Bearsted 2-2 Phoenix

Phoenix left disappointed despite late equaliser

Oystetbay Photography ©

Phoenix Sports left Honey Lane with a mixture of emotions on Saturday, despite a dramatic late equaliser ensuring their unbeaten run stretched to nine games.

Jensen Grant’s stoppage-time header earned Phoenix a deserved point against Bearsted, but it was a game full of controversial moments and missed chances, and on another day Phoenix would have left with a win.

While the hosts remain firmly in with a chance of promotion, Phoenix can reflect on a very impressive second-half performance but will know it’s wins they need if they are to have any chance of a late push into the SCEFL Premier Division’s play-off places.

The home side started brightly and, in the fourth minute, Ashton Mitford fired narrowly wide from fifteen yards. Phoenix responded in the 13th minute when Lyle Della-Verde tested Frankie Leonard from twenty yards, as Phoenix enjoyed their best spell of the first 45 minutes.

Midway through the half came the game’s big turning point.

Jamarie Brissett burst forward from just inside his own half, showing great pace to get away from his man, but got the outside of his foot wrong as his shot drifted agonisingly past the post.

Seconds later, Bearsted were ahead. On 29 minutes, Jarrod Trespaderne finished confidently from fifteen yards, firing past Ryan McCourt and into the corner.

The hosts put Phoenix sustained pressure before the break, with a succession of corners and McCourt called into action, but Phoenix held out, regrouped well and came out for the second half with renewed purpose.

In the 51st minute, a pinpoint cross from Kieron McCann into the area was met by Louie Downey, whose header flew past Frankie Leonard and brought Phoenix deservedly level.

The visitors were on the front foot and, five minutes later, Taylor Fisher was denied from a tight angle by the impressive Leonard.

Phoenix continued to press and felt aggrieved when a strong penalty shout went unanswered on 59 minutes. Leonard’s heavy touch was pounced upon by Brissett, only for the goalkeeper to drag the Phoenix man down inside the area.

The referee initially looked to be blowing his whistle before opting to wave away the protests.

Moments later, Bearsted were awarded a spot-kick of their own after a contentious handball in the area.

Jake Embery converted from the spot — his 20th of a productive season — to put the hosts back in front.

Phoenix responded well again and were belatedly given their own opportunity from the spot.

Taylor Fisher was shoved over in the area and Lyle Della-Verde assumed responsibility for Phoenix.

The kick was delayed as the referee warned Trespaderne for scuffing the penalty spot, and when Della-Verde did step up, his penalty was superbly saved by Leonard, diving low to his left.

Phoenix kept pushing, dominating possession and territory as they searched for an equaliser.

An 83rd-minute corner caused chaos in the Bearsted box, the ball somehow staying out as the hosts scrambled clear amid more claims for a spot-kick for Phoenix.

With seven minutes of added time indicated, Phoenix threw everything forward and their persistence paid off. In the third minute of stoppage time, a corner to the near post was met by Jensen Grant, who powered home a header to spark jubilant celebrations among the travelling support.

Both sides looked for a winner in the closing moments, but the final whistle confirmed a point that may yet prove important for both sides. Phoenix will know they are running out of games to mount a sustained play-off push and will need to turn draws into wins quickly.