BEACONSFIELD SYCOB completed their first season in the Southern League on a disappointing note when they went down 3-2 to promotion hopefuls Maldon Town on Saturday.

The home side, who needed to win to stand any chance of securing the second and last automatic promotion place, got off to a dream start when Tommy Noble nipped in at the far post to head his side in front after just three minutes.

And with the visitors giving away a number for needless free kicks in compromising situations, it was no surprise when Simon Parker extended Town's margin after latching onto the end of Dean Parrott's set piece eights minutes before the interval.

Sycob only really came to life at the end of the first half when former Berkhamsted Town Ben Porter - still on a high from scoring the winning goal in the Carlsberg FA Sunday Cup at Anfield last week cut inside two blue shirts before seeing his rasping right foot shot deflect over the bar.

Becky cut the deifict when leading marksman Allan Arthur steered home Kevin Cotton's left-side cross after 54 minutes.

With Peter Scott's side boasting a more attacking formation, and with news filtering through that East Thurrock United were winning at Dartford, Maldon's promotional quest took a noise-dive when John Carroll rose tallest in the box to head home Jack Jeffries' corner kick.

But at 2-2 and against the run of play, Town managed to regain their lead albeit with the help of some poor defending when Parker managed to convert from close range to score his 35th goal of the season and confirm the Essex side's third place in the league.