12 April 1997
Beckenham 6 Bromley 1
Last game of the season, the sun shining, back in the Rec, nice new changing rooms, big crowd,what more could one ask for?
Well, winning would be nice, obviously, and this we did convincingly. To the delight of the aforementioned big crowd.
Special mentions for another Jon Turnbull hat-trick; and Phil Leach's slow-motion goal. The hallmark of a great striker is the ability to create time in the box. (Phil's other noticeable attribute, the decision to play in plimsolls, doesn't count.)
So, end of the season; our fate depends on the result of the still-to-be-played Biggin Hill v West Croydon game.
5 April 1997
Oakhall 2 Beckenham 3
We needed to win to have any chance of avoiding relegation.
And it was the match that had everything...(well, OK, it didn't have a streaker, an on-pitch brawl, half-time entertainment by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, or a crowd)...but everything that can reasonably be expected in anything that happens at Queen's Park, Caterham.
It had a goal scored in less than 30 seconds from the kick-off (by us, miraculously); a nasty injury; a second-half fightback from 2-1 down including a really astonishing goal, crashed in direct from a free-kick from 35 yards out; and a final five minutes of some tension in which we hit the inside of the post, the ball rolling back along the line into the keeper's arms - and then following somewhat of a melee in our box, the pill dropped slowly toward goal...and was headed out from under the bar by the last, despairing defender.
In fact, a dog did run on the pitch at one point. It had no clothes on (as close to a streaker as you get down our way.)
So, all set up for what will probably be the big decider - mathematics permitting - back in our old home, the Rec, next Saturday.
22 March 1997
New Cross 3 Beckenham 1
A game we needed to win really. Someone should have told the opposition, three up in half an hour.
We got one back just before half-time and then bashed away fairly hopelessly all the second half.
Our chances of staying up can now only be described as mathematical.
15 March 1997
Lee United 0 Beckenham 5
Most satisfactory. This is more like it.
This was ideal, being close enough for most of the game to be interesting but thoroughly convincing victory nonetheless. Another Jon Turnbull hat-trick must be mentioned.
The first goal was interesting because it was one of those which lobbed into an unguarded net from some distance. The ball was in the air for quite a while, with Jon, their keeper (who had virtually collided in the race for the through pass), and everybody else watching it. There was actually a bit of a roar when it finally dropped just inside the post
Well, a few shouts, anyway.
This game restored the goal difference to the relatively healthy levels of -13.
8 March 1997
Biggin Hill 4 Beckenham 1
The sort of game which makes you wonder why you bother:
i) being alive
ii) if you are alive, moving from the sofa in your front room
iii) if you must move, going to wear short trousers and chase a ball round a field in the mud every Saturday afternoon while being kicked by a bunch of teenagers.
Didn't enjoy this one very much actually.
But it was notable for the return - for one match only? - of Jon Crumpler, who last graced the shirts about five years back.
1 March 1997
Beulah 2 Beckenham 2
The archetypal game of two halves since a gale was blowing straight down the pitch. They were two-nil up at half time whereupon we beseiged their goal for the second period.
Playing in the defence, as I do, it was distinctly chilly second half, with not much to do except watch endless scrappy melees around their box.
A game also notable for a Keri Davies screamer hitting the bar. This comes round roughly as often as Halley's Comet (since we're getting meteorological here).
15 February 1997
Beckenham 5 Lewin Sports 2
Is it too late for our title challenge? One of the really memorable performances as we overturned a (scarcely-merited) two goal half time deficit. Jonny Turnbull a glorious hat-trick.
All this against a team who had only lost once all season. Amazing. Funny old game.
8 February 1997
St Mary 1 Beckenham 3
Shock victory for Yellows...we equalled our most successful run of the season with this well-earned win. Our mid-term sortie into the transfer market paid dividends - we've obtained a proper goalkeeper who has his own gloves (sign of seriousness). Laurence made some cracking stops and Steve, Phil and Kevin scored spectacular goals.
A special mention of the pitch which sloped alarmingly from one side. Can it be fair to ask us to slog from side to side of this at our age?
1 February 1997
Beckenham 3 West Croydon 4
This wasn't as bad as last week, except from the points point of view (as it were) in which it was the same (ie none gained). Our opponents were top of the league, we are bottom, so the game gave credence to the theory that there's not much between the teams in this division. Except from the points point of view, of course, from which perspective there's rather a large gap between us and the other teams in the division.
A special mention should go to Jon Pritchard for a left-foot screamer from 25 yards. Goal of the millenium, I shouldn't wonder.
25 January 1997
Bromley 6 Beckenham 2
Well, the weather was very nice. It was definitely the highlight of the afternoon. The sad thing was we rather outplayed them in the middle of the park. It was just at each end, where the goals are, where they had the best of things.
Not a happy Saturday night.
14 December 1996
Beckenham 0 Oakhall 2
Hard to know what to say about this one. We were gutted. The ball just wouldn't go in the back of the net, except for them a couple of times obviously.
It's fair to say this loss saw us consolidate our league position.
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Last updated 27 April
