Davies's young Rebels must step up for 'tough' Hornchurch test and cup clash at Bedfont

Photo credit: Zak Rana

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Slough Town’s reward for finally seeing off Isthmian League Premier Division Welling United in Tuesday’s replay is a winnable looking third qualifying round tie at Bedfont Sports on Saturday week (September 27).

However, player manager Scott Davies has warned his players to underestimate their step 4 hosts at their peril.

Having watched highlights of their matches already, he feels they’ll present a very similar threat to Welling United and hopes the squad have learned lessons from this week’s challenging ties that they can take into next weekend’s match at the Bedfont Sports Ground.

Bedfont may play a couple of levels below the Rebels in the Isthmian League South Central Division, but they’re used to winning matches - or at least avoiding defeat. Davies said that they’re unbeaten inside 90 minutes in all competitions so far in 2025, an incredible statistic that should give them confidence when they host the Rebels.

The Rebels found it difficult to get the better of Welling United over two legs, with a late penalty cancelling out Peter Ojemen’s first half strike at Park View Road on Saturday to force Tuesday’s replay.

It then took them 79 minutes to break the deadlock in front of their own fans at Arbour Park, with Wiktor Makowski turning home Nnaemeka Anwanyu’s low cross from close range. But the visitors had been resolute in their defending and difficult to break down having shifted into a low block following Scott Simmon’s red card for a late challenge on Davies in the seventh minute.

Looking ahead to the clash at the Bedfont Sports Club on Saturday, September 27, Davies said:

“If football was played on paper, it would be easy, but it’s not, it’s played on grass. Everyone is saying it’s a great tie, but I’ll be making sure the lads are not thinking it’s going to be a walkover of any sorts.

“That’s when you come unstuck. I think Bedfont lost their first game within 90 minutes for the first time in 2025 last night.

“They’re used to winning games of football and they have an idea and identity of how they play football. I’ve watched them this morning and they’re well organised, like Welling in terms of being difficult to break down. Last night’s game should stand us in good stead as to what we should expect from Bedfont. We learned a lot throughout the game and got better as we went on but it’s never going to be easy in the FA Cup.

“This will be the furthest Bedfont have gone in the competition for a long period of time, so they’ll want to make sure they get through to the next round.”

Before that the Rebels are back in National League South action at home to league leaders Hornchurch on Saturday.

Daryl McMahon’s side have won six and drawn two of their first eight matches to deservedly sit at the summit, but, while Davies acknowledges Saturday’s clash will be far from easy, he always backs his young side to come up with a performance against the top teams at home.

They head into the clash missing a few key players through injury, but Davies is backing those who come in to deliver.

“It’s a massively tough game,” he said.

“They’ve recruited well, they have a lot of experience and they’re a well-funded team with National League players coming down to the level. For me they also have one of the best managers at the level in Daryl McMahon. Six wins and two draws so far so it’s going to be far from easy.

“But I said last night, we always fancy our chances at home – against anyone. We’ll look to find a style of play that allows us to get the most from the match. We’ve got to take confidence from that. Our lads often turn up against the big hitters in the league. We more often let ourselves down against the so-called smaller clubs.

“So, I’m going into the game with confidence. We’re threadbare in terms of our squad but we can still get a very good 11 out there with options from the bench. Maybe not necessarily our most experienced 11 but sometimes that hunger and youthfulness can pay off.”