We have not given up on promotion but it will be difficult now but you never know, says Beckenham Town assistant manager Billy Walton

DEFIANT Beckenham Town assistant manager Billy Walton insists he hasn’t given up on winning promotion at the end of the season.

Fifth-placed Beckenham Town crashed out of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division title race after being held to back-to-back 1-1 draws by Punjab United and Glebe.

Corinthian lead the table with 62 points from 26 games and they host second-placed side Fisher at Gay Dawn Farm on Saturday.  Dean Harrison’s Fisher are three points behind, having played a game more but have a better goal difference.

Big-hitters with the big-budgets follow in the shape of Cray Valley (55 points from 25 games), Chatham Town (52 points from 23 games) and Beckenham Town have banked 51 points from their 26 league outings.

“I hope the players don’t write the season off as we still have a lot to play for this season,” said Walton.

“We have some really good games to come, big games at this level and there are some games as a player you just don’t want to lose.

“The manager and his staff have not given up on promotion but it will be difficult now but you never know. One or two bad results for other teams will let you back in and we just need to keep winning our games.

“Since I have been in this league it is extremely difficult to get out of as is the league above as all of the teams that have been promoted over the last 10 years are still in the same league.”

Beckenham Town host Jersey boys St Peter at Eden Park Avenue on Tuesday 26 February in the Kent Senior Trophy Semi-Finals.  The winners will lock horns with Chatham Town in the Maidstone Final on Sunday 14 April (14:30).

Walton said:  “I hope we can win the cup for the people that run the club as in the chairman, the owner, the manager and our long-serving secretary put a lot of hard work to get us where we are today - and our very faithful supporters.

“We have only lost two league games in the last 13 but we have drawn too many games to get us where we should be.”

Becks’ manager Jason Huntley takes his side to Sheppey United on Saturday, a side that are one place and four points worse off.

“We go into the Sheppey game on Saturday looking to get us back to winning ways and prepare us for the rest of the season,” added Walton.

“Hopefully, we can achieve a win there on Saturday.  We have had some very good games of football against Sheppey, so I’m expecting the same on Saturday.

“I personally can’t wait to get involved in all of these big games that we have left to play, so bring it on!”

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

Sheppey United  v  Beckenham Town
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 23 February 2019
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Holm Park, Queenborough Road, Halfway, Sheerness, Kent ME12 3DB