It's in our hands, says Erith & Belvedere boss Micky Collins

Wednesday 17th April 2013

ERITH & BELVEDERE boss Micky Collins says his side cannot afford to slip up in their last five league games.

The Deres won the Erith derby last night by beating Erith Town 3-1 to remain two points clear of VCD Athletic as the Kent League title race reaches an exciting climax.

VCD Athletic extended their unbeaten run to fourteen games – since going down to a 3-0 defeat at Canterbury City on 17 November 2013 - after beating Tunbridge Wells 1-0 last night, courtesy of a second half goal from Uche Ibemere.

Erith & Belvedere welcome eighth-placed Beckenham Town to Park View Road on Saturday and Collins said: “Another tough game. It’s another cup final for us. We’ve got five league games that are going to be cup finals and a cup final so it’s not going to change for us.

“We have to go out there and roll our sleeves up. We didn’t have any injuries last night, thank God, so the squad’s strong. We left four out last night of the squad, which is a plus for us. The squad’s very, very strong and we can look at it again Saturday and rotate it with fresh legs and we can go again. All it’s about is three points.”

Erith & Belvedere then welcome FA Vase finalists and Kent Senior Trophy holders Tunbridge Wells to Park View Road next Monday night.

Collins said: “Tunbridge Wells will be feeling it a bit now. They’ve got to play tonight, Thursday night and maybe their league bubble has burst last night, which is unfortunate for them.

“That’s going to be a tough game, but as soon as they come and play against us, they’ll want to come and get three points, which is fair enough. We’ll do what we do and try and get the points on the board.”

Collins knows his side cannot afford to slip up, especially as they have led the table for so long during the course of the season.

“The boys know we’ve got to win five out of five. We can’t rely on VCD. They’re on such a fantastic run. I think we’re the only ones that have taken points off them for a long time. 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.”

Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Erith & Belvedere v Beckenham Town
Kent Hurlimann Football League
Saturday 20^th April 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY