Erith Town 4-1 Hythe Town - Dockers' fight-back leaves Fisk speachless

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Reachfields Stadium just eight days ago, Steve O’Boyle’s men put on a display that left Hythe Town boss Paul Fisk literally speechless.

Two goalkeeping errors from visiting goalkeeper Paul Hyde, who turns 45 next month, gifted the Dockers two of their four goals on the night, although league leaders Hythe Town did hit the crossbar on three occasions.

It took Erith Town 35 minutes to reduce the aggregate arrears when Kevin Spriggs capitalised on Hyde’s first error, but when Mo Takaloo pounced to equalise on the stroke of half time, it left the Dockers with a mountain to climb, as Hythe went into the half-time interval 4-2 up on aggregate.

But Erith Town defender Dean Kearley capped an excellent display at both ends with a goal to give his side the lead on the night, when most supporters were still enjoying a half-time drink, and midfielder Ted Hart forced extra time with a dramatic late header, before both sides were reduced to ten men.

Substitute Lawrence Collins, meanwhile, stabbed home Erith Town’s fourth goal on the night to seal the 4-1 victory, which sends the holders into a final showdown with Croydon as they bid to defend their silverware that they won courtesy of a 1-0 win over Hythe Town at Folkestone Invicta’s Cheriton Road last May.

It would have been so different had Erith Town goalkeeper Jack Bradshaw didn’t deny the visitors after just five minutes.

Mark Bond’s free-kick from inside his own half was knocked down by Takaloo and Ben Sly’s driven shot was superbly turned around the post by the goalkeeper.

And the crossbar saved the Dockers in the 16^th minute, when Dave Cook unleashed a stunning 35-yard right-footed drive, which crashed against the top of the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

Played in windy conditions, Hythe Town were by far the more direct side, smashing balls from back to front at every opportunity.

And Erith Town utilised Allan Matthews’ long throws at any given opportunity.

And this method almost brought a goal, as the ball dropped to Hart, who stabbed the ball agonisingly past the foot of the far post.

But Erith Town broke the deadlock with just ten minutes to go before the break, courtesy of a mistake from Hyde, who later regretted his time wasting tactics, when his side were hanging on with a slender one goal lead later on.

Matthews’ long throw found its way to Hart, who was lurking on the edge of the penalty area unmarked, and his driven shot was spilt by Hyde and Spriggs was on hand to steer the ball into the corner of the net.

Hythe, meanwhile, immediately responded as they levelled on the stroke of half-time.

Dockers’ defenders allowed Pat Kingwell’s smashed free-kick to bounce over their heads and striker Gary Mickelborough flicked the ball forward for his strike partner Mo Takaloo, who initially swiped an air-shot towards goal, but recovered to prod the ball past Bradshaw to score his eighth goal following his move from Ryman Premier League side Margate.

But with most supporters still inside the warmth of the clubhouse, news had filtered through that Kearley had scored inside the opening two minutes of the second half, to give Erith Town the lead on the night.

A free-kick was punted forward from midfield and after twisting and turning on the right-hand side of the penalty area, Kearley cracked a stunning angled left-footed drive, which he curled around Hyde and into the far corner of the net. And yes, I did see it!

Now only 4-3 down on aggregate, Erith Town, presently in fourth place in the league table, ten points adrift of the leaders, sensed victory.

And Hyde pulled off a fine low save to his left to prevent Erith Town levelling with fifteen minutes of a one-sided second half remaining.

Adam Cotterill whipped in a wind assisted free-kick from the right and this was met by a near post downward header from Kearley, but Hyde got down low and quick to prevent the ball bouncing into the far corner.

Ben Sly squandered a great chance to make the game more comfortable for Hythe, but his downward header at the far post was comfortably saved by Bradshaw at his near post.

Man-of-the-match Kearley utilised his height again, meeting Lee Craig’s free-kick with a looping header, which forced Hyde to pluck the ball out of the air, underneath his crossbar.

But Erith Town deservedly forced extra time as all their dominance resulted in an 89^th minute leveller.

This time it was Adam Cotterill to deliver the free-kick, this time from the left, and this was met by Hart’s looping header, which dropped into the far corner.

But both sides blotted their copy book as both Tom Adlington, the Hythe skipper, and Lee Coburn were shown their second yellow cards towards the end of normal time.

And Erith Town’s longest servant, Alan Hanlon was also red-carded, although he had already been substituted and was watching from the home dug-out at the time.

But both sides could have grabbed victory inside the six minutes of time added on.

Hart poked his shot agonisingly past the post, and at the other end, Bradshaw made an excellent near post save to prevent Mickelborough snatching victory for Hythe.

With the aggregate score level at 4-4, the game went into extra time.

Hythe had the better of the chances during the first period, the best effort coming from a 35-yard drive from substitute Billy Sommerville, which had initially caught Bradshaw out, but the goalkeeper grabbed the ball before the spilt ball had bounced over his line.

Although Hythe were playing the route-one football throughout, Erith Town’s 108^th minute winner came from Matthews' rocket launched throw.

It was flicked on by Kearley and Collins’ initial poked shot was parried by Hyde, but the substitute reacted to slam the Dockers into the final.

Marcus Cassius, the Erith Town striker who has scored 40-goal this season, had a quiet night, but he almost caught Hythe on the counter-attack, racing through on goal, but flashing his shot just past the near post.

And an excellent acrobatic goal-line clearance from Dockers’ defender Aran Heyratten prevented  Cook’s looping header to drop into the far corner at the death.

“A brilliant night, brilliant night for the boys and the club,” a jubilant O’Boyle told www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

“I came in four days before the season started, and if you turned round and said to me then we’d be in a cup final at the end of it, and where we are in the league, it’s a great tribute to the boys.

“Most people wrote us off, 3-1 away at Hythe, a lot of people wrote us off, (but) we’ve turned up here today we instilled into the boys that they turn up here tonight positive and that’s what they’ve done.

“They’ve given us one hell of a performance tonight and I’m so proud of them.”

O’Boyle hailed his heroic players’ performance, insisting he never once panicked that his side could turn the game on it’s head with dramatic goals from Hart and Collins.

He said: “We had a little game plan, which we was talking about, we weren’t going to go gun-go.

“I don’t know if I was expecting us to go three up front and go for it, but what we worked out we’re going to split the game into twenty minute periods.”

Kearley deserved the accolades with an inspirational performance at both ends of the pitch.

“I’ve got to say Dean Kearley’s been an absolute legend since he’s come in from Thamesmead,” praised O’Boyle.

“Experienced, he’s not blessed with pace, but what he is, he’s an absolute leader, a legend, what a defender.

“When I signed him, I knew he is the best centre half in the league.”

O’Boyle is relishing the Bulmers Cider Kent League Cup Final, which will take place at Folkestone Invicta’s Cheriton Road ground on Saturday, 2^nd May.

They will lock horns with Croydon, who thumped Faversham Town 6-0 on aggregate in the other semi-final.

“I’ve got some good friends at Croydon, I’ve been speaking to them today on the phone, the ex-Holmesdale lads (Ken Thurgood and Tony Beckingham) and they were here tonight.

“I’m looking forward to it. We’ve been speaking about it, saying, ‘wouldn’t it be lovely to play each other in the final?’

“Well, that’s the way it’s going to be now!”

But O’Boyle is keen to retain the club’s crown, which was won for the first time by previous manager Mark Tompkins last May. 

But he warned, “It’s going to be tough, Croydon are a really good side.  They’ve picked up a load of good results of late and they’ve got some good players down there and under the guidance of Ken and Tony they’re getting results week in week out.

“To go and beat Faversham 6-0 in the semi-final it just underlines what they’re doing down there.

“They’re a decent side so we have to turn up. It’s going to be a tough game and hopefully we can come through it.”

Shell-shocked Hythe manager Paul Fisk, meanwhile, declined to comment on his side’s capitulation, despite being asked twice for an interview.

Erith Town: Jack Bradshaw, Aran Heyrattin, Lee Craig, Ted Hart, Dean Kearley, Lee Coburn, Allen Matthews, Alan Hanlon (Tony Gallagher 87), Marcus Cassius, Adam Cotterill, Kevin Spriggs (Lawrence Collins 83).
Subs: Scott Lewis, Craig Hewett, Danny Kemp.

Goals: Kevin Spriggs 35, Dean Kearley 47, Ted Hart 89, Lawrence Collins 108

Booked: Dean Kearley 59, Lee Coburn 77, Lawrence Collins 110

Sent Off: Lee Coburn 89
(Alan Hanlon was sent off from the dug-out after being substituted)

Hythe Town: Paul Hyde, John Walker, Mark Bond, Tom Adlington, Pat Kingwell, Dale Skelton, Dave Cook, Ben Sly, Gary Mickelborough, Mo Takaloo (Darren Walmsley 67), Lee Winfield (Billy Sommerville 90).
Subs: Joe Bullard, Luke Giles.

Goal: Mo Takaloo 45

Booked: Tom Adlington 52, Dave Cook 90

Sent off: Tom Adlington 86

Attendance: 70
Referee: Mr Ian Fissenden (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr Dave Hooker (Bromley) & Mr Mike Ingram (Chatham)