Kentish Football 
Visiting players raise their game against us at Park View Road, says Deres' assistant Julian Leigh
Thursday 16th September 2010
ERITH & BELVEDERE assistant manager Julian Leigh admits players raise their game when they play on the excellent surroundings at Park View Road, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Deres have underachieved during their previous five season’s in the Kent League, finishing in fourth place in their first campaign back at this level, and last season they finished in the bottom five.
Hopes were high in pre-season under Micky Collins as manager, but the Deres have suffered three defeats since their opening day win at Herne Bay and go into Sunday’s FA Vase tie at home to Sussex County League Division Three minnows Saltdean United with only Tunbridge Wells, Lordswood and Sporting Bengal United below them in the table.
The Tigers currently lie in second position of the Sussex County Football League Division Three table, three points behind League leaders Dorking Wanderers.
With a record standing at played 7, won 5 and drawn 1, their only loss of the season occurred on the opening day of the season when going down by 2 goals to three, at home to Bosham.
Their most recent away result saw the Tigers win by five goals to three at Sidlesham and last Saturday, Saltdean beat Lancing Reserves by five goals to two in the Sussex County Intermediate Cup.
With four goals to his name, captain Matt Fleming is the clubs leading goal scorer and the Tigers will be coming to Park View Road looking to cause a Cup shock, similar to Erith & Belvedere’s FA Cup win at Ryman League Division One South strugglers Corinthian-Casuals last weekend.
“I think when you look at the FA Cup at the weekend, obviously Tonbridge losing at home, obviously Sutton losing, to a lesser degree Hastings losing, sides can come and do a job and they can come and win at places like this,” Leigh told www.kentishfootball.co.uk following his side’s shocker in the Erith derby in midweek.
“To be fair, coming here, it’s their Cup Final. I don’t know where Saltdean play, I don’t know what their ground’s like, but it’s not going to be like this and all due respect to them.
“Certainly if I was a Saltdean player, I’d be coming here and looking to put in a hell of a performance and the surroundings and everything, I’d want to do it as it’s my Cup Final.”
Having lost the Erith derby 3-0, Leigh admitted on Tuesday night that “players had to look at themselves in the mirror” and the management team demand a good performance against the Sussex minnows.
“We’re going to do a (training) session on Thursday night and obviously we’re going to be looking for a reaction from the players,” said Leigh.
The Deres look likely to be without defender John Wilfort again due to an ankle ligament injury picked up at Corinthian-Casuals last Saturday while right-back Lee Gledhill picked up a groin injury on Tuesday evening against Erith Town.
Visit Erith & Belvedere’s website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk
Erith & Belvedere v Saltdean United
FA Carlsberg Vase Second Qualifying Round
Sunday 19th September 2010
Kick off 4:00pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd