Colliers Wood will be another hard side to beat, says Beckenham Town assistant manager Billy Walton

BECKENHAM TOWN assistant manager Billy Walton says he is looking forward to facing league opposition in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday.

 

Jason Huntley’s side kicked-off their Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division South adventure by beating Jersey Bulls 1-0 at Eden Park Avenue last Saturday.

Beckenham Town lost winger Stefan Cox in the 32^nd minute for being shown a red-card after picking up a booking for a foul on Ruben Mendes Pestana less than half a minute earlier.

Goalkeeper Nick Blue, a summer signing from Isthmian League South East Division side VCD Athletic, put in an outstanding performance to ensure he kept a clean sheet, while striker Steve Townsend notched from a 54^th minute penalty, which was the home side’s only shot on target.

Beckenham Town followed that up by beating Crawley Town 1-0 in a friendly match at Eden Park Avenue on Tuesday, courtesy of Danny Waldren's goal. 

Lee Bradbury’s League Two side contained eight first-team players.

Beckenham Town are now in fifth-place in the table on three points from their first outing and welcome third-placed Colliers Wood to Eden Park Avenue on Saturday.

Jamie Decruz’s side opened their league campaign with a  3-1 home win over Knaphill but lost 2-1 at Redhill on Tuesday night.

“Looking forward to The FA Cup game, will most probably change a few personnel, give them a go but there’s a lot of prize money on the line,” said Walton.

“We want to go and win every game, like we do, so we’ll look forward to it.

“Colliers Wood will be another hard side to beat.  Let’s try to play a little bit more football than we did on Saturday. I’m sure we’ll be ok.”

When asked about his early thoughts on their new league, Walton replied: “Tough. It’s tough. I hope everyone ain’t like Jersey Bulls though!  They’re a very, very good side.  I don’t know anybody else in this league, so I would say looking at that they’ll be top five in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division on that performance, so they’ll be up there challenging.

“Everyone says the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division is the hardest one at Step Five, so I just hope everyone ain’t like Jersey Bulls.  If they are, we just have to get on with it.”

When asked what pleased him about Beckenham Town’s opening day performance, Walton replied: “Just the sheer determination not to get beat. That sheer determination and will as a team not to get beat when you’re up against a really good side with 10 men, I was absolutely delighted with them.”

Visit Beckenham Town’s website: www.beckenhamtownfc.com

Beckenham Town  v  Colliers Wood United
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Saturday 7 August 2021
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3JL