It was even-stevens as Beckenham Town were held by East Grinstead Town in an entertaining Isthmian League South East Division match.

Twice the Becks were ahead through goals by Steven Townsend but on neither occasion were they able to hold on. However, the point they won was still sufficient to move them up to third place in the table.

Connor Tighe had the first opportunity for the visitors when Finlay Lovatt intercepted a pass out but he curled over from the edge of the area. Townsend then showed him how it should be done. He cut in from the left and his quick feet allowed him to make space for himself before shooting into the top corner.

Charlie Harris shot over for the Wasps before Beckenham’s Casey Dudley had a long range drive saved by Matte Pierson. Tighe had another effort that was held comfortably by the hosts’ goalkeeper Archie Burford. Then Archie Burnett’s clever flick from Dominic Morgan-Griffiths’ quick throw created an opening for the Becks’ leading scorer Louie Theophanous and he drew another save out of Pierson.

Akheem Belford and Morgan-Griffiths combined to send the latter away and Pierson could only beat his shot into the air but his defence got him out of strife and Tom Cadman cushioned his header back into the grateful arms of the goalkeeper. Theophanous was then sent clear by Freddie Nyhus but his attempt to slot it home was thwarted by the right boot of Pierson.

Alex Andrade Philipe fired across the face of Burford’s goal before the Wasps levelled three minutes before the break. Tighe’s initial shot was blocked but it came back out to him and he fired inside the far post with the outside of of his boot.

As the game moved into first half stoppage time, a long pass forward by Jack Holland was controlled brilliantly by Townsend and he kept his composure to make space before coolly slotting it into the bottom corner. 

Early in the second period, Lovatt’s shot came back out off the bar to Luke Harrison who thrashed wide before Luke Hedges’ shot was held by the diving Pierson at the other end. Harrison then set up Tighe but he didn’t get a clean strike on it and Oscar Williams was able to get it away.

Seven minutes into the second half, the Wasps again levelled. The Beckenham management will probably question why Terlochan Singh wasn’t closed down but that doesn’t detract from his brilliant strike from twenty-five yards that gave Burford no chance.

Lovatt spotted Burford off his line and tried his luck from forty-five yards but he couldn’t get enough lift on it and Beckenham’s goalkeeper was able to catch. Lovatt had another good chance soon after when arriving at the far post however, his close range effort went the wrong side of the post.

Theophanous had a free kick saved before Pierson kept the scores level with a double save, first he blocked from Theophanous and then he pulled off a spectacular reaction stop from Alfie Bloomfield’s follow up.

Once more Theophanous went close when shooting wide after creating the chance for himself with a slick turn.

Substitute Matthew Daniel then had a shot deflected wide for the visitors before they came close again when a Charlie Harris free kick rippled the roof of the net.

Another Wasps substitute, Omar Folkes then had a great chance to win it when a Burford clearance landed at his feet and he shot goalwards however, Belford did well to get back and clear off the line acrobatically.

Then it was Beckenham’s turn to come close to finding the clincher when Nyhus went on a good run down the right. He cut in and fired inches wide with Pierson beaten.

That was the last chance of a breathtaking end-to-end encounter that could have gone either way.

Beckenham Town: Burford, Hedges, Belford, Holland, Williams, Dudley, Nyhus, Burnett, Theophanous, Morgan-Griffiths, Townsend (Bloomfield 65).

Subs not used: Wallace-Ming, Griffin, Zilli.

Goalscorers: Townsend (7), (45+1)

Yellow card: Bloomfield

East Grinstead Town: Pierson, Thompson, Andrade Filipe, Harris, Cadman, Wilson, Harrison (Daniel 62), Singh (Colman 74), Tighe (Folkes 74), Lovatt (Jabbie 84), Lawson.

Sub not used: Humpherston.

Goalscorers: Tighe (42), Singh (52)

Yellow card: None

Referee: Joseph Gray

Assistants: Gary Baker and Tony King

Attendance: 182