Deal Town FC

MENS FIRST TEAM

Deal Town played Beckenham Town on 14th September 2024 in the Isthmian League South East Division. Deal Town lost two - one against Beckenham in front of a crowd of 578 at the Charles Ground. The Deal goal came from Macaulay Murray.

Deal manager Steve King admitted that this defeat was the first time this season he had felt 'really disappointed' after watching his side slip to their third home defeat in a row.

The Hoops were unable to stop Beckenham from maintaining their own impressive start to the new campaign as the visitors made it five wins in their opening six league matches, and 'Kingy' said afterwards: 

In the other games we've lost we've played well but today we just weren't good enough. We defended poorly and we also weren't good enough in front of goal, and at this level if you don't do the right things you are going to get punished.

It's difficult at the moment because of our injury problems. Tom Chapman was obviously missing while Rory Smith probably shouldn't have played and Ashley Miller wasn't fit, and they are big players for us at this level.

 

Yet it all promised to be a different story after the Hoops went in front with only five minutes gone. Skipper Macca Murray converted a penalty after Wes Hennessey had been brought down in the box, and for the rest of the first half it was Deal who looked the more likely to find the net again.

But they failed to do so and Beckenham then began to take control 10 minutes into the second half when centre-half Jack Holland headed home a far-post corner from Isaac Thompson.

Beckenham were now showing why they were the division's top scorers coming into the game and they added a second goal on 73 minutes when Jamarie Brissett's superb through-ball was finished off by substitute Tyler Anderson.

Deal for their part were struggling to reproduce the effective attacking football that they had shown in the first half, although it needed a terrific piece of goalkeeping by Vinith Murugamoorthy to keep out a fierce 81st-minute volley from Billy Munday.
Beckenham then played out time to pick up another three points while 'Kingy' was left the reflect on the Hoops' third successive home defeat, adding: 'Obviously at 1-0 the next goal is going to be important and it was a disappointing one for us to concede from a corner. Then we've missed a couple of good chances and their goalkeeper's made a great save from Billy Munday.

To lose three home games on the bounce is a bitter pill to swallow and we looked a little bit 'leggy' after putting in a big shift at Margate on Tuesday. But we haven't got another league game for 10 days now and we are going to regroup and look to see if we can get some more players in because we are a little bit short squad-wise.

 

Courtesy of Kevin Redsull

Deal Town Starting XI: Adam Molloy, Jack Paxman, Alfie Foster, Billy Munday, Macaulay Murray, Aaron Millbank, Ben Chapman, Rory Smith, Wes Hennessey, Alex Green, Josh Vincent.

Subs: Jack Penny, Ife Oni, Morgan Page, Ashley Miller, Zak Hammond.

Deal Goals: Macaulay Murray ('7)

Referee: Spencer

Attendance: 578