Lordswood continued their impressive start in the SCEFL Premier Division with a win over Hollands & Blair on Monday and face Binfield at home in the FA Cup first qualifying round on Saturday
05:00, 30 August 2024
Lordswood have made a fantastic start to the season and get an opportunity to make some history this Saturday.
Nicky Southall’s side have already seen off Erith & Belvedere and Shoreham in the FA Cup and now face higher-league opposition Binfield at home in the first qualifying round of the competition.
Lords haven’t been past this stage before. It’s a challenge Southall is relishing, having already seen his side win three of their opening four games in the Southern Counties East Premier Division to sit second in the table.
Weekend visitors Binfield put nine goals past Longlevens in their preliminary round tie and play their football in the Isthmian League South Central, one level above Lords.
“We know it’s a winnable game but it won’t be easy,” said Southall.
“There is a lot of money on the line at this stage.
“We will be classed as underdogs as they are in the league above. We have to try and get through to the next round. I want to make history and create those little green shoots of optimism for the club.
“Lordswood has been a club that has always struggled for survival but the reason I took the job is the two guys who are there, Ray [Broad] and Gary [Peck], the chairman and vice-chairman.
“They are ambitious and I am as well, I always was as a player.
“I always loved the test, when you get told you’re not good enough or past it. That is the bit that burns inside me. I like to prove people wrong.
“As a player at a young age I was told I wasn’t good enough but then I ended up playing in the Premier League. If we can get that kind of mentality into these players then hopefully we will have a good season.
“I couldn’t really have asked for more from the players with the start of the season we’ve had. We have points targets and this weekend against a Binfield team from the level above we need to go out there and try and create history.”
Lordswood beat Banstead Athletic last Saturday in the FA Vase first qualifying round 4-2 with goals from Elliott Duncan, Jarred Trespaderne and Quadri Green (2). That was followed by a 2-1 win over Hollands & Blair in the league.
Duncan was again on target, opening the scoring on 25 minutes, but Rob Gilman levelled. Mobolaji Dawodu scored the winner on 81 minutes.
It’s left Lords well placed after the first month of league action.
Southall said: “It shows how far we’ve come, to have gone to Corinthian and beaten them and Erith & Belvedere we knocked out of the FA Cup and they haven’t lost in the league since.
“Hollands & Blair have been beating teams comfortably. It was hard fought, it was a Medway derby with bragging rights on the line and a good crowd.
“We scored a good goal, gave a sloppy one away after switching off from a short corner. Rob Gilman is their main danger from set-pieces and I had him at Whitstable. It was a good header.
“The only bit to criticise is that we have to be more switched on and more alert.”
Lordswood return to league action at Snodland Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).
