It's such a great time to play for Beckenham Town, says assistant manager Billy Walton

BECKENHAM TOWN assistant manager Billy Walton says he has a fully-fit squad to choose from for their biggest ever FA Cup tie at Eden Park Avenue tomorrow.

 

Jason Huntley’s men welcome fellow FA Cup giantkillers Binfield in Third Qualifying Round, with both Isthmian League clubs on the brink of reaching the final qualifying round for the first time.

Beckenham Town stunned Vanarama National League South side Dartford in the last round by beating Alan Dowson’s side 2-1 at Princes Park, while Binfield also caused a stir by thrashing Jay Saunders’ Tonbridge Angels 4-0 a couple of weeks ago.

The symmetry doesn’t end there.  Both Beckenham Town and Binfield are unbeaten in the league and they are both second in their respective leagues and both teams face off tomorrow on 11 match unbeaten runs in league and cup.

Binfield have collected four wins and a draw from their opening five games in the Isthmian League South Central and are five points adrift of leaders Northwood.

Beckenham Town, meanwhile, have also banked 13 points from their opening five games but are only three points adrift of leaders Ramsgate in the Isthmian League South East.

The only difference between the two sides is that Binfield lost joint-managers Carl Withers and Jamie McClurg to full-time posts at their Southern League Premier Division South neighbours Bracknell Town and have appointed Garry Haylock in midweek.

“I think it’s a game that could go either way to be honest with you,” said Walton on the eve of the clash.

“We’ve done a bit of research on them and found they’re an extremely hard-working side and play to a good system and they keep their shape well and it will be an extremely difficult game for us.

“It will be just as hard for them to beat us. We’ve got a good record at home and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“I know they’re undefeated and we’re undefeated at home this year, apart from the penalty shoot-out in The FA Trophy that we lost.

“It will be a really exciting game and I hope we can get a really big crowd there to support us and hopefully we can get through and make another bit of history.”

Beckenham Town have been riding on a crest of the wave in 2022, winning the Combined Counties League Premier Division South title at the first attempt and enjoying life in the eighth tier of English football and going on their longest ever run in The FA Cup.

Walton said: “As I’ve said to you many times, we’ve got a group of players that want to keep on making history and setting the benchmark high and we talked about going as far as we can and doing as well as we can and keep on going and see how far it takes us.

“The boys trained really well last night and are all excited and looking forward to playing.

“We didn’t have anyone hardly missing last night, apart from one or two with work commitments.

“Apart from that we’ve got a full squad to choose from and a few players back from holiday and injuries, so we’ll have a full compliment to pick from and hopefully they can go and do the job.

“Binfield’s had some really good results but so have we.  We don’t take anyone lightly. We could be playing a side from Step Five tomorrow and we wouldn’t take them lightly either.

“We’re playing another team in our level doing exceptionally well in their league but on the other hand, look at us.  They’re thinking Beckenham are undefeated, don’t lose at home very often, they’ve got some really good players and knocked out Dartford.  They’ll be thinking the same. The one massive advantage for us is we’re at home.”

When asked how tomorrow’s clash will be won or lost, Walton replied: “Hopefully with one of our players stepping up and hitting a 35-yarder into the top corner with about a minute to go – that would be fantastic!

“Just as long as they don’t jump on me again because when we got the winner at Dartford they all jumped on me and I nearly dislocated my knee again and nearly ended up in hospital.”

Walton added: “It’s such a great time to play for Beckenham.  You’ve most probably been covering Beckenham for a long time and I don’t think ever before has been so many (big games). I know they’ve done the cup doubles, which was fantastic.  Nothing compared to winning the league for the first time and undefeated and being in The FA Cup Third Qualifying Round for the first time.

“It’s such a fantastic time to be involved and I’m glad I’m involved.”

After beating Dartford in The FA Cup, Beckenham Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Isthmian League Division One North side Heybridge Swifts in The FA Trophy First Qualifying Round, before losing on penalties.

Kevin Watson then brought his Cray Valley side to Eden Park Avenue and came away with a point in a goal-less draw on 20 September.

Walton reflected: “Going into the Cray Valley game on the back of two really hard games in the two cup competitions and playing Cray Valley, who in my opinion are the best side in the league.

“We worked extremely hard and managed to get a 0-0 draw out of it, which was remarkable really.

“They did have a lot of possession and they did play really, really well.  I think we were really tired but not taking anything away from Cray Valley, they played exceptionally well.

“I went to watch them on Saturday and they didn’t play nowhere near the levels they did against us.

“It was testament and a compliment to us that we dug in and got a result against them.  It will be nice to play them on Valentines night so hopefully most of their lads will be going out with their wives and girlfriends and they field their under 23s against us.”

Beckenham Town  v  Binfield
The Emirates FA Cup Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 1 October 2022
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3JL