and captain Luke Thomas moving into advanced positions to join the attacks. The best chance fell to Yila who shot over whilst Katonia had a penalty claim waved away after going down in the area. 

At the other end a thirty yard snapshot from from Steve Townsend was saved comfortably by visiting keeper Dan Carpanini.

A double substitution at half-time saw Becks switch to 4-4-2 – Aderonmu replacing Joe Nwoko up front and Robertson making way for midfielder Bertie Valler. Ten minutes later the defensive Kaffo was sacrificed for the more attack-minded Ryan Hall.

Aderonmu spurned a good chance when Carpanini’s poor goal-kick gift-wrapped him a golden opportunity – the keeper redeeming himself with a decent save. Townsend then had a free-kick palmed over from under the crossbar. 

At the other end Jack Gibbons  finally got away from Jamie Brown and delivered an inviting cross into the danger zone across the six-yard box but neither Udo or Yila could apply the finishing touch.

The equaliser came shortly afterwards. Hall played a sublime 30 yard pass out to Tyrone Pink out wide on the right. The forward outfoxed Ojemen and advanced dagerously before selflessly passing across the area to  Aderonmu who slammed home.

Valler – playing well after getting his chance – then cut inside Thomas but the shot was blocked by defender Sam Fitzgerald’s midriff. The teams then traded corners and Katonia shot over. Quick thinking robbed posssesion back for Fisher and Thomas fed Sarpong who soon moved the ball on to Yila but he fired just wide after cutting inside.

But despite this, it was Becks who were starting to get on top. Hall picked out Pink repeatedly and Ojemen finally succumbed to injury after being given a thorough workout by the fleet-footed wide-man.

Still, Fisher amost pinched the win when Wale Odedoyin was put through – Rob Carter receiving the yellow after committing the tactical foul. Odedoyin then headed over from Yila’s cross when it looked easier to score. 

Valler was then booked for a foul on Katonia and the game appeared to be heading for a draw, but in injury time, Hall once again picked out Pink on the right. Finding a yard his delivery across the area appeared intended for Townsend (arriving in space on the opposite side) but Aderonmu attempted to control and went down under Fitzgerald’s naive challenge. Penalty! With virtually the last kick of the contest the big striker made no mistake from the spot. 

A ‘Get Out Of Jail Free Card’ for Becks and tough on the visitors who warranted the draw. But another three points and with title rivals all in FA Cup action the chance to close the gap at the top of the table was taken.

BECKS LINEUP McEntegart; Carter, Henry, Roberston (Valler); Hanifan, Kaffo (Hall), Brand (c), Brown; Townsend, Nwoko (Aderonmu), Pink 

Subs not used: Johnson, Phillips

Attendance: 285

Images courtesy of Sniperpose