We must play better to progress in FA Cup, says Gorman

Monday 17th August 2009

ERITH & BELVEDERE joint-manager Paul Gorman was grateful to Casey Scotter and goalkeeper Matt Bromby for keeping his side in the FA Cup on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Deres were on the verge of exiting the competition at the first hurdle, as Sandhurst Town lead through Danny Wilde’s eleventh minute opener.

But the Bulmers Cider Kent League side toiled all afternoon for a goal, but the heroes of the day were Scotter and Bromby.

Sandhurst broke the deadlock through a wonder strike from Wilde. Picking the ball up in the centre circle, Wilde carried the ball forward as the home side’s midfield set back and from 25-yards, unleashed a dipping shot that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Bromby was to come into his own as Dan Simmonds and Matt Hopton both found themselves in one on one situations with the goalkeeper.

However, on both occasions Bromby produced excellent saves to deny the Sandhurst front two and keep the game within reach of the Kent side.

However, the Deres came out for the second half, with all guns blazing, and the introduction of David Conway and Ross Cable after 55 minutes really started to swing the match in Erith & Belvedere’ favour.

The Deres were getting closer to grabbing that all important equaliser and again it was much-travelled Cable, who was pulling all the strings.

As the minutes ticked by and with Sandhurst running the ball into the corners to waste time in an attempt to run down the clock, the Deres finally struck with 6 minutes and 30 seconds of added time played.

Adrian Deane’s corner was played short to Cable on the corner of the box. His chip to the far post found Scotter and the defender made no mistake to the delight of his team-mates and supporters.

As Sandhurst kicked off for the re-start referee Mr Bellinghgam blew his whistle for the last time and both teams will now head to the Bottom Meadow tomorrow night for the replay.

Scotter had broken Erith & Belvedere’s hearts during last season’s Kent Senior Trophy Final at Park View Road last April, as it was his brave header that levelled the score for Paul Foley’s VCD Athletic with seventeen minutes remaining, before Vickers fought back to win 3-2 after extra time.

But Deres’ joint-manager Paul Gorman demands that his side take advantage of their get out of jail card and finish off the job during Tuesday night’s replay.

“Radders (Richie Radbourne) and me tore into the lads at half-time, but I think you saw that they responded,” Gorman told www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk.

“They kept plugging away and I thought we fully deserved to get at least a draw.

“We know, and the players know, that they are better than that but they have to go out onto the pitch and show it. I’m hopeful that on Tuesday, they will!”

Article courtesy of www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Sandhurst Town v Erith & Belvedere

FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Extra Preliminary Round Replay

Tuesday 18th August 2009

Kick off 7:45pm

At Bottom Meadow, Memorial Park, Yorktown Road, Sandhurst, Berkshire GU47 9BJ