Saturday 10th February 2001

    UPPER BEEDING       4: 0       ALFOLD
  (ht: 1-0)

A spirited Alfold side and heavy conditions could not conspire to deny Mick
Barrys' Upper Beeding their eighth straight victory in all competitions on
Saturday.

Although missing the holidaying Paul Barker and Lee Strange, Beeding started
brightly and spent most of the opening twenty minutes encamped in their
opponents half without really troubling the visitors defence.

Mat Doo should have opened the scoring after 22 minutes when he blazed over
Wayne Potburys' driven cross from just seven yards.

Alfold certainly matched Beedings' work rate in the opening half with Trevor
Nash driving his troops on. The veteran defender was eventually caught out
on thirty two minutes when the young legs of Stuart Barry out paced him to
score at the near post.

Beeding again lost Lewis Partridge (Thigh) at half time as Barry reverted to
a 3-5-2 formation bringing on Jamie Ireson to partner Gary Salter and Steve
Barber at the back.

But it was Barber's presence in attack which impressed as his forty ninth
minute volley from Dave Smiths' cross slammed against the Alfold crossbar.

Smith was a constant thorn in Alfolds' side and after 55 minutes his deep
cross was easily headed in by the unmarked Doo to double the home sides
lead.

Barber duly headed Beeding further in front from Mark Salters' corner on
seventy seven minutes leading Manager Barry to replace Smith with Duncan
Driver and Doo with Joel Bennett.

Alfold were luck to escape further punishment three minutes later when
Potburys' 30 yard curler thumped against the angle of bar and post.

Bennett teamed up well with Barry up front as the two eighteen year olds
pace and intelligent running were too much for a tiring Alfold defence.

Bennett should have opened his account in Beeding colours after 83 minutes,
when his speed took him beyond his marker and  around the flailing Alfold
'keeper - only to see his goal bound shot cleared off the line.

Potbury was now showing his full range of skills and in stoppage time his
delightful chip from twenty five yards had the Alfold goalkeeper beaten only
for the crossbar to deny him once more.

Not so Bennett . As the ball dropped from the bar, the debutante was on hand
to coolly finish and give Manager Barry a sharp reminder that their are some
pretty good youngsters pushing for places in his starting line up.

Upper Beeding: S. Redfern; G. Edmonds, S. Barber, G. Salter, L. Partridge;
D. Smith, W. Potbury, J Burgess (capt), M. Salter; S. Barry, M. Doo.

Subs:   J. Ireson  (Partridge 45")
   D. Driver (Smith 77")
   J. Bennett (Doo 77")