The weekend saw Beckley Rangers U18s travel away to play Tunbridge Wells Youth in their Crowborough and District football league Division A match for this double header match. For the first game Beckley started with the 4-4-2 formation and it was clear for all to see this was going to be a close match. With chances limited for both teams through the game, Henry Donoghue came closest, hitting the crossbar for Beckley and at the other end the Beckley goalie, Nathan Pagden, pulled off a great save to keep the score at 0-0, which was how the first match ended.
For the second game Beckley switched to a 3-5-2 formation, with Lucas Zon, Joe Swain and Joe Fraser playing across the centre. Beckley then started to take control of the game. Lewis Carpenter scored a great header from a Fraser free kick, only for it to be ruled out for a very close offside. With Jordan Swain and Sam Garner trying to open Tunbridge up down the wings, it wasn’t long before a great cross from Garner fell to Donoghue to slot home from the angle making it 1-0 to Beckley. With Beckley’s continued domination in the middle of the pitch, Zon threaded a neat pass to Garner to strike from 25 yards, only to see the ball hit the post. Carpenter went close again for Beckley only for the Tunbridge keeper to save it, resulting in the final score of the second match being 1-0 to Beckley.
The Lankelma and McCartney Productions Ltd Man of the match went to Bradley Sayer and Pagden for the first game and Fraser and Zon for the second.
Beckley Rangers have two league matches left to play this season against teams also fighting for top league positions. If Beckley can win these last two games of the season, they have a chance of finishing League A runners up, which would be a huge achievement for this young U18s side.