Keys returned to the scene of their victorious season opener as they emerged 5-2 winners over FC Beckwood in the Challenge Cup, writes Gareth Parkin.
Beckwood limited Keys to very few chances early on in a closely fought opening half hour - providing a sterner test than MS Priory did in the 8-2 defeat to Crowle last week despite sitting two divisions lower.
Beckwood included former Crowle players Mark Easthope and Jason Cook in their line-up, with Keys’ new signing and opening day four-goal hero Jordan Webb missing through injury.
However, Matthew Marshall’s name has been appearing on scoresheets for years and it was he who opened the scoring on 30 minutes when he found the top corner for Keys after breaking down the left.
Beckwood had two good opportunities to equalise before half-time, but Craig Appleyard shot over the bar when clean through and minutes later Wesley Barlow made a goalline headed clearance with ‘keeper Sam Thirkell lying on the floor following a collision with Beckwood’s left winger.
The home side would rue those missed opportunities as Keys’ half time team talk looked to have done the trick, putting the game out of Beckwood’s reach with two quick goals shortly after the break.
Marshall converted a penalty - awarded after Ben Toyne was fouled - and he completed his hat trick within two minutes when he received a throughball from Danny Smyth, strolled around the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.
Crowle were exploiting the pace of Toyne and the passing ability of half time substitute Steve Staniforth to create more chances.
Marshall, however, couldn’t add to his tally and it was Beckwood who struck back instead.
Luke Easthope shot across the goal from the right-hand edge of the box to reduce the deficit and give the underdogs hope.
Lightning seemed to have struck twice when Easthope doubled his tally with a similar finish with 15 minutes left on the clock to give the Keys a scare.
But with only six minutes left, Smyth dribbled into the box and waited for the goalkeeper to dive at his feet before a delicate chip into the goal restored Crowle’s two-goal advantage.
And with no time left, Keys showed a classic example of route one football as a long clearance from Thirkell was controlled by Marshall who turned and struck his fourth goal past Beckwood’s ‘keeper. The referee blew for full time seconds after the restart to see Keys move into the second round of the cup.