Beckenham Town Reds today, we'd played their "Whites" earlier in the season and won 6-3, they played in Blue ?! The pitch was Green (ish), Brody's boots were Yellow, Dave S's hair was (just about) Grey, the beer was standard light Brown and Andy R's gillet was the standard Magenta. More colours than a LGBTQ+ flag or one of Lee's dodgy spray paint jobs.

The opposition turned up fashionable late so kick off was delayed by 10mins. To be honest the boys needed an extra 10mins to get their footy heads on. I have no idea why we start so slowly in games, against better opponents we will be punished. In 2013 Ben Watson won the FA cup for Wigan against Man City - Wigan were relegated that year. We explained this to the lads that on the day hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard (copyright Dave French).

Beckenham could play no doubt about that, they had good individual players and threatened our goal early. Ollie was alert and our defence well marshalled. The break in the deadlock would come from an unlikely source Will Maynard connected with a corner from Elliot to make it 1-0. Settled the nerves (on the touchline at least). But we sat back and Will R and Tom just sat too deep in midfield, this invited Beckenham to play. Ollie performed his sweeper keeper role with great effect again trying to keep the ball as high up the pitch as possible.

The lead would be extended after some brilliant close control from Will R, he cut through the Beckenham defence like a a hot knife through butter and fed Elliot on the left a well placed shot with the inside of the foot hit the far post and in - no chance goalie ! 2-0. Soon Brody was to extend the lead, quiet game for him up to this point, he collected the ball in the right channel from Tom and despatched beautifully into the bottom left corner 3-0.

Beckenham grabbed a goal back when some slack marked on the left allowed their right winger to slot in after Ollie had made a good 1v1 save on the edge of his box. We must not switch off and allow our runners to get goal side of us. 3-1. All of a sudden Beckenham's tails were up and we started to get a little nervous. Rather than playing our footy we were finding the proverbial row Z when playing out with composure was the better option. Sure enough Beckenham pounced on this and pulled another one back after some poor marked again on the left, a speculative shot found Ollie out of position. 3-2

With minutes of the first half to go, Will M again connected with another corner this time from Tom and powered a header for 4-2. A great display again from Will strong defensively and now adding goals to his game. He was a real menace from set pieces today, power, timing and accuracy. HT

Time to refocus again, we were 4-2 up but it just felt a bit vulnerable defensively. A few changes to add some stability would hopefully solve this. Nope ! From a Beckenham corner their defender "Al La Maynard" headed passed Ollie from close range. 4-3. Finally this kicked our boys into action. Brody found a new lease of life and turned their left back inside out before smashing into the top right corner above the keepers despairing dive. 5-3. Soon after Jedi chased down a lost cause only to be brought down by the keeper, Peno !! Up steps Brody for his hat trick, easily despatched 6-3. Jedi was to grab his customary goal when Elliot fed him inside the right back and he danced through some weak defending, rounding the goalie and putting into an empty net 7-3. He needed that, his last two chances had been sent skywards when it may have been easier to score.

Beckenham were getting frustrated, Ronnie and their centre back got involved - Credit to Ronnie for walking away when clearly the defender wanted more. Tom was involved in the midfield squaring up to his emotional opposition. Their manager was whinging about decisions and one of their supporters was getting on the back on the referee. Now we must remember they are children and respect this, teach them right from wrong and how to be sportsman - this is our ethos but not everyones. I'm proud of how we carry ourselves, players, supporters, coaches, referees. Well done all. Scoring would be completed when Brody put in on the goal line after Tom delivered a free kick 8-3. Cue Beckenham whinging about Will R being offside. Chin-up goal stands. FT 8-3

Didn't feel like an 8-3, we can get a bit more polished without doubt but we will take this and progress through to the next round.

There is a good feel about the team at the moment, we play some really nice stuff and it's great to see everyone so comfortable on the ball and willing to play. Let keep building on this.