There were no excuses from Beeding Manager Mick Barry after his side were
beaten by a hard working Forest outfit in Division Three of the County
League on Saturday.
Barry was denied the services of both the Friend - James brothers (skiing),
Lee Strange (unavailable) and his son Stuart who has a neck injury following
a motor accident last Wednesday.
When asked about the effect his absentees had on his sides' performance all
Barry would comment was, "I'm really not interested in the players who were
not available, I am concerned that the players out there were incapable of
following instructions, sticking to the game plan and when we did create ,
our finishing was woeful."
Forest started the brighter of the two sides and could have taken the lead
on four minutes. Julian Kings' deep free kick was flicked on by the
impressive Ali Russell to Lewis Pickett who did well to hold off Terry
Gretton, but his finish lacked the accuracy to bother Beeding 'keeper Scott
Redfern.
Five minutes later Ian Cullerns' low skimming shot was just wide of
Redferns' right hand post and Mark Tulley should have done better with a
header after another King / Russell free kick combination.
At the other end, Kings' last ditch tackle denied Joe Bennett the
opportunity to test veteran 'keeper Bruce Dumbrill before the Salter
brothers trade mark combination nearly produced the opener after Dumbrill
had picked up a 40 yard back pass.
How Beeding did not go in front after 23 minutes is a mystery. Dumbrill
could only push away Mat Doos' snap shot from 8 yards and, when it was
retrieved by Gary Salter, Doo could only head the resultant cross against
the post with the whole goal to aim at.
Steady debutante Gary Woolgar got a toe in to deny Pickett from Tulleys
cross before Pickett again failed to hit the target after being set up by
Tulley.
There was nearly major embarrassment for Redfern when a weak shot from
Russell bounced up an hit his chest, looping over the startled 'keeper and
towards the empty goal. According to referee Mike Mighall and linesman Nigel
Dent, Redfern got there just in time - although some watching may disagree.
It was a better start to the second period by the home side. In the opening
minute Gary Salters effort was well blocked by Dumbrill but Doo should have
put away the rebound from close in.
Dave Smith missed the target from 8 yards after some delightful, if rare,
inter passing from the Salters and Bennett before Ewan Bonneymans corner
struck the top of the Beeding crossbar with Redfern nowhere.
The miss of the afternoon was the sole property of Gary Salter. In the best
move of the match, Mark Salter eventually found Glyn Edmonds on the right.
The talented wing back's cross eluded everyone including Salter, who only
had to get the faintest of touches to give his side the lead.
The killer blow arrived four minutes from the end, when Tulleys cross was
beautifully volleyed in by Haines.

Upper Beeding: S. Redfern; J. Ireson, G. Woolgar, T. Gretton; G. Edmonds, P.
Barker, D. Smith, M. Doo, M. Salter (capt); J. Bennett, G. Salter.

Subs: J. Toombes (Bennett 80")
J. Swanson (nu)
V.Gretton (nu)