erith050305

    Bowey nets his tenth of the season

A LOCAL derby clash between two under strength sides at The Small Glen on Saturday saw SLADE GREEN overcome lowly Erith Town , thanks to a goal in each half from the home side.  

Kent's legendary goal-grabbing warhorse, Dean Bowey plundered his tenth strike of the season in the 11^th minute; while coming on as a sub, for one of his rare appearances, Tony Weir moved onto a Ryan Robinson release after 76 minutes and carried the ball forward before drilling it past the advancing Erith keeper to wrap it up for Green.  

A mixture of suspension and injury left Green without both their maurding wide men, Ryan Hayes and Dave Martin, which gave utility man, Billy Bond, the opportunity to play upfront.  

He responded well in the 10^th minute when following his own left side corner, he then drilled in a wicked cross from the by-line which Erith were relieved to hack to safety.  

A minute later, operating down the other flank, Bond again moved the ball well before slipping a measured pass back to Bowey who from 15 yards hit a first time drive just the inside the post of the keeper, Connearly, who seemed surprised by Bowey's quick thinking, and was a tad slow to react. 

Racked by the loss of key men this season, and starting with only three players who had lined up against Green way back in August, Erith still had chances to snatch a point.  

Steve Shippey was twice frustrated by Paul Vines, who was reinstated back in Green's goal for this clash, Vines' 38^th minute save was right out of the top drawer.  Just before going two down, Town's Mike Scowen somehow scooped over the bar from just 5 yards out when set up by Cohen's cross and in the dying minutes Vines needed two attempts to keep a more accurate Scowen strike.  

With Danny Little working hard just behind the Bowey/Bond front duo, Green also had chances to add to their tally.  Put through by Little, Bond sent a long shot dipping just over on 55 minutes.  

Then, as a winter storm set in around the hour mark, Wayne Barrett and Ryan Robinson combined well to win a corner.  Just after this Erth pressed hard for a short spell in search of an equlaiser, but after coming on as sub Tony Weir delivered a good diagonal ball to Robinson whose snap cross-shot was not far off target.  

Three minutes later Robinson returned the compliment for Weir who strode in to claim his first goal of the campaign.  

As the game moved into stoppage time Weir was again hovering dangerously as keeper Conneally had to twice vacate his box.  The second occasion nearly provided a goal for Green, but Weir had to settle for just a corner.  

Arguably, the real winner on the day were the conditions, dominated, as it was, by a gusting diagonal cross-wind, which left both sides struggling to control the ball, and keep their passes on target.