Beckenham Town 0-1 West Wickham - It doesn't get any lower than this, admits Huntley

Despite leading the Eden Park Avenue outfit to last seasons final, Huntley was left stunned by his side’s poor performance against a side that relish their big games against Kent League opposition.

West Wickham - missing SEVEN players - went into the game with a 100% record in the top-flight of Southern Amateur League football and thoroughly deserved their win, courtesy of a stunning drive from striker Dan Haines in the first half.

They now travel to either Sevenoaks Town or Croydon - who meet at Greatness Park on Saturday - and the amateurs are more than capable of adding another Kent League scalp to their name, having dumped Norton Sports out in the first round with a 4-0 win at Corkscrew Hill earlier in the season.

Despite their lowly status, West Wickham’s many supporters could sense their side could cause yet another cup upset, especially as their neighbours went into the game on the back of an unwanted record of five games without any win.

Beckenham Town, who handed ineffective Scottish striker Steve O’Donnell his debut tonight, forced visiting goalkeeper Mark Owlett into making an early save, beating out Charlie Hearn’s driven shot at his near post.

But it was Beckenham Town’s Michael Holder who was going to be the busier of the two goalkeepers.

With 12 minutes on the clock, the stocky goalkeeper spilt Haines’ right-footed drilled effort from 25-yards, but managed to pounce on the ball to avert any danger.

Beckenham’s two lacklustre strikers, O’Donnell and Durrant Jemmott both spurned good chances without forcing Owlett into making a save.

In what was a fast-and-furious opening half-hour, Holder made a comfortable save from King’s deflected drive from 25-yards.

But spirited West Wickham scored what turned out to be the winning goal, with just 20 minutes on the clock, with a training ground goal that any manager would have been pleased with.

Skipper Adam Freeman floated in a free-kick from midfield and this was met by a towering fierce header across the face of goal by Neil Currie. The ball dropping nicely for Haines to strike an unstoppable right-footed drive, which flashed into the bottom far corner.

West Wickham, a side full of locally based players, were relishing their first game under floodlights this season, and they almost doubled their lead against a poor Beckenham side with 32 minutes on the clock when Chris Rose’s left-footed drive from 25-yards deflected just past the near post.

Stunned Beckenham did rally just before the break, but they couldn’t find a breakthrough against a rock solid West Wickham back four.

West Wickham’s right-back, Greg Brown, who was wearing the number nine shirt, had a couple of early second half chances.

Beckenham’s second shot on target, however, didn’t arrive until the 56^th minute when Charlie Side - back in the team following a nine-match injury lay-off - brought a fine save from Owlett at his near post.

And defender Danny Lawson came agonisingly close to bringing Beckenham back from the death when his left-footed drive slid just past the foot of the near post.

A solid West Wickham defence released King down the right in the 62^nd minute and the striker cut inside Becks’ captain Michael Ebanks at left-back and once inside the penalty area he was denied by a fine save by Holder, who dived to his left to turn the ball around his near post.

The only time that Beckenham looked like scoring tonight was from corners. Hearn’s in-swinging corner was met by Lawson’s near post header, which looped over the crossbar.

Holder was forced into action again with eleven minutes remaining, turning King’s fierce drive around the near post.

Despite enjoying plenty of possession as West Wickham’s brave hearts tired, Beckenham didn’t know what to do with the ball and smoker Owlett was able to keep a clean sheet.

West Wickham substitute Rob Guppy had a couple of late chances, but it would have been harsh if Beckenham levelled inside stoppage time, but Owlett dived low to his right to prevent Jemmott from scoring with a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which slid towards goal.

After meeting individually with his players that failed miserably, Huntley, spoke honestly to www.kentishfootball.co.uk about tonight’s embarrassing cup exit.

The former Stansfeld boss demands that his beleaguered players bounce back for the visit of league leaders Hythe Town here at Eden Park Avenue on Saturday.

“It’s hard to explain really,” he said. “I feel a little let down by the boys in the first half. I think they redeemed themselves slightly in the second, but we had a lot of possession, without creating anything.”

Speaking about West Wickham, Huntley added: “That’s like their cup final to be fair. They’re a young side, organised, worked hard for each other.

“We let ourselves down tonight I think. No disrespect to them, but we didn’t play to our full strengths.”

Since beating then leaders Holmesdale at Eden Park Avenue at the beginning of October, Beckenham have lost eight of their last nine league and cup games.

And it’s this form that leaves the club rooted to the bottom four of the Bulmers Cider Kent League table with a record of four wins and two draws from 16 games.

“I can’t put my finger on it at the moment,” Huntley tried to explain. “We’re a team of two halves at the moment. We have one good half and one bad half - it’s the story of our season.

“When we are playing well we absolutely murder people, but we’re not consistent enough. We haven’t had a settled side all season. We haven’t had the same back four for three games on the spin, not the same forwards either and midfield has been neither here or there.”

Honest Huntley went on to criticise players who can perform in the Football League, Conference or Ryman League, but can’t perform against Kent League sides.

“We’ve lost a couple of players this year but we’ve brought a couple in who are capable of playing, but it’s just hasn’t gelled again this year,” said Huntley.

“We think the people we’ve got here are capable of doing a job, but as from now our season is virtually over.

“There’s a lot happening this season on and off the pitch. Off the pitch it’s taken over things on the pitch. We lost our ground at one point because there was a mix-up on the lease and now we’re just sorting that out.

“We’re really trying to build for next season. We’ve got a few new people coming in.”

Huntley does not want to hear opposing managers go up to him and say hard lines - he wants his side to play well - and win.

And he has given his side FIVE games to turn the corner or players will be shown the door.

“Every manager comes up to me and say “we’re the best footballing side we’ve played”, revealed Huntley.

“It’s no consolation to me when we keep on getting beat. It’s no good having a good footballing side and not winning games.”

Huntley, meanwhile, demands a positive reaction against current league leaders Hythe Town on Saturday.

“I’ve put it to the boys today I want them to show me there true characters now, if they want to roll their sleeves up and do a job,” he said.

“If they don’t want to do it, let me know tomorrow and we’ll change our personnel. Simple as that.

“I’m looking to get a few new young kids in. I’ve got a couple of people who I’m going to sign tonight. It’s a good club, people want to come and play for us, so I’ve got no problem attracting players.

“We’ve got some high-profile players in and they just haven’t gelled together at the moment.

“First of all we’ve got to put some more points on the board. We’re capable of going on a run of five, six, seven, eight games. We are capable of doing that.

“That’s what I’m hoping we will do and then we’ll re-asses it at the end of the season. Maybe bring a couple of young players in, have a look at them towards the end of the season and hopefully build for next year.

“I’ve had quite a few stern words with a few of them. I’ve spoken to them individually and we’ll see what happens. Hopefully it does the trick.

“It don’t get no lower than this and good luck to them, they worked hard, they deserved their victory tonight but I said to the lads all the time I’ve played football and managed my seasons have never been over in December.”

Despite his side’s famous victory, West Wickham manager Alan Cotton would like to go all the way in this competition.

“I think we played pretty well tonight, better than we played last week and quite possibly we could have won by more goals,” Cotton told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We’ve beaten lots of sides in the Kent League and I’m sure they knew we were a decent side. They would have looked at our record and seen we’re unbeaten this year so I’m sure they didn’t take us lightly.

“I think we play a good standard of football. I think it’s as good, if not better than most of the Kent League sides and I think our results prove that.

“We didn’t play to our full potential today. I think we play much, much better than that! The pitch was a bit boggy, it slowed us down, but if you look at our results, we’ve played ten games now, or eleven games and only lost one.

“We’re pleased, we’re not carried away by it. We’ve got a few games to play before we can get to the final - let’s see if we can get there.

“On our day, if we can get a full side out we’ll give anyone a decent game.”

Cotton was quick to praise his heroic players, adding: “Matt King, our centre forward, had an outstanding game; Ross Simmonds, at the back had an outstanding game and also James Gibson.

“Our defence is very good. They don’t lose anything in the air. They are called the air control unit because they get everything in the air and I’m afraid Beckenham played into our hands by playing long balls and made life easier for us.

“I think our keeper’s had one or maybe two direct shots to save, that’s all I counted anyway.”

Cotton, meanwhile, is desperate to land the Kent Senior Trophy for the very first time.

“I’d like to win the league again, it’s a big league, a very strong league,” he said. “We’re unbeaten in that but we’d also like to win this Trophy because we’ve never got to the final of this and people will see us as minnows.”

Beckenham Town: Michael Holder, Jason Clews, Michael Ebanks, Nick Curran, Danny Lawson, Chris Hubbard (Martin Dell 82), Charlie Side (Wade Falana 67), Charlie Hearn, Darren Wise, Steve O’Donnell, Durrand Jemmott.
Subs: Billy Taylor, Nicky Meta, Jason Taylor.

Booked: Charlie Side 19, Charlie Hearn 23, Chris Hubbard 77, Michael Holder 80, Danny Lawson 90

West Wickham: Mark Owlett, Dan Haines (Rich John 83), Neil Currie, Adam Freeman, James Gibson, Ross Simmonds, Adam Wadey, Jay Askew, Greg Brown (Rob Guppy 72), Matt King, Chris Rose.
Subs: Joe Ivory, Steve Jones, Steve Foster.

Goal: Dan Haines 20

Booked: Neil Currie 26, Matt King 36, Adam Freeman 85

Attendance: 130
Referee: Mr Andy Mead (Orpington)
Assistants: Mr Andrew Hyde (Dartford) & Mr Chris Price (Bromley)