Leatherhead weathered an early storm, in every sense of the word, to come away with a hard fought draw.
Maybe it was down to a combination of the heavy rain and longer grass, that Hayden adopted a more direct approach. While we have the pace to chase and pressure, the physical defenders soon became accustomed to this and our early chances made way for home advantage.
Beckenham got their opener from a low cross from the right for a tap in on the left. We thought we had repeated the trick moments later but our player scuffed his chance. In the resulting melee, a home defender cleared for a corner for safety and set up to defend. The ref ignored this and gave a goal kick.
Our equaliser was turned in by a defender for an own goal. Our shot was potentially sneaking in but a defender made sure of it by mucking up his clearance.
Second half and I could bask in the splendour of a new ground that offers a train track in the background. Wonderful.
Leatherhead reverted back to a slicker style of football and applied pressure only to be caught on the counter and concede pretty much a carbon copy of the first.
We continued to press and got our reward from a freekick earned from the pressure we were applying. Beany took it from just outside the penalty area on the left and bent it in off of the far post. An added dynamic was that the 'keeper works for the goal scorer and they will be sharing a van on Monday morning.
Tarpey nearly won it when he volleyed a cross off of the bar with such power the post is probably still shaking.
That's it though. The friendlies are over and now we turn to the season ahead with an opener against Southall at the Grove on Saturday...