Despite a dominant second-half display at their higher league Ryman League opponents The Becks’ bowed out of the FA Cup at the preliminary round stage losing 2-1 at Chipstead.

A goal either side of half-time proved enough for the hosts as they hung on to face Slough Town in the next round.

It was a display full of endeavour and promise for The Becks and after two defeats in a row in the league they will be hoping to take this kind of performance into their next game where goals and points will no doubt come.

In the early stages it was hard to judge who the higher ranked side in the football pyramid is as The Becks were more than equal with their hosts and the visitors were unlucky not to register the opening shot, perhaps even goal, inside the opening ten minutes.

Jamie Humphries chased down a long ball from the back and looked to outmuscle his marker but with the home defender on the ground and the striker clear on goal the referee adjudged The Becks’ man to have been too strong in the challenge and pulled play back for a free-kick to the hosts.

Humphries, keeping the home side back line busy, had a chance to capitalise on an error at the back but his first time shot from range failed to test the ‘keeper whilst moments later it was Humphries again, this time down the left, but Marvin Agibiloso was unable to get enough on the ball to head it goal-bound.

With The Becks holding firm frustration began to show as home man Ben Osman was lucky to stay on the pitch after a reckless two-footed lunge on Nathan Palmer in the centre of the park.

It took over half-hour to bring Becks’ custodian Rilwan Anibaba into the game but he did well to tip over a shot from range from Raheem Sterling-Parker, following up by doing well under pressure from two home players from the ensuing inswinging corner

With half-time approaching The Becks were unlucky not to have the lead as Humphries chipped the ball over an advancing Sheikh Ceesay and tapping the ball home, only for the linesman to raise her flag.

But the home side provided a sucker-punch to The Becks as Jordan Martin poked home from close range after Anibaba failed to hold onto a looping cross into the box and The Becks found themselves behind at the break.

With The Becks looking to restore the parity they deserved at the interval the hosts doubled there lead as Erivaldo Felix was allowed the time to get to the right touchline finding Chris O’Flaherty who turned his man and poked home from close range (49).

The Becks certainly didn’t deserve to be two-down but they showed great resilience and confidence to get back into the game as Omari Delgado almost got onto a Humphries header back across goal.

From the resulting corner The Becks got their reward as the referee awarded the visitors a penalty for handball. Delgado took on the duty to slam the ball home and The Beck’s were back in it (56).

The home side were rocking with The Becks’ in the ascendency as Palmer almost capitalised on a defensive error but could only direct the loose ball into the grateful hands of Ceesay whilst Adam Allen could only side-foot wide a Humphries pull-back.

Substitute Andrew Whorms almost equalised for The Becks but with the goal at his mercy was unable to get anything on the ball as he threw himself at the goal – Humphries and Allen once again linking up well.

Peppering the home side’s goal in a dominant second period it was Agibiloso’s turn as his 25yd thunderbolt had Ceesay well beaten but frustratingly saw his effort come back off the post.

With The Becks pushing up looking for the equaliser the danger was there to expose themselves at the back and Felix broke through but Anibaba was equal to the low goal-bound effort, pushing it wide of the target.

But it wasn’t enough from The Becks and the hosts held on to take the win and progress to the next round.

Chipstead: Ceesay, Smith, Head, Martin © (O’Rouke, 53), Betancourt, Osman (Brown, 63), Felix, M. Warren, Sterling-Parker, Nelson (Blake, 74), O’Flaherty

Subs not used: Quiassaca, Belo-Balogun

Goals: Martin (42), O’Flaherty (49)

Beckenham Town: Anibaba, Akers, Paterson, Palmer (Allen, 63), Mitchell, Williams, F. Warren, Marshall (Ogboe, 86), Delgado (Whorms, 68), Humphries ©, Agibiloso

Subs not used: Fitzgerald, Stacy, Delaney, Draper

Goals: Delgado (56, pen)

Att: circa 60