Our season so far has been up and down with some highs and lows, says AFC Croydon Athletic coach Gareth Graham

AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC coach Gareth Graham admits the club’s debut season in the Southern Counties East Football League has been inconsistent.

The Thornton Heath based club switched across from the Combined Counties League last season – winning the Division One title (Step Six) – and are finding their feet in their new surroundings.

The Rams travel to Erith & Belvedere tomorrow in the Second Round of the Kent Reliance Senior Trophy.

“Tomorrow’s game away at Erith & Belvedere will be like all games in this league – a tough one,” said Graham.

“In the first game of the season when we played them, although we defended very well, we were shall we say fortunate.

“Our goalkeeper saved two penalties and we were clinical in our finishing.

“I know they have changed their manager and personnel since then but they have a lot of quality in their side so we know it will be a tough test.

“In saying that, we believe we can be a match for anyone in the league but we have to go into the game with the right attitude and work hard and defend properly to be at our best and match them.”

AFC Croydon Athletic sit in the bottom five, having won four, drawn four and lost five of their league games so far.

The club are eight points clear of Deal Town, local rivals Croydon and basement side Holmesdale, who have all claimed eight points each so far this season.

“Our season so far has been up and down with some highs and lows,” admitted Graham.

“We are inconsistent, which has been frustrating, but our results show that we can surprise a few.

“We have a young, talented squad who are together, which we need to be at times to grind our results.

“Our aim at the start of the season was to stay up, which we believe we are more capable of doing.

“We will take each game as it comes and will give our all to finish as high up the table as we can.”

BECKENHAM TOWN coach Jason Clews, meanwhile, says the club have made a couple of loan signings ahead of tomorrow’s home tie against Glebe.

Glebe arrive at Eden Park Avenue sitting at the top of the Kent Invicta League table, for this Kent Reliance Senior Trophy Second Round derby.

“We’re giving a late fitness test to Jamie Humphries as he has been out for two weeks with measles and a shoulder problem and with Richmond Kissi away on holiday it gives us one or two headaches with team selections,” said Clews.

“We have added two players this week to the squad.  Joshua Fernandes (Dulwich Hamlet) and Archie Johnson (Welling United) are both on dual registration.

“We’re expecting a tough game at home but hoping to bounce back from last week’s disappointment of going out of The FA Vase.”