Beckwith desperate to keep hold of Town shirt

Ostracised Dean Beckwith is hoping to hold on to his shirt after helping the Hatters to a 3-1 victory at Ebbsfleet United on Monday, writes Mark Wood.

With defenders Garry Richards and Janos Kovacs injured and skipper Ronnie Henry suspended, the 28-year-old came in for his first league appearance in almost a year since getting sent off for an elbow against Lincoln City last September.

He’s hoping that he is finally back in the frame as his solid, no nonsense display helped Luton hole the Fleet on the way to their third-straight away win.

Beckwith said: “I want to play every game. I haven’t started this season, but got my chance and hopefully I’ve taken it.

“I felt it went OK for me, so we will see what happens Saturday. It’s been a tough year for me but I’ve just kept going and hopefully I can play as many games as I can from now on.

“Playing football’s what I do. I’ve had 10 months of training and not playing, I don’t want to do it any more, I’m desperate to play, I want to play for Luton.

“It has been tough, but it’s my job, I’ve got to keep myself going.

“Since I came back from injury, I’ve been training every day and know I’m not going to be playing on a Saturday, so it’s been tough.”

Boss Paul Buckle is a firm believer that those who earn their place should keep it, and Beckwith continued: “He said to us before the game, if we put the performance in and get the win.

“Unfortunately we didn’t keep the clean sheet but I thought the back four were good along with Tyles (Mark Tyler).

“I’m not reading too much into it, it’s one game but I did what I had to do. We’ve won the game away from home so we will just see what happens Saturday.”

High-flying Macclesfield are the visitors to Kenilworth Road at the weekend, and they number ex-Hatters Matthew Barnes-Homer and Charlie Henry in their squad as well as on-loan midfield John-Paul Kissock.

Beckwith though has been impressed with the players Town have brought in, especially their attackers, saying: “I’ve done my time here, the players that have come in this season it’s a pleasure to work with them because we’ve got some really good players.”

He’s hoping Luton can finally record their first home win of the season, having been held to a 2-2 draw by Gateshead on the opening game of the season and falling to a 1-0 defeat to AFC Telford at the weekend.

Beckwith added: “Saturday, I don’t know the number of shots on target, but we peppered them for a good 70-odd minutes of the game, especially second half.

“We had a lot of chances, it just wouldn’t fall for us.

“We haven’t won at home yet but hopefully we will change that Saturday.

“Every game’s tough especially them coming to our place, but as I said the spirit’s there, the fight’s there from the boys so we will go into it and hopefully win the game.”

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