Upper Beeding Manager Mick Barry Welcomed back Gary Salter, Lee Strange,
David Smith, Jamie Ireson and Darren Jordan for the visit of Franklands
Village on Saturday, but lost Gary Beal (Toe) and John Burgess (work
commitments) from Tuesday’s line up at Haywards Heath.

It was a better performance from Beeding against a Franklands Village side
which, despite losing their last four games, still lye fourth in the table.

Mat Doo was unlucky not to open the scoring for the home side after just 12
minutes when Gary Salter won a free kick on the left. Brother Mark delivered
and Doo was a fraction away from connecting at the far post.

Lewis Partridge almost gave the lead away on 23 minutes when he gave the
ball away to Stuart Dauwaulder on the right and the forwards cross was
mis-timed by the unmarked Jamie Topping.

Paul Mackey should have done better than blaze the ball wide from Phil
Gaults’ fizzed cross five minutes later as for all their possession, Beeding
could have found themselves behind at the break.

The second period started slowly with neither side grabbing the initiative
and the game looked like a typical mid table end of season affair. That was
until, midway through, Smith picked up the ball on the left and picked out
Partridge with a delightful diagonal ball which the wing back took in his
stride to score across ‘keeper Nick Aplin despite the best efforts of Tim
Sargent.

Beeding lost Doo with a dead leg after 70 minutes, replaced by Glyn Edmonds
and it was the substitute who fed Mark Salter after 76 minutes on the left.
Salter’s surging run and cross was met perfectly by Strange’s exquisite
volley which gave Aplin no chance.

Beeding decided that was enough for the afternoon and sat back, deep, on
their two goal cushion with the neat and tidy Paul Barker sitting in the
back line as Franklands went to a 3-4-3 line up.

The visitors peppered Scot Redfern’s goal, from distance but their football
was one dimensional, as Gault appeared their only willing outlet.

And it was from Gault’s cross that Franklands were given some hope with six
minutes remaining. His turn eluded Ireson and cross found the head of Laurie
Piper to give Redfern no chance.

As the visitors management team became more animated, Beeding dropped deeper
and were fortunate not to concede an equaliser at the death. Redfern somehow
clawing away Chris Maynards last second header.

Upper Beeding: S. Redfern; L. Partridge, G. Woolgar, D. Jordan, J. Ireson,
M. Salter; P. Barker, M. Doo, D. Smith, G. Salter, L. Strange.

Subs: G. Edmonds (Doo 70")
T. Gretton (n.u.)
S. Gretton (n.u.)