Erith & Belvedere 1-0 Erith Town - My side have yet reached their prime, says O'Boyle

Tuesday 27th October 2009

ERITH & BELVEDERE 1-0 ERITH TOWN
Bulmers Cider Kent League
Tuesday 27th October 2009
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

ERITH & BELVEDERE moved to within seven points of runaway leaders Faversham Town as Jon Neal’s late strike settled a hard-fought Erith derby at Park View Road tonight.

The Deres leapfrogged over Herne Bay into second place in the Bulmers Cider Kent League table after the former Sittingbourne striker netted his first goal for the club in the 75th minute of a derby game where real chances were at a premium.

“We’re taking it one step at a time,” Erith & Belvedere’s joint-manager, Paul Gorman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“We know Faversham are good, everyone knows how good they are. We’ve just got to hope and pray that we do well against Faversham (here on 21st November) and other teams take points off them. We’ve just got to keep on winning.”

Much-travelled striker, Ross Cable, squandered a hat-trick of first half chances for the home side, although he was never going to beat visiting keeper, Tim Roberts on each occasion, with attempts on target from outside the box.

The Dockers’ best moments, however, came from set-pieces, taken by Drew Watkins, who was later forced off with a back injury, but Ben Yiadom nodded their best first half chance wide when well placed at the near post.

Both sides lack quality in the final third, as both defences came out on top.

However, Neal brought the very best out of Roberts in the 37th minute, when he turned his marker on the edge of the box and unleashed a fine left-footed drive, which the keeper did well to dive full length to his right to tip the angled drive around the post.

Long-haired Watkins, spectacularly cleared Cable’s looping header off the line following John-Paul Colliers’ corner from the left in the 47th minute and needed treatment to his niggling back injury, before being substituted on the hour-mark for Joe Plant, who impressed his manager with his running.

Then, a speculative cross-come-shot from Danny Tipple, almost caught out Roberts, who recovered to tip the ball over the bar after the ball went through his fingers.

Erith Town’s first shot on target arrived in the 58th minute after Lee Morgan was fouled just inside the area and set-piece specialist Watkins’ curled a right-footed free-kick over the wall but this was comfortably caught by Matt Bromby at the far post.

Another chance from a set-piece came Erith Town’s way in the 67th minute when Plant’s free-kick from the right was flicked on by Morgan but the burly Richard Dimmock couldn’t get enough contact on the ball to steer the ball goal wards when he was left unmarked inside the six-yard box.

A disappointing game was settled with fifteen minutes remaining when Louis Collins sent in a low cross from the right and Neal brought the ball under control and spun his marker to slam a low right-footed drive past Roberts and into the net from 12-yards.

The Dockers failed to trouble a home side’s defence, which was well marshalled by Dave Waters and skipper John Maloney, and their second real chance of the game arrived with six minutes left.

A long hopeful ball over the top was chased by substitute James Taylor, who appeared to make contact with the onrushing Bromby first outside the box.

Referee, Martin Peck, brandished a yellow card to the keeper, who was moaning at the antics of Erith Town’s players during the second half.

With Watkins now off the pitch, free-kick duties fell to Morgan, but his right-footed free-kick was comfortably dealt with by the keeper at the far post.

Although this performance won’t send alarm bells ringing over at Salters Lane, Gorman was pleased with his side’s seventh league win of the season.

“I thought we played well for the majority of the game,” said the Doncaster born Gorman.

“We knew they would be dangerous with set-pieces and we’ve combated it. I thought we done well, we kept a clean sheet and restricted them to minimal chances, which is good.”

He added: “That’s the best we’ve played in a while.”

Gorman revealed that goalscoring hero Neal is only 70% match fit and wants the former Sittingbourne striker to bang in the goals that will push Justin Luchford’s side all the way.

“He’s probably still only 70% fit, match fitness wise he’s probably getting there,” added Gorman.

“He’s a good acquisition for the squad. He’s going to do well, it’s great to have his first goal. Hopefully he scores more.

“We’re very happy with the squad. If we bring one in it makes the team stronger.”

Ever present Bromby, meanwhile, kept only his third clean sheet in 17 outings and this didn’t go unnoticed by Gorman.

“I thought the back four was absolutely brilliant tonight, they battled hard and they gave everything,” he added.

Erith Town manager, Steve O’Boyle, meanwhile was disappointed that his side’s three-match unbeaten run was ended by their near neighbours.

“I thought it was a close game, a tough game,” he told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“I thought we shaded the first half, we had a decent first half, we’ve had quite a few half chances, they’ve had a couple of decent moves in the first half, so it was quite an open game really.

“Both teams tried to play, I thought it was a good game and to be fair just at the end we had a couple of knocks and missing a couple of players.

“I thought a draw (would have been) a fair result.”

One big blow for O’Boyle was being without influential defender Dean Kearley.

“Dean was a major miss for us tonight,” admitted O’Boyle. “He’s working up in Cardiff and he was trying to get back and it didn’t work out.”

The Dockers’ second defeat (in eight league games) leaves them in sixth place in the Kent League table - and the former Thamesmead Town’s reserve team manager is setting his sights higher in only his second season in charge.

“Judge us at the end of the season, that’s all I say,” he said.

“I think we’ve got some good players at the club, got some decent players.

“My aim was try and go and win the league, obviously Faversham at the moment are very strong and Erith & Belvedere have gone three points further in front of us tonight.

“But I still honestly believe that we can go on a run and end up, maybe top three, something like that.”

O’Boyle did hit back at his critics who feel that there are too many experienced players in the ranks.

“A lot of people are judging us, saying some of the players have had better days,” he said.

“Well, of course they would! Jamie Kempster, Richard Dimmock, people like that, would’ve had better days. Dean Kearley, played for Charlton, you know what I mean!

“If they was at their best they wouldn’t be playing in the Kent League!

“I have got some good experienced players but I would say to you, people talk about our age.

“Richard Dimmock, Drew Watkins and Sam Prett are still in their twenties, they’ve been around for years but they haven’t touched 30 yet and I thought people were in their prime at 28-29!

“I’m not really worried about the age issue the only one whose knocking on a little bit is Jamie Kempster who is 35.”

But O’Boyle was disappointed that burly striker, Dimmock, who passed a fitness test on his hamstring injury, and Sam Prett failed to cause their neighbours problems when going forward.

But he hit-back, saying, “I don’t think they cut us open either! It was full of half chances, they never really cut us open. It was a pretty even game, both teams cancelled each other out.

“No-one really had a chance where they should have scored. It was a hard fought game.”

Erith & Belvedere: Matt Bromby, Matt Bedford, Joe Penny, Michael Dodsworth, Dave Waters, John Maloney, John-Paul Collier, Louis Collins (Adrian Deane 89), Ross Cable (Dave Hassett 73), Jon Neal, Danny Tipple (Nathan Bell 68).
Subs: Husseyin Budak, Casey Scotter.

Goal: Jon Neal 75

Booked: Matt Bromby 83

Erith Town: Tim Roberts, Aran Heyrettin, Lawrence Collins, Lee Morgan, Lee Craig, Lee Coburn, Drew Watkins (Joe Plant 60), Jamie Kempster, Richard Dim mock (James Taylor 73), Sam Prett, Ben Yiadom (Steve Diamond 79).
Sub: Scott Lewis.

Booked: Lee Morgan 84

Attendance: 102
Referee: Mr Martin Peck (West Malling)
Assistants: Mr Paul Greenfield (Eltham, London SE9) & Mr Mark Jenkins (Welling)