15th September 2001
 

Ifield 2-2 Upper Beeding
(H-T: 2-1)

Goal scoring chances came, and went with almost monotonous regularity as
Beeding came from two goals down to take a point from a game they should
easily have won at Ifield on Saturday.

However, Manager Mick Barry has good reason to look back on this game with a
lot more satisfaction than most he has witnessed this season.

On the plus side, Glyn Edmonds looked back to his old self at right back and
linked up well with new boy Justin Tarrant. Mark Salter and Mark Friend -
James gave the left a balance it had not had before and, even though two
sloppy goals were conceded, Steve Barber and Gary Salter looked more
comfortable at the back.

Beeding could have taken the lead as early as the second minute as Paul
Barker sent Ian Barber racing through the middle but Keith Cooks' tackle
saved any early embarrassment for Ifields' 'keeper Derek Hayward.

Ian Barber missed another opportunity in the eighth minute when Friend -
James crossed from the left and his first touch let him down. Lee Strange
could not get on the end of Tarrants' cross shot two minutes later after
good work from Mark Salter as Beeding swept forward on either flank creating
problems that Ifield were fortunate to get away with.

For the home side, Tony Gilder had a forty yarder tipped over by a safety
conscious Scott Redfern and Redfern comfortably held Dan Wards' header from
Rob Mills' cross.

The first sucker punch came midway through the half, when Mill's' through
ball sent Gary Chandler, tightly marked by Gary Salter, through the middle.
Referee Ian Moore saw nothing untoward with Chandlers tackle, which saw both
men tumble to the ground, but as Salter protested Chandler reacted to the
lose ball and beat a forlorn Redfern at his near post.

Immediately, Strange had a tremendous effort tipped away by Hayward and
Steve Barbers' bullet header, from the resulting corner clipped the wrong
side of the bar.

Surely it was just a matter of time before another goal arrived. It was, but
incredibly it was the home side which scored it. As Beeding pressed forward,
first Friend - James and then Strange had efforts charged down and when Andy
Jordan put his foot through the clearance it was deja vu for the Beeding
defence as they allowed the clearance to bounce, leaving Ward free to feed
Mills who made no mistake from close in.

Beeding pulled one back within five minutes as Terry Grettons' woeful shot
was retrieved by Edmonds, at the corner flag. The teenage full backs pin
point cross left Ian Hayward grasping air as Ian Barbers' deft flick found
the left hand corner of the net.

There was still time for Hayward to deny Strange for what seemed like the
umpteenth time with a smart save to his left.

As with the first half, Beeding were out of the blocks before Ifield had
finished their half time cuppas. Strange found Ian Barber on the left, but
his cross shot eluded every yellow shirt.

As Beeding missed chances, there was always the chance of a breakaway, and
they can count themselves fortunate that Gary Salter was on hand to clear
off his own line as substitute C. Cook beat Redfern to the ball.

Redfern nearly gifted Ifield a third goal as he failed to hold a deep
corner, only his left hand saving his embarrassment.

Mick Barry brought on his son Stuart after sixty five minutes, for the
rapidly tiring Tarrant, and his impact was nearly immediate as his far post
cross was headed over his own crossbar by Gilder.

As time began to run out Ian Barbers' header hit the bar and Gary Salter
missed the kind of far post chance he would normally put away, side footing
wide from Friend - James's' corner.

The equaliser eventually arrived on eighty one minutes. A flying Edmonds
was hacked down by Jordan on the by-line and, as the full back received
attention off the field, Friend James's' free kick was flicked in off the
far post by Strange.

Strange should have wrapped up the points with five minutes remaining but
shot weakly at Hayward. Darren Lewis then cleared Stranges' goal bound
effort off the line with two minutes remaining and only a marvellous flying
save from Hayward prevented Gary Salters' header from clinching the three
points for Beeding with the last touch of the game.

Upper Beeding: S. Redfern; G. Edmonds, S. Barber (Capt), G. Salter,
M. Salter; J. Tarrant, P. Barker, T. Gretton, M. Friend - James, I. Barber,
L. Strange.

Subs: S. Barry (J. Tarrant 65")
D. Jordan (n.u.)