GOAL machine John Lawford has made his best ever start to a season and is now planning to lead Chesham on the FA Cup trail when they entertain Bedford in the first qualifying round (ko 3pm).

The 31-year-old has banged in ten goals in just nine league games but he now only has eyes for taking Chesham on a cup run.

He said: "I've never had a start like this. I'm really enjoying it but it would be nice to have a cup run.

"There's a good vibe to the place if you have a good cup run. I've only got the first round once and that was with Aylesbury. We went away to West Brom and got beat 8-0 so it's time we had another run."

And Lawford, the Southern League's top scorer, reckons Chesham have got the players to do well in the FA Cup.

He said: "You need a bit of luck to do well but we're good enough and we've surprised a few people this year so far.

"Hopefully, we'll have a bit of luck though we've got a tough tie against a team in the same division as us whereas there are lots of lower league teams playing each other.

"It will be a tough game as they beat the league leaders on Saturday."

Chesham go into the game back on form after beating Cirencester 3-1 on Saturday.

John Richardson converted Lawford's cross for the first goal, with Lawford then scoring direct from a free kick to get his name on the scoresheet for the eighth time in nine games.

Stuart Hole added a third in the second half with his first goal for the club before Cirencester added a late consolation.

Lawford said: "We had a blip but we seem to have got over it now.

"At the moment, I think I can score in every game and hopefully, that can keep going.

"It can bother you if you haven't scored for a few games but as long as the team is performing, that's all that matters."

Amazingly, Lawford's goals have included six from the penalty spot.

He said: "We have players like Sinky Steve Sinclair and Chris Herron who like attacking defenders and we've got a bit of luck with refs giving the penalties. I enjoy taking penalties and I don't find it a problem. I practise them on Thursday nights after training.

"I just get the ball and take it as quickly as possible and I always put it into the same side.

"When the second half of the season comes round, I might have to practise putting them in the other corner."

And the Meadow Men, who are without defenders Nathan Bowden-Hasse, who is supended, and Stephen Miles, who is injured, will be looking for more of Lawford's goals again tomorrow.