Erith & Belvedere 3-1 Erith Town - We need to win five out of five, says Micky Collins

ERITH & BELVEDERE 3-1 ERITH TOWN
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Tuesday 16^th April 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Micky Collins says his side must collect maximum points from their final five league games to be crowned Kent League champions on 30 April.

The Deres' remain two points clear of VCD Athletic, who ended Tunbridge Wells’ seventeen-match unbeaten run, courtesy of Uche Ibemere scoring the only goal of the game at Oakwood tonight.

Erith & Belvedere celebrated winning the Erith derby after taking an early lead, courtesy of an own-goal from seventeen-year-old left-back Conrad Lee.

Erith Town equalised through striker Fabian Batchelor after 57 minutes, before two late goals from Kieron McCann and Alex Waugh kept Collins’ side in the box seat as the Kent League title race comes to an exciting climax.

“It was a good result,” said Collins after his side’s nineteenth-league win of the season.

“I thought we should’ve taken our chances in the game.  Erith put up real, tough resistance.  Tommo always puts out a real organised, solid side and they proved that again tonight. It was a tough game.  We scored two late on to take the three points, which is all important.”

Erith Town boss Mark Tompkins added: “I didn’t think we turned up first half to be honest with you, but second half we came out and had a go at them.  We got the equalising goal and I thought there was only going to be one winner after that!”

Erith & Belvedere created the first opening when Allan Matthews hurled a long throw into the box and Jamie Wood’s over-head kick was blocked and Andy Constable’s right-footed drive from 18-yards drifted narrowly wide of the upright.

Erith Town’s first chance swiftly followed. Lee delivered a long throw and Greg Benbow played the ball inside to Grant Brown, who hit a first time right-footed drive over from 18-yards.

But Erith & Belvedere grabbed the lead with only 5 minutes and 19 seconds on the clock.

Just why Orlando Smith was wearing black gloves on a mild evening is anyone’s guess, but the former Bromley winger played in a cross from the left, which was headed across goal by Drew Crush and the ball bounced off the back of Lee’s ankles and dribbled into the corner of the net past his flat-footed keeper.

Collins said: “When we played them a couple of weeks ago, there were certain ways we could get in.   We put the ball in the box well, it’s flicked on and Crush has got something on it.

“A great start! We needed that. We knew that we haven’t been playing well lately and we’ve been struggling and trying to get results.  Maybe being at the top spot puts that much pressure on us and we needed a nice bright start tonight and we did.”

But Tompkins was pleased that the youth team player bounced back from that early set-back and put in a decent performance for the rest of the game.

He said: “Good player! I think he’s going to be a very good little player, left-foot as well. They’re not easy to find, left-footed left-backs, a decent one anyway!  He’s only seventeen, he’ll do well. He’s got a good career in front of him.”

The former Chipstead manager thought his side could’ve defended the goal better and said: “We didn’t pick up Drew Crush, he got a free header, a little flick. He should’ve been picked up. The centre half came of him. 

“We’re building for next year. We’ve got a young side.  Three of the back four are 17. The goalkeeper’s seventeen, the left-back’s seventeen, the two centre halves are eighteen so they’re learning as they go along.”

Erith & Belvedere should have increased their lead further when they linked up well down the right when Smith cut the ball back to right-back Matthews, whose first time cross sailed over Wood’s head and Constable played the ball back in and Wood cracked a first time left-footed drive over from sixteen-yards.

Erith Town’s best chance of the first half, however, arrived in the seventeenth-minute, when they should have clawed their way back into the game.

Ciro Donadio played a precise through ball, which Batchelor did well to wrestle the ball off Crush before hooking his right-footed shot agonisingly wide of the foot of the near post from seventeen-yards.

Tompkins added: “That’s been the story since I’ve been here! We’ve missed a lot of opportunities.

“We seem to make a mistake and then we get punished all the time.  We don’t get away with it.  They keep going in the back of the net, again, three goals tonight were mistakes.”

Another chance fell The Dockers’ way on the half-hour mark when Russell Bedford’s through ball released Batchelor, but the ball got stuck under his feet as he burst through towards the penalty area.  The ball came out to striker Kofi Quartey, who swept the ball inside to Benbow, who teed up Brown, but the former Motherwell midfielder spooned his first time shot on the turn over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Erith & Belvedere left-back Sam Hasler then played a delightful 50-yard pass to release 29-goal target-man Constable through in the middle and the burly striker brought the ball down with his chest before steering his left-footed half-volley agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.

Collins said: “That happens in football.  We’ve all been there.  I was a striker and chances come and go.  When you’re pushing for what we want to achieve you hope they go in and they haven’t.

“But you can’t fault his (Constable) record with us. He’s scored so many goals in so little games really, it’s just phenomenal!

“You have nights like that. Fortunately we’ve gone up the other end and the boys’ have done the business for him. 

“I’d be more worried if we weren’t creating anything.”

A mix-up in communication between visiting keeper Mike Eacott and central defender Billy Parkinson gifted Constable a second chance, one that he fluffed and skimmed his right-footed shot into the top of the side netting from an acute angle.

Constable should have scored when he rose like a salmon to plant his free header over from eight-yards after McCann floated in a cross from the right.

Erith & Belvedere skipper Wood almost gifted their rivals an equaliser, but was relieved when his firm header sailed narrowly past his own post after Lee whipped in a left-footed free-kick from 35-yards.

And another long throw from Lee should have brought a better finish from Brown, who sliced his right-footed hooked volley wide from 30-yards.

Both managers’ were asked what was said during the half-time interval.

Collins said: “Not a lot really!  The boys have got to keep believing in themselves and keep doing things right. There were certain bits that we wanted to address, which we did and just keep plugging away.

“We had quite a strong bench tonight again and we knew late on if we really had to go for it we could really have a go and try and cause some damage.

“It worked because little Steve Okoh has come on and created a bit and so has Alex Waugh and all of a sudden we’ve got a couple of goals back and we’ve won the game.”

Tompkins added: “Just get amongst them!  We gave them too much respect for them.  The first game when we won 4-3 at home we were right in their faces, winning second balls and I said we have to do that in the second half and we did for 25 minutes.”

Erith & Belvedere started the second half just like the first, when their two left-sided players linked up well inside the opening five minutes.

McCann released full-back Hasler through on goal and opted to drill a right-footed shot, which deflected off Parkinson and Eacott gathered the bouncing ball at his near post.

Wood went close again – this time towards the right goal – when his angled drive deflected of Lewis Knight and looped just over the Erith Town crossbar.

But Tompkins was pleased when his side restored parity by scoring a 57^th minute equaliser, which was harsh on goalkeeper Jack Bradshaw, who had made a world-class stop.

Bedford was given acres of space to unleash a powerful right-footed drive towards goal from 25-yards, which deflected off Richard Davies.  Bradshaw was going to his left initially but stuck out a strong right hand above his right shoulder to turn the shot away, but Batchelor reacted first to steer the ball in to the net from a couple of yards.

Tompkins, a prolific goalscorer during his playing days, was pleased that Batchelor took heed of his advice.

“I said to him he’s got to start following things in.  He had a few the other week, a few shots from outside the box, but he didn’t follow them in and he was on his heels all the time.  Luckily enough he took a note of that today and scored!

“It looked to me once we got the equaliser there was going to be one winner!”

A disappointed Collins added: “We’ve switched off to be fair.  We could’ve got a bit tighter to the fella who hit the shot off. He’s hit a great shot and Jack’s done what he’s good at. He’s made a great save but we haven’t followed in. We’ve switched off expecting Jack to do, I don’t know what to do with it, but it’s dropped and they’ve put on in, which is the same as VCD.  It happened the same thing with Scott (Chalmers-Stevens) in goal, but fortunately we’ve got enough in our locker to get something out of the game.”

Erith & Belvedere responded and Smith’s low right-footed angled drive deflected off Knight and went out for a corner, which was swung in towards the near post by Wood for Constable to steer his header just wide form two-yards.

With news that VCD Athletic were now leading Tunbridge Wells coming through, Erith & Belvedere knew a draw would put the pressure back on them.

When asked whether he was keeping in touch with that game, Collins replied: “I wasn’t interested in that!!”

Collins enhanced his attacking options when he brought on Waugh and Steve Okoh, with Constable and central midfielder Inderjeet Aujla making way.

Smith curled a 40-yard free-kick into the box and Crush’s back header sailed just wide of the post.

Smith then cut in from the left and drilled a right-footed shot, beyond Eacott’s despairing dive, the ball narrowly missing the foot of the near post.

But Erith & Belvedere eased the pressure when they finally doubled their lead with eight minutes left.

Hasley pumped a deep free-kick towards the penalty area from the middle of the park and the ball fell kindly for McCann at the far post and the full-back drilled his shot into the bottom corner, aided by a deflection of Knight.

Collins said: “Sam Hasler took the free-kick and delivered it in and it’s come out and Kieron smashed it in.  I don’t know if it’s an OG or whatever. It’s going straight in anyway, but he’s got something on it.

“Very crucial.  You could tell by the way the boys celebrated it means a lot to them. They’ve come over to the bench, which is lovely and they know what it means to all of us.  We’ve all put a lot of effort in to be where we are in the league and whatever happens last game of the season it will be, that’s how it’s set but we’ll just keep trying until the end.”

Tompkins added: “Again, that’s come from our silly throw on again.  Rather than work the line we’ve thrown the ball inside than we’ve made the foul and then a deep ball in and what are Erith & Belvedere about?  Long balls into your box! So you’ve got to try and cut out all the silly mistakes, all the silly fouls and they don’t get it.”

A mistake from Erith Town defender Parkinson allowed Smith’s low cross from the right fall nicely for Waugh, but his right-footed shot was saved by Eacott to his right.

Smith swung in the resulting corner for Crush to head straight at the Erith Town keeper.

Another couple of chances went begging for the home side.  Richmond Kissi ran towards the edge of the Dockers’ box, but dinked his right-footed shot over from 18-yards, before they missed a gilt-edged chance when Smith cut the ball back to Waugh, who swept a first time low shot with the outside of his boot, which brought a comfortable save from Eacott.

But Erith & Belvedere scored their third goal of the game with 49:02 on the clock, which was nearly the last kick of the game.

They hit The Dockers on the break and Waugh released Okoh through on goal, but Eacott advanced off his line and towards the edge of his box to make a fine block and the ball came out to Waugh, who slotted the ball into the bottom far corner of the empty net from 35-yards.

Collins said: “Steve Okoh went through on goal, the keeper parried it out, Alex rolled it into an empty net off his shin pad!  Alex came on and could’ve had three or four.  We’ve had some good chances up the top second half and again it’s just hasn’t broken for us and we should’ve smashed it when we’ve tapped it and should’ve tapped it when we should’ve smashed it!

“That happens but three goals at home again. We’ve got 97 goals in the league now (in 27 games) – not bad for a long ball side!”

Tompkins added: “It’s one of them.  We were chasing the game there.  There weren’t long to go so we’ll take that one on the chin, but the other two were preventable.”

Erith & Belvedere – who face Corinthian in the Macron Kent League Cup Final at Park View Road on 11 May – welcome Beckenham Town to Park View Road on Saturday and Tunbridge Wells next Monday.   They then travel to Whyteleafe (25 April) and Lordswood (27 April), before ending their campaign at home to Greenwich Borough.

VCD Athletic complete their campaign against Erith Town, Fisher, Beckenham Town, Corinthian and Lordswood.

Collins said: “VCD are a really good side. Whichever way the title goes it will be a good side that wins it because it’s over 32 games.

“We’ve still got five games to go.  Obviously when you go into the changing room at the end you’re curious what happens and then someone tells you that they’ve won 1-0 and missed a penalty so they’ve done well because Tunbridge Wells are flying so that’s a great result for VCD, but we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing.

“Listen, you’d all have the title wrapped up by the end of March or even possibly February, but that’s not the case.  Tony Russell and Razor (Ray Powell) have done a fantastic job. They did a great job at Erith Town early doors and then they’ve switched and they’ve gone and consolidated there and have done a fantastic job (at VCD).  They’re a good side, they’re a real, good organised side and they’ll push us all the way and whoever comes out on top will be the deserved winners of the Kent League.

“The boys know that we need to win five out of five.  We can’t rely on VCD (slipping up).  They’re on such a fantastic run.  You’ve got to rely on them winning all five of their games and we have to do the same.  It’s in our hands.”

Tompkins confirmed that his side can no longer snatch the title and begins the rebuilding process for next season.

“We thought that a couple of weeks ago anyway,” said Tompkins.  “We’re taking it game by game, having a look at these youngsters, see who we want for next year and then go from there.”

When asked about positives and negatives from the club’s eighth league defeat of the season, the club’s third manager of the season replied: “Plus points yes, first half an hour of the second half we came out and we showed what we’re about.  I said to them after the game if we had done that in the first half we would probably come out winners tonight.

“Negatives? The poor goals we keep giving away, so we just have to learn from that. They’re young boys and we have to learn from our mistakes. The penny has to drop with them sooner or later.

“We’re a team that likes to press. If we don’t press then we’re not a good side but when we do we proved it at home against them and Tunbridge Wells and Whyteleafe.   We can be quite a force. We didn’t turn up first half. That’s the story about tonight.”

Meanwhile, John Wilfort confirmed tonight that he will hang up his boots at the end of the season to concentrate on coaching the Deres.

Erith & Belvedere: Jack Bradshaw, Allan Matthews, Sam Hasler, Inderjeet Aujla (Steve Okoh 65), Richard Davies, Drew Crush, Orlando Smith, Jamie Wood, Andy Constable (Alex Waugh 65), Richmond Kissi, Kieron McCann.
Subs: Sean Johnson, Sam Groombridge, John Wilfort

Goals:  Conrad Lee 6 (own goal), Kieron McCann 82, Alex Waugh 90

Booked:  Drew Crush 21, Kieron McCann 42, Richard Davies 44, Alex Waugh 90

Erith Town:  Mike Eacott, Steve Newman, Conrad Lee, Billy Parkinson, Lewis Knight (Jack Pallen 83), Grant Brown (Luke Coleman 56), Russell Bedford, Ciro Donadio (Wayne Grizzle 61), Kofi Quartey, Fabian Batchelor, Greg Benbow.
Subs: Adriano Lawson, Tom Warren

Goal:  Fabian Batchelor 57

Booked:  Ciro Donadio 26, Kofi Quartey 71, Fabian Batchelor 73

Attendance: 65
Referee: Mr Aji Ajibola (Erith)
Assistants: Mr Rob Baker (Maidstone) & Mr Steve Roots (Tunbridge Wells)