This is just the start for us and we're already in a very good place, says Erith & Belvedere boss Del Oldfield

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Del Oldfield says his side are in a good place ahead of their FA Cup Preliminary Round tie tomorrow.

The Deres pulled off a great result by beating Southern Counties East Football League First Division side Kennington 1-0 at the first hurdle, courtesy of Malik Noiske’s free-kick.

Oldfield’s men then lost 4-3 at home to much-fancied side Chatham Town on the opening day of the league season last weekend before picking up a point in a 1-1 draw at AFC Croydon Athletic in midweek and sit in thirteenth-place in the Premier Division table.

Erith & Belvedere welcome Alford to Park View Road in The FA Cup tomorrow.

Alford are in sixth-place in the Southern Combination Premier Division table having beaten Hassocks 3-1 and then coming away from Pagham with a point in a 2-2 draw.

Alford thrashed their Sussex rivals Shoreham 9-1 in The FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round to set up a trip to Welling tomorrow.

“I’m excited about the game tomorrow. The FA Cup is always a special occasion, no matter who or where you’re playing but there’s something extra special about being at home,” said Oldfield.

“Looking back I thought we rode our luck a little in the last round.  Kennington are a big, strong, physical team that play their game their way and do it very well.

“It took a monumental defensive display from the whole squad to get through and a piece of magic from young Malik with a free-kick but special mention has to go to Rilwan Anibaba in goal, who was exceptional on the night.”

Oldfield added: “I don’t know a great deal about our opponents other than they won 9-1 in the last round on their FA Cup debut.

“We’ve had a bit of info on their playing style and key men from our contacts that know about them from down their way but in all truth, with limited info, all we can do is concentrate on the things we do well and try and make sure we impose ourselves on the game the way we know how.”

Reflecting on their campaign so far, Oldfield said: “Our start to the season has gone pretty much as expected to be honest.  The only slight downside is that we should have really picked up three points on Tuesday.  We had enough of the game to but it wasn’t to be.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do on the way we want to play, so it will be nice to get back on the training pitch next week and start the next phase of this little project of ours and hopefully the improvements will lead to more points.

“This is just the start for us and we’re already in a very good place.”

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website:  www.erithandbelvederefc.clubbuzz.co.uk

Erith & Belvedere  v  Alford
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Saturday 12 September 2020
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY