Bearsted produced a stunning comeback to condemn Lordswood to their fifth SCEFL defeat in six games on a cold wet night at Martyn Grove.

Inspired by a great performance by David Baranowski, the visitors recovered from a two goal early blitz from Sam Stace to bury the home side with the only real surprise being that it took three goals in eight late second half minutes to complete their deserved victory.

Lords boss Neil Hunter will have been delighted at his side’s start but equally as dismayed at the way his side was pushed further and further back towards breaking point until the flimsy orange wall snapped completely.

In the other dug out, Bearsted boss Kevin Stevens must have thought that it wasn’t going to be his sides night, but inspired by Baranowski’s constant probing, the Bears tucked the points away and disappeared back down Bluebell Hill.

For the neutral it was a hugely entertaining game for which both sides deserve credit which started the way it would continue with chances at both ends, Lordswood’s Hitcham Akhazzan forced Bearsted keeper Jamie Gillen into a smart save pushing the ball over the bar, before Lords keeper Ryan Turner produced a good low save to deny Baranowski.

The home side then seemed to take full command of the game as Stace netted twice in three minutes, firstly bundling home Azhazzan’s driven centre and then on only twelve minutes, netting a wonderful strike as he drilled the ball beyond a despairing Gillen and into the net.

Incredibly though that was as good as it got for the home side as just past the quarter hour, Baranowski’s free kick found an unmarked Lekan Majoyegbe who beat Turner to the cross to head home.

The goal really sparked the visitors and Tommy Penfold was only denied by a near miraculous block and from the resulting corner, Turner was a very relieved keeper to be able to fall on the ball.

Lordswood did threaten briefly as Chandler Kasai just couldn’t curl a shot enough to sneak inside the far post, but it was Bearsted who finished the half looking dangerous going forward, Jordan Ababio went close before Joel Wakefield tip-toed through the Lords defence only to be denied by Turners left boot.

Whatever Stevens said to his troops at the break worked wonders as the visitors came out after the break and dominated. Turner had to race to the edge of his box to hack clear from Elyon Marshall-Katung, before from a Lordswood free kick in a dangerous position at the other end, the home keeper was forced into a magnificent low save to deny Baranowski.

Adesina Lukeman sent a free header straight at the keeper as Bearsted swarmed forward looking to level the scores, and the only real surprise was that it took the visitors so long t draw level with the equaliser not arriving until the seventy seventh minute when a powerful run down the right was turned home at the far post by an unmarked Marshall-Katung.

After so long pushing to get level, Bearsted were then in front five minutes later when substitute Andy Irvine got in behind the home defence and despite a valiant last-ditch defensive effort, the ball squeezed over the line.

The home sides night was summed up with Bearsted’s fourth when following great one touch play with Irving, Marshall-Katung’s low shot somehow dribbled under Turners body and into the net to seal the visitors win.

Whilst Bearsted’s display was certainly a joy to watch in increasingly difficult conditions, Lordswood’s capitulation will certainly set some alarm bells ringing at Martyn Grove.

LORDSWOOD – Turner, Creed, Botterill, Perry, Plummer, Lindsey, Huston (Brown), Lewins, Stace, Kasai (Snazel), Akhazzan (Jakubowski)

Subs – Loft, Sandford

BEARSTED – Gillen, Hatfull, Penfold, Majoyegbe, Lukeman, Hafner, Amabio (Scarlat), Rogers, Marshall-Katung, Baranowski (Hammond), Wakefield (Irving)

Subs – Ryan Croucher, Graham Croucher

REFEREE – Mr Zachwieja