Kentish Football 
Erith & Belvedere 4-1 Corinthian - The hard graft's paid off, says double winner Micky Collins
Saturday 11th May 2013
ERITH & BELVEDERE 4-1 CORINTHIAN
Macron Kent League Cup Final
Saturday 11th May 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road
ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Micky Collins thanks his players’ from the bottom of his heart after completing the Kent League double at Park View Road.
Ryman League Division One North or South bound Erith & Belvedere clinched the Kent Hurlimann Football League title on a dramatic final night of the season, when they thrashed Greenwich Borough 7-1 here on 30 April to win the title by two points. VCD Athletic had to settle for runners-up spot after Tony Russell’s side played out a goal-less draw at Lordswood to throw away the title in dramatic fashion.
Collins’ side became the 12th team to complete the Kent League double and they join the great sides from Maidstone United (2005-2006), Ramsgate (2004-2005), Cray Wanderers (2002-2003), Maidstone United (2001-2002), Herne Bay (1996-1997), Danson Furness (1995-1996), Greenwich Borough (1986-1987), Sheppey United (1978-1979), Medway (1976-1977), Chatham Town (1971-1972) and Faversham Town (1970-1971), to win the Kent League title and League Cup in the same season.
Fifth-placed Corinthian, who can leapfrog over Lordswood into fourth-place if they win at FA Carlsberg Vase runners-up and Kent Senior Trophy winners Tunbridge Wells on Monday night, took the lead through Adam Marsh’s sixth-goal of the season, before Erith & Belvedere restored parity through Richard Davies.
Erith & Belvedere took the lead when substitute striker Adam Burchell volleyed home with nineteen minutes remaining, and they killed Corinthian off when striker Richmond Kissi slotted home his 23rd goal of the season.
Skipper Jamie Wood scored Erith & Belvedere’s 153rd goal in their 50th game of the season at the death, before Corinthian left-back Ben Wilson was sent-off.
“I’m absolutely chuffed. I’m really over the moon today,” said Collins afterwards.
“I thought we went through the motions first half and took it too easy and I said to them at half-time if we had a proper go at it we could win this comfortably -and in the end we did.
“They are a really good side Corinthian and they play the right way. They’ve got no money and it’s a great ethic and all credit to them.”
Corinthian manager Matt Longhurst, who was Tony Sitford’s coach last year when they went down to a defeat in last year’s final to VCD Athletic, added: “I just said to the boys 4-1 is probably not a fair reflection on the game but sometimes you have to accept that.
“We sort of threw caution to the wind a little bit towards the end. Four-one makes it look like they absolutely battered us and I didn’t think they did.
“Having said that I thought we could be a lot braver in terms of getting on the ball and passing it. I didn’t think we passed it enough today at all.
“We spoke about that all week about how to beat them. The first goal killed us a little bit just before half-time because I thought we were on top and then they got the goal. I thought we were the better side and that gave them a little bit of a lift going into half-time. Maybe we was a little bit flat going into half-time.
“I’m delighted with the boys. I can’t ask no more from them. They’re 17-20 year-old lads and they’ve got a massive future as far as I’m concerned so disappointing on the day but we look for a reaction on Monday now.”
The first half was a nervy encounter and Erith & Belvedere created the first chance of the game inside ten minutes.
Target-man Andy Constable was freed down the right and he whipped in a low right-footed cross which was swept wide by left-winger Kieron McCann, who hit a first time shot from 12-yards.
Corinthian’s opening chance arrived in the 18th minute when right-back Jaie Nuttall swept in a free-kick and Daniel Bent (who was playing in the middle of the park instead of in defence) sent a towering header into Jack Bradshaw’s arms from 12-yards.
But Corinthian squandered an excellent chance to take the lead when Nuttall played the ball into Marsh’s feet, who swept the ball in behind Erith & Belvedere left-back Sam Hasler and Lee Woodyard cut the ball back to the edge of the box for an unmarked Jamie Taylor to crack a left-footed drive over.
That was followed by Nuttall swinging in a corner from the left towards the far post where Bent rose high above marker Drew Crush to plant his header over from four-yards.
Corinthian went close again when Alfie May swept the ball out wide to Bent, who played the ball inside to Woodyard, who rode McCann’s sliding challenge before cutting the ball back to Taylor, who this time dragged his left-footed shot wide of the post from 18-yards.
Marsh then played a diagonal pass to put May through on goal but his left-footed shot was blocked by Bradshaw.
Longhurst rued that miss and said: “I think Alfie should’ve scored there to be honest! Perhaps the ball fell on his left foot instead of his right foot. Listen, the boy’s scored 30-odd goals in all competitions this season so I’m not going to knock him for missing one chance! Having said that I didn’t think he was at his best today but we didn’t pass it which makes it a bit more difficult for him to get involved in the game.”
Corinthian, however, livened up a nervy start by opening the scoring in controversial circumstances after 33 minutes.
Wilson clipped the ball over the top of the Erith & Belvedere defence to release Marsh through the middle. The Corinthian striker appeared to be yards offside but linesman Danny Geary kept his flag down and Marsh raced into the box, rounded keeper Bradshaw and rifled a left-footed shot into the roof of an empty net.
Longhurst accepted his side’s lucky break and said: “Ben Wilson put the ball over the top – I couldn’t see whether it was onside or offside to be honest. I wasn’t watching and he’s gone round. I thought Marshy was good today. He lead the line well, he’s a good player.”
Collins and his management team couldn’t believe that the goal was allowed to stand.
He said: “It’s five-yards offside! It’s absolutely blatant! He (Mr Geary) got one wrong two minutes before it and he actually amended it because we spotted it. No disrespect but he’s 10-yards behind the play. He’s not the fittest lad and he’s behind and it’s miles. When you look into the crowd and there’s 20 people that all shout ‘it’s offside!’ you know there’s a problem.”
Collins was asked to leave his technical area in the 61st minute for putting his views across after Jamie Wood was flagged offside by Mr Geary.
He added: “To be honest, he’s pulled another one out in the second half and we’re in to score and he’s not offside! He’s run from behind the player. Listen that’s what happens unfortunately. You get decisions through the season and sometimes you don’t. I was just annoyed at the fact how rude they are talking to you!”
Erith & Belvedere issued Corinthian a warning when a long ball out of defence from Davies released winger Orlando Smith, who played the ball inside to Kissi, whose right-footed shot on he turn curled across Richard Stroud and past the far post.
But Erith & Belvedere equalised in the 39th minute, courtesy of a mistake from the Corinthian keeper.
McCann swept a right-footed free-kick into the penalty area and Stroud inexplicably dropped the ball at Davies’ feet and the central defender accepted the gift to steer his right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner from eight-yards.
Collins hailed his trademark set-piece goal.
“It’s something we do, we put balls in areas and it’s worked for us all season,” he said.
“Stroudy was with me for two years and he’s a good lad but like all keeper’s they’re reliable to do something wrong and unfortunately for him that’s happened and we’ve capitalised.”
Longhurst refused to blame his keeper for his costly blunder.
“Stroudy has been outstanding for us all season and I said to the lads in the changing room I’m not going to point fingers,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s going to help anybody certainly in their development as players. He dropped the ball. It’s a mistake. Keepers do that at the highest level. Unfortunately we were punished for it.
“I do think that really did punish us mentally going in at half-time. I think going in 1-0 I do think we would’ve gone on and won the game but goals change games unfortunately.”
Hasler then pumped a deep cross towards the far post where Constable directed his header wide of the near post from ten-yards thirty seconds into injury time.
Collins was clearly upset with his side’s disappointing first half display and admitted he gave his side an ear-full during the half-time break.
He said: “I had a bit of a moan. I didn’t go mad. It wasn’t one of my hairdryer moments, but I wasn’t happy.
“We’ve gone so far this year and we’re 45 minutes away from achieving something that people don’t, which is a double, which is phenomenal. Even as a player or a manager that’s one hell of an achievement and I didn’t think we wanted it enough. I questioned their desire a little bit and the boys proved me wrong as they have done all season.”
Longhurst added: “We just said, just keep doing what we’re doing. We could hear the dressing room next door and they were getting a rollicking from Micky so we just said keep doing what were doing, perhaps try and pass it a little bit more with a little bit more patience with our build up play.
“I felt we could get the other side of their midfield and effect our midfield players in to the game and get a runner onto their back four, so we said pretty much the same to be honest.
“All you need to do against these is defend long balls, long throw ins and if you defend that right then you’ve got half a chance, but if you don’t defend that right then they’re affective and they’ve won the double on the back of that so you can’t knock it!”
Erith & Belvedere created the first opening early in the second half.
Jamie Wood swung in a left-footed corner from the right and Crush was left unmarked at the far post to nod wide from eight-yards.
Longhurst explained why he hauled Gillingham bound Bent off the pitch five minutes into the second half.
“The referee just worded to him, which I saw, he said to him ‘one more and you’re off!’
“I thought his booking was soft as well. I felt it was harsh on the kid. I thought there was another couple of challenges, one from Kissi and a couple others that we’re a little bit high. I’m not asking them to be booked but I thought it was a bit soft on a defensive midfield player and he’s a young kid so he couldn’t ended up leaving the pitch with 50-60 minutes gone so disappointing really to have to take him off because I thought it worked playing him there.
“I felt he done well. He’s played in there before when he first came in to the side to take a bit of responsibility of his shoulders so we swapped him and RJ (Ryan Johnson) and I thought it worked up to that point. I’m disappointed to have to take him off but we did it to the benefit of the kid as well as the team.”
But Corinthian should have regained the lead when 32-goal striker May played a sublime diagonal pass to unmarked substitute Jack Howlett, who took a touch before stroking a right-footed shot from sixteen-yards, which was blocked by Bradshaw’s left-foot.
Collins added: “Jack’s pulled off four great saves that they’ve could’ve put themselves back in the game. Credit to them, they’re a really good side. I take my hat off to Matt and Tony Sitford and Lee Barnett, they’re good boys and they play the right way. They’ve got no money and it’s a great ethic and all credit to them.”
Longhurst added: “The keeper’s made a few good saves.”
Constable (who has scored 29 goals this season) was clearly unhappy to be substituted in the 57th minute, but introducing former Gillingham, Dartford and Margate striker Burchell to the game ultimately won them the game.
Burchell scored his seventeenth-goal for the club when Erith & Belvedere took the lead for the first time in the 71st minute.
Paul Springett, who was playing his last game before retirement, played the ball out to McCann, who sped past two Corinthian defenders down the left hand side before sailing a cross into the penalty area.
Corinthian keeper Stroud looked destined to catch the ball but central defender Charlie Burgess rose at the near post and his slight deflection saw the ball loop over the keeper and an unmarked Burchell jumped and stuck out his right-foot at the far post to volley the ball into the roof of the net from six-yards.
Collins revealed: “We just thought Andy had a go for an hour or whatever and he’s run out of steam a little bit and we just felt we’d go with pace and stretch them and see where it takes us. Fortunately for me it’s happened and it always makes the manager look good when a sub scores so I take full credit for that one!”
Longhurst wasn’t pleased with his side’s defending that failed to deal with the initial cross.
“I felt that Josh James had just come on and he’s not long been on the pitch and I felt defensively he should’ve done better,” he said.
“Jaie Nuttall has done ok, he’s held him up and he showed him out wide. Josh has doubled-up and he went the wrong side and the blokes beat him and then crossed it.
“I think Stroudy the keeper calls and comes and catches it, he hasn’t said anything and Charlie’s gone to head it and he takes Stroudy out of the game and then Burch has stuck it in the back of the net.
“To be able to bring on players like Adam Burchell in a cup final in the Kent League when two years ago he was playing at Dartford, a year before that he’s at Gillingham and he was at Margate all of last year, that’s the difference to be honest. The experience and the quality that they’ve got. That’s what comes when you pay money!”
But clinical Erith & Belvedere put the game beyond Corinthian’s reach when they scored their third goal only 109 seconds later.
McCann stroked the ball from the middle of the park and released Kissi, who picked the ball up 30-yards from goal, before speeding into the penalty area before slotting a right-footed shot underneath Stroud to score from 12-yards.
Collins admitted: “I don’t think Richmond was having his best game and to be fair at the time it could’ve been a toss-up between him or Andy that came off. I didn’t want to go three up top. We chose to take Andy and go with pace with both of them (Kissi and Burchell) and it’s a good finish. He stood the keeper up, he’s given him the eyes and he’s slotted it home. It’s a great finish!”
Longhurst added: “I think at 2-1 a few of the boys just panicked a little bit and we tried to chase it. Decision making is a key thing in football and the better players make the better, right decisions. The lesser players or certainly the less experienced players make more bad decisions and I felt that’s just what happened.
“We just killed ourselves with that third goal. At 2-1 I felt we possibly could’ve got back in the game. Three-one, personally felt it was going to be a difficult day.”
May, who has a whole host of higher-league clubs after his signature during the close season, brought the ball under his spell before stroking a right-footed shot from 25-yards, which brought a comfortable low save from Bradshaw, who excelled again soon after.
Wilson swung in a corner from the right which was headed out by Crush. Substitute Josh Hames played the ball to Marsh, who beat the offside trap to drill a right-footed shot, which was saved by Bradshaw.
Corinthian midfielder Chris Kinnear was then given time and space to unleash a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which forced Bradshaw into making a fine diving save to his right to push the ball away.
Erith & Belvedere wrapped up the victory two minutes and 40 seconds into injury time and Collins paid tribute to Jamie Wood for his contribution to their successful campaign.
Hasler was given time and space to float over a cross towards the edge of the box and Burchell (with his back to goal) flicked the ball through to Wood, who slid in to stab his left-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
Collins said: “I’m chuffed for Jamie, he’s been immense for me all the time that he’s been at this club. He’s just a skipper. He’s a leader, he’s got experience, he’s played. He does find it tough at times to play twice a week but he does everything. He doesn’t miss a training session. If anybody that hasn’t been a pro should’ve been he’s the boy because he’s just dedicated. I thought he left a bit in the locker with the celebration, I didn’t think he had that in him!”
Longhurst said: “To be honest my mind’s going a little blank with the fourth one but we threw RJ (Johnson) further forward so we played three at the back for the last eight or nine minutes to try and get back in it and he’s scored.
“I’m not fussed about the fourth goal to be honest but I actually think all their four goals that they’ve scored were from our mistakes. I don’t think that they’ve actually scored a good goal. I’m not knocking them but I thought all four goals were defendable.”
The fourth goal was harsh on a Corinthian side that should be congratulated on their excellent season – but Wilson saw red in the fifth minute of injury time when he was sent-off by Ryman League bound referee Daniel Bonneyfield for kicking Smith in a tussle for the ball.
Both managers were asked their thoughts on the challenge.
The Corinthian boss said: “It’s poor from him to be honest. He shouldn’t do that! He’s a young player and he’s got to keep his head. He’s done brilliant all season. The manager of Dagenham, Wayne Burnett just said to me the young left-back is decent and technically he’s good.
“Listen, it’s one of those things, it’s frustration. He probably shouldn’t done a little bit better with the fourth goal so perhaps it’s a little bit of frustration. He’s a young, young player. He’s done brilliant all season and again I’m not going to dig him out. It’s a mistake. He shouldn’t have done it. It’s definitely a sending-off. I’m not going to condone it. He shouldn’t have done it!”
Collins turned into Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and said: “I didn’t see it! I didn’t see the incident that led to it and I didn’t see the sending off. I was chatting to someone in the stand and I turned round and someone was shouting and he got sent-off. I didn’t see any of that so I can’t comment.”
Before this season, Erith & Belvedere last the Kent League title back in 1981-82 and just like the London Red Buses that pass Park View Road, you wait ages for one and then two trophies come along at once!
“Listen, I thank the players’ from the bottom of my heart because of what they’ve done. A lot of those boys can play higher and they haven’t chased a pound note and they’ve been honest lads. They’ve been fantastic.
“It’s great for our club. It’s great for our chairman (John McFadden) who’s been here 30 years and never seen us win anything and like buses, as I said last night, two come along at once, (points across to behind the goal) as one goes past.
“We’ve done it. We’ve achieved what I set out to do and I’m absolutely really chuffed. I really like the look of that League Cup and I fancied that earlier in the season and the hard graft’s paid off and I’m a really, really happy boy.”
Collins added: “When I took over three years ago, I think everyone believed we wouldn’t achieve anything. It’s taken a while and we’ve proved people wrong and I think the catalyst for that was last season finishing runners-up. I never thought we challenged Herne Bay for it but I could see then we had enough about us to keep it strong and go and win something.
“We’ve had the belief and the chairman and the directors believe in me and they’ve supported me all the way. We run on a shoe-string here really. Everyone looks and thinks we’re a wealthy club. We’re not! We have to work within parameters and we’ll have a look at that again and we’ll do the same again.”
Today’s game attracted a crowd of 452 to a match that kicked off at 12 noon and Collins wants to see those people back for their inaugural Ryman League campaign, which gets underway in August.
He said: “I would like to see all these faces here today and more of them come and support us next season. It’s Ryman football and I’d like some of the Welling fans, if they’re not travelling away (in the Conference Premier) to come and support us as well because it’s nice to see this ground with quite a few people in it. It means a lot to me to see that!”
Corinthian maintain the bridesmaid’s tag, but reaching back-to-back Kent League Cup Finals – without a playing budget – is a remarkable achievement.
Longhurst said: “I’m disappointed for the boys that they haven’t got a little bit more out of today because I thought they deserve it in terms to the season, maybe not on the day, but the season they’ve had, it would’ve been nice for them to pick a trophy up today.”
Collins also reflected on Corinthian’s achievements and said: “It must be tough to take if you don’t win but it’s one hell of an achievement in our league which is a tough league to get to that final two years’ on the bounce that’s the achievement and if you manage to get the result then all well and good and that’s the same as Tunbridge Wells. Obviously all of us wanted them to win at Wembley and that wasn’t a case but that’s another massive achievement that a club in our league has gone on and done that!”
Erith & Belvedere: Jack Bradshaw, Allan Matthews (Sean Johnson 88), Sam Hasler, Paul Springett, Richard Davies, Drew Crush, Orlando Smith, Jamie Wood, Andy Constable (Adam Burchell 57), Richmond Kissi (Lewis Wood 85), Kieron McCann.
Sub: George Benner
Goals: Richard Davies 39, Adam Burchell 71, Richmond Kissi 73, Jamie Wood 90
Sent Off: Micky Collins 61 (manager)
Corinthian: Richard Stroud, Jaie Nuttall, Ben Wilson, Daniel Bent (Jack Howlett 50), Charlie Burgess, Ryan Johnson, Jamie Taylor, Chris Kinnear, Alfie May (Denzel Gayle 82), Adam Marsh, Lee Woodyard (Josh James 66).
Subs: Matt Holder, Danny Nash
Goal: Adam Marsh 33
Booked: Daniel Bent 44, Lee Woodyard 59, Adam Marsh 85
Sent Off: Ben Wilson 90
Attendance: 452
Referee: Mr Daniel Bonnywell (Herne Bay)
Assistants: Mr Danny Geary (Maidstone) & Mr Oliver Fyfe (Sidcup)
Fourth Official: Mr Kevin Welsh (Sittingbourne)
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