Beckenham facing up to more broken dreams - EXCLUSIVE

BECKENHAM TOWN boss Jason Huntley says it will be a “travesty” if his side are denied promotion into the Ryman League, as their humble little ground at Eden Park Avenue isn’t up to scratch, writes Stephen McCartney.

Local rivals Thamesmead Town moved three points clear of second placed Becks, courtesy of a late Herbingi Grant goal at Tunbridge Wells last night, whilst goals from Jack Parkinson and Richard Sinden ensured VCD Athletic kept up the pressure in fourth place with a 2-1 win at Greenwich Borough - Ben Yiadom scoring first for Boro’.

Beckenham Town, however, have been in this position before, just two years ago, when they went head-to-head with Maidstone United, who won promotion on the final day of that season.

The Stones are now playing Ryman Premier League football but Beckenham failed to build a new stand - costing only £20,000 - then and all that remains is a concreted base and broken dreams.

This season the club have not applied for promotion, leaving Huntley heartbroken.

“Very, very frustrating!”, Huntley said, when speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk last night.

“It’s a bit undecided what’s happening at the moment because we need a bit of work that needs doing down at the ground and we were promised certain things, whether or not they materalise next year?

“We’re building a good side now, it’s a shame for them if we did manage to win it and didn’t go up.

“It would be a travesty really with all the hard work the lads have put in.”

But the former Stansfeld boss, who took over from Gavin Rose who quit the club after finishing runners-up to Maidstone United on the last day of that season two years ago, revealed he will still be in charge of the side next season, although he wants the facilities in place to win promotion twelve months down the line.

He said: “I’ve spoken to a few of the boys, if I can keep all these boys, definitely, yes.

“I will be here if I can keep these. They’re a good bunch of lads here. It’s run nice, nice facilities now, it’s going in the right direction anyway so hopefully fingers crossed, we can do better than this next year.”

Gunning for the Kent League title; a place in the Kent Senior Trophy; and 90 minutes away from a Kent League Cup final, Huntley wants some long-awaited silverware.

Beckenham officials said last night that their Kent Senior Trophy final against Thamesmead Town will be played at Welling United’s Park View Road ground on Sunday, 13^th April, 3pm.

“We won the Charity Shield in our first year that we took over but (secretary) Peter (Palmer) and everyone else keep’s telling me they’ve never won anything so it would be nice to get a bit of silverware,” said Huntley.

Without a game over the Easter period, Huntley revealed what his plans are, adding: “I know we’ve got a weekend off but we’ll be in training Saturday and maybe get into watching a couple of games in the league Saturday and Monday.”

Huntley still feels Keith McMahon’s Thamesmead, leading the Kent League with 60 points with only six games remaining, will clinch their first ever Kent League title.

He said: “I think Thamesmead are favourites, VCD (six points behind in fourth place) won’t be far away.”

Beckenham’s next game is the visit of Sevenoaks Town on Saturday 29^th March before they travel to Erith Town for the second leg of the Kent League Cup semi-final on Wednesday, 2^nd April.

And Huntley said: "From Christmas we just said to the boys, "we've played more games than everybody", so we said all we can do is go on a run.

"I think since Christmas we've had 12 games unbeaten so they can't do more than I've asked.

"I've said don't worry about anyone else in the league because they've got to win their games.  We've got points on the board and all we can do is keep winning and hope there's a few slip ups."

Huntley’s men totally dominated the first leg last night but for a string of stunning second half saves from Dockers’ goalkeeper James Wastell, a post, and three goal-line clearances, the score, somehow, finished goal-less.

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