We've got enough talent at this club to stay up, insists Beckenham Town coach Billy Walton

BECKENHAM TOWN coach Billy Walton insists there is enough talent in the dressing room to avoid suffering the club’s first relegation next month.

Jason Huntley’s side clawed themselves off the foot of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table after thrashing fellow strugglers Lordswood 3-0 at Eden Park Avenue at the weekend.

Jamie Humphris’ saw his penalty saved by Lordswood keeper Ryan Chandler but he recovered to score the first goal just 55 seconds after missing from the spot.

Lordswood defender Charlie Plummer scored an own-goal after only 24 seconds into the second half, after he turned in Chan Quan’s centre, before Hassan Jalloh drilled in a third goal on 49 minutes.

Beckenham lost substitute striker Lywayne Greenwood seconds after he came on for winger Ryan Dolby, as the home side played out the final 10 minutes with ten men.

Fisher have slumped back to the foot of the table after their 3-0 home defeat to Bearsted, and Dean Harrison’s side have 18 points from their 28 games.  Beckenham Town now have 19 points from their 27 league outings.

Erith & Belvedere (20 points from 27 games), Tunbridge Wells (20 points from 24 games), Lordswood (21 points from 28 games) and Erith Town (24 points from 27 games) are all looking over their shoulders.

Beckenham Town travel to third-placed Sevenoaks Town on Saturday.  Micky Collins’ side have dropped out of the title race due to recent poor form and are now eight points adrift of league leaders Ashford United, who leapfrogged over Crowborough Athletic with a 5-2 win at Cray Valley yesterday.

“I’m looking forward to next weekend. We should go there on a bit of a high.  I always like having a bit of a battle with Micky Collins,” said Walton.

When asked how Beckenham Town will beat the drop in April, Walton replied: “Win games, win games, if we show the commitment and determination.

“We’ve got enough talent at this club to stay up, without a shadow of a doubt but we’ve got to show a little bit more work-rate and effort and that’s what wins you games in this league. It ain’t skill, it’s work-rate and effort.  If you get a group of lads that want to work hard, you’ll win games.”

Despite going a miserable 20 games without any win, back-to-back wins over Rochester United (1-0) and Lordswood has lifted morale at Eden Park Avenue going into the business end to the season.

“They’re trying to buy into what I’m telling them to do, listen to what I tell them, which is pleasing, under a bit of pressure,” said Walton.

“Hopefully we can win a few more and play a bit more football.  It’s difficult to play football when you’re under pressure, you just want to get results.

“What’s pleasing for me as a manager and I’ve never had it in my life is we’ve kept two clean sheets – I’ve not got a bit of defensive knowledge in me, so I must be doing something right!”

Visit Beckenham Town’s website: www.beckenhamtownfc.co.uk

Sevenoaks Town  v  Beckenham Town
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Saturday 4^th March 2017
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5AX