BEACONSFIELD SYCOB missed out on the opportunity to extend their unbeaten run after seeing successive matches postponed over the festive period.

Rams beat Holloways Park tenants Slough Town 3-1 on Boxing Day thanks to goals from Zak Joseph, Aaron Morgan and Kofi Lockhart-Adams.

They then had their Southern Division One Central matches at Barton Rovers and Aylesbury United postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

Manager Gary Meakin said his side did not need a break after going 10 matches unbeaten but was grateful they did not have play on heavy pitches.

“I’m never too disappointed when a game gets called off because the pitches don’t suit the way we play. Sometimes it’s about who puts up the best fight rather than who plays the best,” he told the Observer.

“The players are tired but, in the form we are in, we don’t need a break.” Rams’ recent good run of form has lifted them up to ninth in the division but they face a tough start to the new year as they face four of the top five in the next six games.

“We just have to keep it going though a tough period,” said Meakin. “We have got eight games as tough as they come and we don’t have a big squad, but I would rather it be like this than in mid-table. Our only aim is to be in and around the play-offs with six to eight games to go.

“This group can go as far as they want, but I’m realistic and know we are not going to be unbeaten forever. It’s about how we react to that.” Meakin’s men entertain leaders Dunstable Town this Saturday (3pm ko) looking to build on their impressive victory over Slough.

Rams started brightly against their rivals, with Jack Hutchinson firing narrowly wide in just the second minute.

The deadlock was broken on the quarter-hour mark when Tom O’Regan played a fine ball through to Joseph and he finished past Jake Somerville.

The goal seemed to spark Slough into life and they came close to equalising when George Short hit the post from 25 yards and Adam Foulser headed wide from a corner.

Both sides spurned a few decent opportunities before Tony Mendy controlled a cross from Warren Harris on the stroke of half time and fired past James Reading.

It took Rams just two minutes of the second half to restore their lead as Hutchinson slid in a low cross for Morgan to finish.

Reading kept out a stinging shot from Ben Edwards as Rebels pushed for another equaliser.

But it was Rams who got the crucial next goal when substitute Lockhart-Adams capitalised on a mix-up in the defence and tapped into the empty net.

Rebels struggled to muster a response in the final 20 minutes as Rams held out to complete the double over their tenants.

Following their clash with Dunstable, Rams entertain Godalming Town in the Red Insure Cup on Monday (7.45pm ko).

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