Beaconsfield and Poole Town fought out a highly competitive and entertaining 1-1 draw in at Holloways Park in the Southern League Premier Division..

Beaconsfield have made a habit lately of starting quickly and pinning opponents back but were rocked by a freak goal after only four minutes when Luke Roberts' speculative effort took a wicked deflection off Reece Yorke and left Ravan Constable with no chance.

The troubled start to the afternoon took a turn for the worse in the 26th minute when skipper Wes Daly, who had been struggling for ten minutes limped off with a suspected Achilles injury which will throw into question his participation in next week's trip to Leyton Orient. He was replaced by Nathan Webb whose introduction provided some much needed energy.

It was the visitors though who continued to press and they should really have increased their lead but two gilt edged opportunities went begging. First Roberts miscued a shot with the goal at his mercy and from the resulting recycled possession Sam Griffin headed over at the far post with the goal gaping and the defence scrambling.

Beaconsfield then punished the visitors for their lack of composure in front of goal as Brendan Matthew latched on to a Charlie Losasso through ball and his steered right foot shot taken early caught the advancing Cairney before he was set and although the keeper managed to get hands the shot had enough power to beat the retreating Will Spetch who narrowly failed to make the goal line clearance.

Marvin Morgan came on at the break and his presence immediately changed the pattern and tempo of The Rams’ performance. His aerial threat, ability to hold the ball and link with Matthew and Losasso gave Beaconsfield the chance to employ their familiar pressing style and Louis Stead and Basram Pashaj began to make promising forays down the flanks.

On 58 minutes, Pashaj broke down the left, dropped his shoulder and cut inside in trademark style before firing in a fierce right foot drive from 20 yards.

On 65 minutes, Louis Stead and Losasso combined to play in Jerome Ecclestone on a rare foray forward, his firmly struck cross shot fizzed across goal and narrowly evaded the onrushing Stead at the far post.

With the space and chaos created buy Morgans pressure on the heart of defence Losasso came more and more into the game and almost capped his performance with what would have been a stunning goal on 78 minutes. Cutting in from the right wing no more than six yards from the byline he shaped to cross but instead sent in a dipping drive which Cairney did brilliantly to claw away from underneath his bar.

That was the final chance of note for either side as the game tapered out to a conclusion.

Next up for the Rams is that historic trip to Brisbane Road to face Leyton Orient in the FA Trophy on Saturday (kick off 3pm).