Beckenham Town 1 v 2 Erith and Belvedere

Kent League Premier Division

ERITH and Belvedere got their Kent League campaign off to a winning start at Eden Park Avenue while Beckenham were left to rue missed chances in a highly competitive match, writes Ian Muir.

Two goals from former Beckenham Town midfielder Danny Beszant gave the Deres the points as the new Kent League season got off to a wet start.

It was, however, the preverbal game of two halves as the Deres dominated the first half with Beckenham Town, who finished runners-up to Maidstone United last season, clawing their way back into the game early in the second half.

But it was who Beszant dashed Town's hopes with a later winner direct from a corner.

New Beckenham Town boss Jason Huntley handed all of his 16-man squad debuts as not one of Gavin Rose's squad from last season remain at the club.

Huntley has brought Billy Hughes (the club's new skipper), Jamie Turner and Jack Barnes from his former club to the Eden Park Avenue outfit while three players have arrived from league clubs. Goalscorer Ashley Carew, who recently played for Gillingham and Bromley, arrives from Aston Villa and Jason Rose and Joe McDonald join from Millwall.

Former Ashford Town defender Steve McKenzie joins from Southall, Ted Hart (Tooting & Mitcham United), Tony Gallagher (Slade Green), Danny Lawson (Sittingbourne), Leon Dussard (East Thurrock United), Ross Cable (Thamesmead Town) and Danny Harris (Cray Wanderers).

Former Fisher Athletic midfielder Michael Smith put in a man-of-the-match performance for the home side.

But goalkeeper Darren Ibrahim, whose been released by Gillingham and Welling United in the past two summers, was picking the ball out of his net just 358 seconds into the match. Austin Berkley, a midfielder whose played in the Football League with Barnet and Shrewsbury Town, was fouled on the edge of the penalty area by Rose.

And up stepped Beszant and from 19-yards his right-footed free kick went over the wall and flew into the roof of the net.

The Deres could have doubled their lead after 13 minutes but Anton Smith powered his header over.

But they should have been reduced to 10 men six minutes later after Berkley lost his head and kicked out at Hart after the Deres were awarded a free kick. The 33-year-old midfielder was shown just a yellow card by Maidstone referee Graeme Ions.

Michael Smith had the home side's best chances during the first half, driving straight at Placid in the 27th minute and then seeing his right-footed free kick from the right, from just 19-yards, sail past the far post.

Beckenham did put the ball into the back of the net on the stroke of half time but McKenzie's goal was ruled out after a foul on the goalkeeper from McDonald's flag-kick.

Carew latched onto McDonald's pass inside the opening six minutes of the second half but his angled drive was parried by the Erith keeper. But Placid was picking the ball out of his net after 55 minutes when he was beaten by Carew's volley following Harris' cross from the left.

Beckenham were now taking the game to the visitors and almost took the lead after Carew sprung the offside trap, raced towards goal but his angled drive was saved low down by Placid at the second attempt.

Playing the ball across the back Beckenham patiently carved open a chance when Michael Smith threaded a pass to McDonald but his 16-yard right-footed drive went agonisingly past the far post.

Rose launched a long throw into the Deres penalty area with 15 minutes left but Placid made a comfortable save from McKenzie's looping header.

But Beckenham should have stolen the lead soon after when substitute Cable crossed from the left but Hart poked the ball across the face of goal and wide.

However, Ibrahim was guilty of handing the Deres all three points with four minutes remaining when he allowed Beszant's right-footed corner curl inside the far post.

Beckenham squandered a late chance when Leon Dussard's cross from the right found Hart unmarked inside the penalty area and he unselfishly laid the ball to Danny Lawson but he was denied by a fine block from Placid.

Both sides will, however, have to improve if they are to be crowned Kent League champions in April.

MATCH FACTS: BECKENHAM TOWN: Ibrahim, Lawson, Harris, Rose, McKenzie, Hughes (Dussard, 90), Hart, Smith (Cable, 78), Carew, McDonald, Gallagher (Turner, 90).

SUBS NOT USED: Curran, Barnes.

ERITH AND BELVEDERE: Placid, Bedford, Durrant, Tague, Brown, Johnson, Beszant (Crawley, 88), Berkley, Braithwaite, Smith (White, 78), Naugher (Martin, 78).

SUBS NOT USED: Wilson, Taylor.

ATT: 98.