Beckenham Town 2-2 Faversham Town - It looks bleak doesn't it but we will not give up and I think to stay up will be a massive achievement and for us to stay up, it will be party time, says hopeful Beckenham Town boss Del Oldfield

Beckenham Town 2 – 2 Faversham Town
Location	Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3JL
Kickoff	24/02/2026 19:45

BECKENHAM TOWN  2-2  FAVERSHAM TOWN
Isthmian League South East Division
Tuesday 24 February 2026
Stephen McCartney reports form Eden Park Avenue

BECKENHAM TOWN manager Del Oldfield insists his side will not give up in their bid to escape relegation from the Isthmian League South East Division after giving play-off chasing Faversham Town a scare.

The second-from-bottom hosts showed plenty of heart, desire and character to claw themselves back from being 2-0 down inside the opening 29 minutes to claim a point in a game where both sides will feel they should have gained more.

Winger Joshua Ajayi and Bromley loanee striker George Evans both opened their goalscoring accounts for the Lilywhites but Oldfield instilled belief in his side during the interval and came out with all guns blazing with a dominant second half performance.

Centre-half Jack Holland scrambled in his fourth goal of the season just 111 seconds into the second half before central midfielder Harry Gamble’s emphatic strike to restore parity, with his third goal of the season.

Visiting goalkeeper Jacob Russell, 24, scooped the man-of-the-match award with some outstanding late saves – making six saves during the game - to deny Beckenham Town, who have now drawn their last four games and are 11 points adrift of safety with 14 League games remaining.

“Sum it up?  I thought we were unlucky not to win it,” said Oldfield, who spoke for nearly 15 and a half minutes in the post-match press conference.

“I thought we had, certainly in the second half, we had much the better chances.  I think Jacob (Russell) in goal for them has pulled off easily three or four top, top saves to keep them in the game.

“I can’t be anything but pleased to be honest, even at 2-0 down, we weren’t panicking.

“I thought the first goal, there’s not a lot you can do about that, maybe not give away the foul but the free-kick was taken exceptionally well and when it hits the inside of the post and goes in, there’s not a lot you can do about that.

“Second goal, we probably could’ve done a little bit better with.  There’s probably three or four things that happened before the goal that we maybe could’ve done better with but again, these are just minor little details that lead to big things somethings.

“But I think even in the first half we certainly matched them.  They just had that little bit of extra quality in the final third that got them 2-0 up obviously but second half, yes, there was only one team in it in the second half.”

For Faversham Town manager Tommy Warrilow, meanwhile, it was your typical game of two halves.

“Obviously angry, disappointed. We should’ve been out of sight at half-time and that’s what happens,” said Warrilow during the post-match press conference.

“Fair play to them, to be honest, they were only one team that were going to win it second half, once they got the first goal and the second goal.

“We didn’t really get up the pitch at all and they were hitting us on breaks and if it weren’t for Jacob Russell, we would’ve come away with nothing today.

“We just said to them, it doesn’t hurt us enough. The quality of our deliveries from our corners and the areas we got in, in the first half. We should’ve come in more than 2-0 up. When you don’t, against a side that ain’t going to roll over, as soon as they got that goal straight away, it gives them a lift and like I said they got at us second half and they should’ve come away with three points.”

This was Beckenham Town’s first outing at Eden Park Avenue since Crowborough Athletic were beaten 2-1 on 13 December after five home games were called off due to waterlogging.

The club have the option to use the 3G pitch at Foxbury Avenue in Chislehurst, after Isthmian League Premier Division side Cray Wanderers priced themselves out.

“It has a massive impact. That’s where our work as a management team comes along.  We had this last year. I mean last year was even worse,” recalled Oldfield.

“What happens is you have all these games, we’ve only got a small squad. We’ve got to try to play Saturday-Tuesday for the next four weeks and that can have a telling affect.

“All we can do really as a management team is try to keep people motivated, try to keep them positive and I think if you can do that, coupled with a good work ethic and players that are just doing what they’re good at, rather than just trying stuff they shouldn’t really be doing, it can have a positive impact.

“This could’ve gone one way or another tonight. Two-nil down, it would’ve been easy for us to fold, crumble, especially where we’re sat in the table. People would automatically think ‘ok, that’s it, they’ve won’, but we’re still hopeful.”

The crowd of 268 witnessed a frenetic start with Faversham Town – who made three changes from their side that lost 1-0 in Jersey at the weekend, with winger Kieron Campbell ruled out with an ankle injury – starting the better of the two sides at opposite ends of the table.

Both managers were asked what they were facing here tonight.

Oldfield said: “What kind of side were they? I think they are experienced. I think they know what they’re good at, they do what they do extremely well.

“I just honestly think in the second half we surprised them. We changed the shape (to a front three), which I didn’t think they picked up on straight away. 

“We actually said, if we get the next goal – this could be important and it was.  Faversham are a very good team and I’ll be surprised if they’re not in and around those play-offs at the end of the season.”

Warrilow added: “Well, first half, they was alright, much of a muchness, hardworking. Second half, just wanted it a lot more than us! Athletic, good on the break and if it wasn’t for Jacob, we would’ve come home with nothing!”

When asked about the frenetic start, Oldfield revealed that was in his game plan.

“We wanted to start first and not give anyone any chance to settle because I think it makes a difference.

“When you’re used (to playing on 3G artificial pitches) and I see this from a lot of teams that have got 3G pitches and they train on them and half of the League (nine of the 22 clubs) have got a 3G pitch now, when it comes down to boggy soft (grass) pitches, it’s not always as suitable because they’re so used to playing a certain way, maybe.

“I think we applied ourselves to the conditions. We’re used to playing in these conditions now, especially in this time of the year – when we do play at home, that is.”

The recalled Tommie Fagg released right-winger Nathan Wood down the line and his cross was cleared out to Ajayi, whose drilled deflected shot screamed over the crossbar after only 83 seconds.

Faversham centre-half Dexter Peter pinged a left-footed long diagonal, which was cleared out to Ajayi, who took a touch before drilling his right-footed shot over the crossbar from outside the D.

Faversham counter-attacked and Ethan Smith rolled the ball out to Fagg on the right and his through ball released Wood in behind but Dartford loanee goalkeeper Carter Sullivan palmed the shot around the post with two gloves, high to his right.

Faversham Town took a deserved lead with 13 minutes and 3 seconds on the clock, courtesy of a quality free-kick from Ajayi, who started the game like a house on fire.

Freddie Nyhus was penalised for fouling Harrison Pont on the edge of the Beckenham Town penalty area and keeper Sullivan lined up a four man wall.

Ajayi stroked his right-footed free-kick over the wall some 25-yards out, clipping the inside the top of the near (left) post and the ball dropped down and nestled inside the bottom of the far post to give the Lilywhites a deserved lead.

“Listen, I’m not happy! I don’t care who gets the goals. I’m happy for them both to score a goal but like I said, I’m more angry that we didn’t get more than two,” said Warrilow.

“Josh has taken his free-kick well.  Josh was unlucky to be fair, a couple of shots that he’s had prior to that and a few blocks and the goalie’s made a few saves as well.

“But it just infuriates me the quality of the deliveries of the corners we had, especially in the first half. We didn’t cash in any of them.

“We should’ve been – don’t take it the wrong way, I’m not going to go into every single detail – we should’ve been more than 1-0 up, even before we scored.”

Oldfield added: “This is the thing as well. We worked hard for our goals. I don’t think they had to work too hard for their two goals, as good as they were.  Listen, take away Josh’s goal, that’s unbelievable…”

Beckenham Town were showing plenty of desire and fight but they lacked quality in the attacking third during the first half.

Faversham Town deserved their two-goal advantage when it came their way with 28 minutes and 7 seconds on the clock, with some lucky breaks in and around the Beckenham Town penalty area.

The impressive Ajayi (first half only) linked up well with left-back Jack Parter just outside the corner of the penalty area, while Beckenham had right-back Joe Chalker and Nyhus there in a bid to close the gate shut.

However, Chalker’s poor clearance went straight to Ajayi in the second phase and he cut into the box and a lucky break found its way into Evans’ path and he dinked his left-footed shot over Sullivan from the corner of the six-yard box into the centre of the goal.

“George has got a great touch, first goal (for the club) and that’s what happens in football. Two-nil’s a horrible score and I’ve got no qualms of the second half, they’ve absolutely ripped us to pieces, I think.”

Oldfield added: “We could’ve done better in three or four areas before it got there.

“We’re just not getting that tiny bit of luck. It was a great little touch, took a ricochet, I think, which sort of got Jack (Holland) a little bit off balance but fair play to the kid, George. I like him. He’s a very capable young striker.  I think he’s going to have a good career in non-league – but he’s taken his goal extremely well.”

Faversham right-back Bradley Simms launched the first of three long throws into the penalty area and Ethan Smith had a couple of bites of the cherry at the near-post and on each occasion he was denied by Sullivan.

Pont’s long ball forward released Wood (who was dominating Beckenham left-back Makhaya James in the first half) and his left-footed curler was comfortably caught by Sullivan as he took a few strides to his right as Faversham Town continued to dominate.

Beckenham Town created their only first-half opening with 36:58 on the clock with Russell pulling off a fine double save.

Holland travelled towards the halfway line before slipping the ball along the deck to Nyhus, who broke towards the corner of the penalty area, easily cut inside Parter before cutting onto his left-foot and hitting a daisy cutter towards the bottom near corner from 18-yards.

Russell dived to his left and spilt the shot and Gamble lacked composure inside the six-yard box and Russell made another big block to prevent the ball nestling inside the bottom near corner.

Oldfield admitted Gamble should have tucked the rebound away, in what was the home side’s only chance of the first half, with targetman Alfie Bloomfield and Tom Hever behind him not offering any threat for Faversham’s two centre-halves, Matthew Newman and Peter.

“Listen, I think it’s easy from where we’re standing to say Harry should’ve done better but it’s one of those things,” said Oldfield.

“When the goalkeeper is as close as he is and Jacob’s a big lump, it’s not easy to get it past him, so I try not to be too critical.  Yes, come on, you’re in the box, do better but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, eh.”

Nyhus stood out as Beckenham’s best player on the night, as Beckenham Town claimed their sixth draw from their last 10 League outings.

“Freddie was excellent. Freddie’s one of those players and I think we’ve got a lot actually but there’s a lot of things said about some of our players that they’re not quite at the level and this that and the other but what they’ve got is heart,” insisted Oldfield.

“They listen and they learn and certainly over the last few months they’ve been implementing everything that we’ve been trying to give them, which is why we’ve only lost two in 10, which has been a massive positive for us.”

Faversham Town won the corner-count by eight-six. However, their first six came in the first half and Beckenham’s five of Beckenham’s six came after the break.

Wood swung in the away side’s sixth corner, in from the right, the ball was cleared out to Pont, who drilled a first-time right-footed drive through a crowd of players and past the far post from 18-yards (45:20).

Whatever Oldfield said during the half-time interval certainly worked as his side came out like a side that are challenging for the League title, playing with high intensity.

“To be honest, literally, the first thing we went in there, we’re changing the shape because we were going to change the shape 10 minutes with the first half to go,” revealed Oldfield.

“Me and Rob (Carter, assistant manager) looked at each other and said ‘just go for it’ because we were playing a certain way but we said ‘sod it, let’s go for t,’ so that’s the first thing I said to them when we went in there.

“From now no one can go out there with their heads down. We’re firmly in this game. We get the next goal, who knows, that’s what I said, nothing else.”

Warrilow added: “Listen, at half-time, I’m obviously happy. I told them in there I’m disappointed because we should’ve been done and dusted but coming in here after 90 minutes I’m grateful for a point because they was at us.

“I said to the boys (after the game), I don’t know what to say to you because the difference tonight was even when they cleared their lines, they cleared their lines. We never done that, we never went past the first man.

“It’s not one of those nights where you want to play football. You want to do what they did. They put it into areas and got after it.”

Beckenham Town will get out of relegation trouble IF they replicate their dominant second-half performance over fifth-placed Faversham Town in each and every of their last 14 League games. The acid test is will/can they put in the same levels of performance in a must-win game down at Hassocks next?

They set the tone right from the off and Chalker floated a deep free-kick towards the far post, which was knocked behind for the home side’s second corner and they restored belief when Holland scored with 111 seconds on the clock.

Nyhus – who would have scooped the man-of-the-match award if Russell wasn’t so heroic in the second half – swung the corner in from the right which was cleared back out to him.

Nyhus recycled the ball back into the six-yard box and Holland was on hand to scramble the ball into the bottom right-hand corner from within a crowd of players.

Oldfield was full of praise for the 33-year-old former Bromley captain.

“Since I’ve been back at the club Jack has gone from strength-to-strength.

“I think we had a problem with fitness when I came back. I think we had a problem with, I wouldn’t say attitude, but it was more a belief around the squad but it didn’t take long.

“Jack Holland has been brilliant since I’ve come back. He’s just got better and better and as the season’s gone on, he’s been better and so has Muddy (Wanogho).  Those two as a partnership, we kind of change from a four to a three at times and then a four today, back to a three but those two in particular have been standouts and have done extremely well.

“I think the momentum shift was our first goal, I think that’s it.  Listen, we can say as a management team, the momentum shift started in the dressing room instilling the belief in them.

“I said ‘you’ve got this, don’t get your heads down, next goal,’ and I think from that first half it kind of showed us what we can do, when we just do the right things in the right areas.”

Warrilow added: “That’s an important goal. I mean, look at the scrambles for us. We don’t get them and I don’t know why.

“But listen, that’s the start of the second half. As the half went on, they grew into it more and we didn’t really get up the pitch, so you’re not going to score goals if you don’t get up the pitch.”

Left-winger turned central-striker Tyler Anderson was hungry and a threat on the counter-attack, as Beckenham Town were dangerous on the break during a one-sided second half.

It proved to be a decisive tactical change from Oldfield.

“Brilliant! Brilliant! Again, a belief system. I think Tyler enjoyed, it’s something we done with Tyler last season actually before he moved to Phoenix.  We played him down the middle, so it’s not something that we’ve not done before. Ashford away, when we beat them at their place 3-0 last season, we played him down the middle and he was excellent, so it’s something that we know he’s capable off.

“I think one person we’re forgetting here that probably is going a little bit down the radar is Alfie Bloomfield. Ok, he didn’t score but I think the work that he put in, the hold-up play, the little flick-ons, yes, I like it.”

Warrilow admitted he just couldn’t believe what he was seeing as Beckenham Town proved there’s no easy games on a Tuesday night in the Isthmian League.

“To come in at 2-0, I was disappointed but to come out and watch the second half, I just didn’t know what to say to the boys afterwards.

“I wasn’t going to go into one and go too mad but the word I used was ‘it’s got to hurt us a lot more’.

“These moments we get have got to be taken – at any level – and the higher you go there is no given’s in this League and definitely not Beckenham. We’ve played them twice this year and we were lucky to beat them at home and we were lucky to get a point here tonight”

Anderson released Gamble, who cut into the box from the left before pulling his low shot past the diving Russell and past the foot of the near-post.

Faversham Town were offering very little in attack but Ethan Smith laid the ball off to Fagg, who drilled a 40-yarder, which screamed past the right-hand post from 40-yards, with 11 minutes and 13 seconds on the clock.

Warrilow said: “If that was on, I think it’s in because the goalie was stuck to his line but yes I mean we’re grasping at straws aren’t we? Compared to the first half, when we went chance, chance, save, scramble save, save, corner, corner, corner and second half we were like Faggy had a shot.”

Nyhus should have done better when a glorious chance fell the home side’s way (12:38) when Gamble threaded a pass into the winger on the edge of the box but he lacked composure and sent his left-footed shot over the crossbar, when played in behind Faversham centre-half Newman, who was the saviour during the 3-3 home Swale derby draw against Sittingbourne.

“That’s my only criticism of Freddie at that point. I just said ‘just hit the target’, but that’s all he had to do,” added Oldfield.

“If you hit it – it’s old school – but if you hit it across the keeper and he makes a save, it’s a tap-in for someone else but that’s my own criticism on Fred.”

Beckenham Town deservedly restored parity with 17 minutes and 29 seconds on the clock, courtesy of an emphatic finish from Gamble, scoring his third goal of an injury-hit season.

A long ball was played from close to the half-way line by Gamble, which released Anderson, whose pace took him towards the right by-line and he held his nerve to roll the ball back for Gamble to drill an emphatic first time right-footed shot into the top far (left) corner from six-yards.

“I thought he missed it! I was going to kill him! But no, that’s what’s Harry us good at,” said Oldfield.

“Harry’s had problems with injury. It’s been a long process getting him back to somewhere near full-fitness all season, especially in the situation we’ve been in getting him game time, managing his game time, trying to keep him happy, other players happy.

“Harry just seems to be getting better and better as the season goes on but that’s a part of Harry’s game, arriving in the box.

“Maybe he could’ve had a goal in the first half arriving in the box, that’s what he’s good at.

“I don’t remember them (Faversham) having a shot in the second half.”

Warrilow added: “There’s a few little slips or whatever. They were dangerous on the break weren’t they, so I don’t know what to say about it. It’s just one of those things.

“It was a great finish – can we defend better? I don’t know. Listen, it’s all right saying we didn’t defend well. I felt the two centre-halves especially and the full-backs, I felt we didn’t clear our lines.

“One, he didn’t clear our lines properly – but it just kept on coming back and coming back and coming back. It’s just one of those nights mate.”

When asked if he knew why his side put in such a lacklustre second half performance, Warriliow replied, “No, no, not at all. I wish I could. I didn’t see it coming but once they scored straight away in the second half, I was hoping. It’s the old saying, just for five minutes, just turn them for 5-10 minutes. I think we did it once in the second half.”

Beckenham Town kept knocking on the door and they needed composure and better quality when some chances came their way, with Anderson and Nyhus outstanding in attack and captain Holland vocal and offering his team-mates encouragement as he partnered Wanogho in defence.

A poor clearance from visiting keeper Russell gave Beckenham Town their big moment (29:45), hitting the ball straight at Nyhus just outside the Faversham  box.  He put it on a plate for an unmarked Tom Hever, who went to pieces inside the box and side-footed his shot across Russell and harmlessly wide of the far post.

“Tom has got to be better there.  I find it hard to be overly critical of Tom. He’s had another god game tonight, battled extremely hard, done everything well. Didn’t really do anything wrong. Same as Freddie, it’s just those little fine margines,” added Oldfield.

However, Russell pulled off some late outstanding saves to leave Beckenham Town frustrated that this could, should have been a home win against all odds.

A free-kick came in from the left from substitute midfielder Callum Corbin, Nyhus got involved inside the crowded penalty area and substitute striker Shaquille St Louis-Gordon drilled a right-footed shot through the crowd of players and Russell used his finger-tips to tip the ball around the far post (41:06).

“He’s done everything right Shaq, he’s done everything right. He’s hit it into the ground. Jacob’s pulled off another unbelievable save – just stuck his arms out. That’s what he’s there to do,” added Oldfield.

Anderson threw the ball inside to an unmarked Corbin, who drilled his right-footed shot towards the top far corner from at least 35-yards, but Russell pulled off another outstanding save, tipping the ball over the crossbar, high to his left (44:53)

Oldfield added: “We thought it was in! yes, we thought it was in but again, another top, top save from Jacob – what can you do?”

The Lilywhites brought on 26-goal Tashi-Jay Kwaye and big targetman Eniyelayefe Amgbaduba (for his first appearance for 12 weeks’, having recovered from a foot injury) but they weren’t allowed to get into the game.

Fagg cracked a left-footed deflected drive towards goal from a central position from 25-yards, which was comfortably held by Sullivan, down on his knees (46:49) right on his goal-line.

“I didn’t see us scoring though, a few balls were going into the box but even then it just weren’t going to happen,” admitted Warrilow.

“To be fair, we didn’t deserve it (a winning goal), so I’m not going to stand here and go I feel hard done by because I didn’t. I can’t say it enough, after the second half, I’m grateful to come out with a point.”

There was still time for a couple more of Russell’s heroic saves, denying Holland with a brilliant reaction save from within a crowd of players - and then using his right-hand to push over Corbin’s deflected drive, which was destined for the top left-hand corner.

“If it wasn’t for him, I think we win the game comfortably in the end,” admitted Oldfield, who was full of praise for the Faversham goalie.

“Probably didn’t look that way at 2-0 down but if those goals do go in, a less capable goalkeeper and we’re winning that game 4-2, 5-2, maybe 6-2. Who knows?

“But we didn’t, we’ve got a draw. It’s a game that no one, a little bit like Jersey Bulls (1-1 draw) and Sittingbourne (lost 4-1) away, that no one gave us a chance in, especially at 2-0 down, so they are points gained, where as we look at (our 1-1 draw at) East Grinstead and possibly (our 1-1 draw in our last game at) Sevenoaks, as points lost but if we’re gaining those points back in other places, then we can’t really complain.”

Praising his outstanding goalkeeper Russell, Warrilow added: “It’s good to have him back!”

The Lilywhites have won four, drawn three and lost three of their last 10 League games and have now gone three games without a win.

“Few draws, and everyone’s’ like ‘you’re drawing a lot of games’ and we’re drawing but this point might add up but the most important thing is not lose focus on what the target is this year. We’re on track for that.

“Well, it’s not three losses, is it? So that’s the important thing.  We were unlucky (in Jersey) on Saturday. I didn’t think we deserved to lose on Saturday. It was much of a muchness.

“Tonight the second half, yes we deserved to lose it but we should’ve been out of sight in the first half, so it’s just the fine margines.

“I’m not into all of that ‘we haven’t won for this, or won for that.’  We’ve played some good teams in Jersey Bulls and Sittingbourne and we’ve drawn with Sittingbourne and you were at that game so you’ve seen what you saw there and we should’ve won that and today we’re sort of killing ourselves, but full respect to Beckenham because they got at us second half.

“We’re not having a massive over-reaction to it and we’re just not going to dismiss it. We’re going to learn from it. We’re going to discuss it a little bit but we can’t afford to do that. If we play like that every week, we’re going to struggle but I’m not going to take nothing away from Beckenham because the second half they definitely upped their game and we couldn’t cope with it.”

Elsewhere, AFC Whyteleafe humiliated relegated side East Grinstead Town 8-0, while leaders Three Bridges came away from Hastings United with a 3-0 win and Sittingbourne beat Crowborough Athletic 4-0 at Woodstock Park.

Three Bridges – who beat Crowborough Athletic 3-2 on Saturday – are on course of claiming the League title, with Jamie Crellin’s side on 75 points from 31 (of 42) games.

AFC Croydon Athletic (64 points from 31 games), AFC Whyteleafe (60 points from 31 games), Sittingbourne (59 points from 30 games) and Faversham Town (57 points – 16 wins, nine draws and five defeats) remain in the play-off zone tonight.

Jersey Bulls (56 points from 32 games), Deal Town (51 points from 30 games) and Margate (48 points from 31 games) make up the top eight.

Warrilow’s men welcome tenth-placed Herne Bay (43 points – 12 wins, seven draws and 12 defeats) to Salters Lane on Saturday, with centre-half Ben Gorham being added to the match day squad.

“Listen, it’s an emotional game. I said to the boys in there by any means it’s not the end of it. We’re disappointed we’ve drawn two-all after being 2-0 up. We’ve got to be disappointed with it especially the second half. We’ll go home, we’re in Thursday and we’ve got to go again,” said Warrilow.

“We’ve got to stay positive. We’re in the play-offs. There’s enough games to play, there’s loads of points to play. There’s loads of big games to play but it’s just not good when you finish up like we finished today. I can’t really defend that and I said this to everyone, staff, the whole lot because hand on heart, I said to OB (Alex O’Brien), we’re just not, it’s not happening in the second half.

“We’re just not going what we were doing in the first half and they had the bit between their teeth.

“I’m really sorry for them (our travelling fans). I’m gutted for them, gutted for them Saturday (losing in Jersey) and gutted for them tonight, so like I said, hopefully we can get something back from Saturday.

“But the overall picture of the season is good and it’s going to be like that. The most important thing is try to bounce back on Saturday and then we’ve got another game on Tuesday (away to Hassocks), so we’ve just got to stay focused, stay positive, be upset but not to go overboard.”

Faversham Town will lose their place in the play-offs should Jersey Bulls claim three points away to Sevenoaks Town on Friday night – a game being covered by this website – so Warrilow was asked how many points are needed from their last 12 League games to finish above the line.

“Thirty-six. I want to go and win every game. I don’t look at how many you think or whatever. I just look in front. Obviously (Jersey winning on Friday night) we would’ve dropped down.

“It’s just important. We’ve got to get on with it. We’ve got Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday coming up and the target is three wins as normal and just carry on and carry on and carry on and before you know the season’s done and hopefully we’ve made the play-offs and were making a fist of it so it’s not to lose focus or anything.

“it’s disappointing tonight especially with the way we finished the game but overall we believe in the lads. Tonight was one of them nights. I don’t know, hand on heart I wish I could turn round and say this, this and this. All I know we never done the basics tonight in the second half.

“There none (easy games), there’s none. If anyone think there is then at any level of football there ain’t but tonight we didn’t help ourselves.”

The bottom eight sides in this eighth-tier division are Sheppey United (36 points from 30 games), Crowborough Athletic (36 points from 30 games), Hastings United (33 points from 32 games) and Erith Town (31 points from 29 games).

The four club’s battling against the drop – well three really – are Hassocks (29 points – seven wins, eight draws and 18 defeats), VCD Athletic (25 points from 32 games), Beckenham Town (21 points – four wins, nine draws and 15 defeats) and East Grinstead Town are down on five points from 30 games.

Oldfield takes his side to Hassocks on Saturday, a must-win game and on tonight’s performance they showed their fans that they can get out of the mess that they currently find themselves in.

“Hassocks are an extremely physical, hardworking side. They won’t give up. That’s something you know about Hassocks,” said Oldfield.

“We need to match them with energy and we need to add that little bit of (quality).

“I think that’s the first time we’ve scored two goals (since beating Crowborough Athletic 2-1 in our last home game on 13 December), so it was nice to get a couple of goals.

“They’re good at set-pieces so we need to match them physically and aerially from set-pieces and match their energy, match their work rate and who knows.

“It looks bleak doesn’t it but we’ve got games in hand and I think personally there’s six teams in it. I think East Grinstead are gone, bless them, unfortunately, they’re gone.

“Hastings seem to be in a bit of a free-fall, Sheppey seem to be in a bit of free-fall, so I think Sheppey could get drawn into it as well if they’re not careful.”

When asked how Beckenham Town will extend their stay in the eighth-tier for a fifth season, Oldfield replied, “Play like we did tonight! That’s it! Play like we did tonight!

“We have that enthusiasm, that knowledge, that knowhow. Do what we’re good at, rather than try to do things we’re not good at and over complicate it and we need a little bit of luck along the way.

“We will not give up until it’s mathematically impossible and even then I don’t think we’ll give up because it’s not in me, it’s not in Rob (Carter) and it’s not in the players around the club, so we’ll just keep going for as long as we can.

“I think when you’ve been in and around the bottom four all season, I think to stay up will be a massive achievement.  It’s probably up there with promotion, if you like, because it is like a promotion because you’re not going down into the Step lower, you’ve managed to maintain (our Isthmian League status).

“It’s been a very long season and it’s going to be a very long end to the season. We’ve got another four weeks of Saturday-Tuesday – if all the games are on obviously – but it’s going to be tough but for us to stay up, I think it will be party time.”

Beckenham Town: Carter Sullivan, Joe Chalker, Makhaya James, Henry Douglas, Jack Holland, Mudiaga Wanogho, Tyler Anderson, Harry Gamble (Callum Corbin 80), Alfie Bloomfield (Shaquille St Louis-Gordon 80), Tom Hever, Freddie Nyhus.
Subs: Dasho Emmanuel Oluwafemi, Will Grieveson, Mark Marshall

Goals: Jack Holland 47, Harry Gamble 63

Faversham Town: Jacob Russell, Bradley Simms, Jack Parter (Frankie Smith 73), Harrison Pont, Dexter Peter, Matthew Newman, Joshua Ajayi, Ethan Smith (Tashi-Jay Kwayie 83), George Evans (Eniyelayefa Amgbaduba 83), Tommie Fagg, Nathan Wood (Tariq Ossai 78).
Sub: Mitchell Beeney

Goals: Joshua Ajayi 14, George Evans 29

Attendance: 268
Referee: Mr Benjamin Maskery
Assistants: Mr Bogdan Caraghin & Mr Sobastian Frazer