I've got to have players who are going to work for 90 minutes, says Beckenham Town boss Huntley

BECKENHAM TOWN boss Jason Huntley has warned his under-performing side that he will wield the axe next season, writes Stephen McCartney.


The Becks experienced the highs and lows over the Easter weekend, thrashing Corinthian 6-0 in their last game of the season at Eden Park Avenue, before coming away from champions-elect Hythe Town on the back of a 6-2 defeat.

Beckenham’s preparation at Reachfields Stadium on Easter Monday was something of a Sunday League side as their away strip only turned up 30 minutes before the kick-off, with Huntley and his players standing helplessly out on the pitch whilst Scott Porter’s side went through their pre-match warm-up routine.

Beckenham go into their final game of the season – away to Deal Town on Saturday – sitting in ninth place in the Kent League table.

Huntley said: “Do you know what? I don’t know what to expect next week.  We’re struggling with players at the moment with injuries, we’ve had a couple of boys who are still suspended and a couple of lads who played (on Sunday) in a Cup Final got injured and that’s why they couldn’t play (at Hythe) and we’re short on numbers.

”I’ve just said to the boys, I won’t see them again until Saturday, but to let me know who is available and whose not available.”

Huntley admitted his side’s home form (losing 8 league games) has been their downfall.

He said: “We’ve been terrible at home this year.  We’ve been awful at home on a great playing surface, it should suit us but we’ve caused our own problems, our own downfalls by not doing the right things in the right places.

”In this league you’ve got to defend.  We’ve got defenders who want to get the ball down and play with it.  There’s a right time to play with it and there’s a right time to defend.  Unfortunately we do it the wrong way round.”

When asked about his plans for next season, Huntley replied, “We’ve got a few young players who we want to bring through next year who we’re hoping to have next year.

”You’ve got to have people who are going to work for 90 minutes.  If you have luxury players, you’ve got to have the people who work around them so you’ve got to have the happy blend really, but we do have a couple of players in mind.”

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

Deal Town  v  Beckenham Town
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Saturday 30^th April 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at The Charles Sports Ground, St Leonards Road, Deal, Kent CT14