We've got to see character against Beckenham, says Sevenoaks assistant Martin Barnard

Constable, 33, has banged in 31 goals for their Kent Hurlimann Football League rivals Erith & Belvedere, and Barnard admits the club needs someone like him.

Sevenoaks suffered a shock defeat to Kent Invicta League outfit Hollands & Blair in the Umbro Kent Senior Trophy Final yesterday, going down 2-1.

Hollands & Blair, who went into the Park View Road showdown sitting in sixth place in the League below Sevenoaks, went into the half-time interval two goals up, courtesy of Nick Smith’s diving header and sublime looping chip.

Sevenoaks rallied late on and substitute Aaron Guard chipped home a consolation with only six minutes left, which turned out to be too little too late as their opponents from Gillingham lifted the silverware for the very first time in their history.

And with Blair only playing Rochester & District League football just eight years’ ago, the defeat was a bitter pill to suffer for the Sevenoaks faithful.

The club have only Greenwich Borough below them in the Kent League table and Barnard says the players must be lifted ahead of their home derby game against Beckenham Town on Wednesday night.

He said: “That’s when you see character.  It’s going to be difficult for all of us. We’ve all got to walk away and look at the decisions we’ve made and get ready for Wednesday because we’ve got a tough game.

“Beckenham are a very, very good side, as most are in this Kent League. We know that.”

Sevenoaks have scored 26 goals in 26 League games this season, conceding 48, with 20 points, four points better off than Greenwich Borough.

“We are quite a young side and it’s all about scoring goals,” explained Barnard.

“If you look at Erith & Belvedere, Andy Constable, how many goals has he got?  31 goals makes such a difference.  If you have someone up there rattling goals left, right and centre and keep a clean sheet, you win games.

“Defensively we’re not too far away.  We haven’t conceded too many goals this season. It’s just the goals for.

“Richmond Kissi being out injured is a massive blow when he got injured at home to Woodstock.  He was on fire.  If he was out on the pitch yesterday it would’ve been a different game, we think.”

Meanwhile, Greatness Park continues to stage the Kent Women’s Cup Final, which sees Charlton Athletic lock horns with Gillingham this coming Thursday night, 19 April, kicking off at 7:30pm.

Visit Sevenoaks Town’s website: www.sevenoakstownfc.org

Sevenoaks Town  v  Beckenham Town
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Wednesday 18^th April 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Greatness Park, Mill Lane, Seal Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5AX