Kentish Football 
We will struggle to keep hold off our better players, says Erith Town assistant Lew Watts
Monday 18th April 2011
ERITH TOWN midfielder Peter Smith says his team-mates were saving their best for Sunday’s glorious Kent Senior Trophy Final, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Dockers went into the game on the back of nine league wins without a win, but two goals from striker Alex Tiesse and a stunning half-volley from Smith sealed a 3-1 win over Tunbridge Wells at Park View Road yesterday.
“I think all season we’ve been knocking on the door to do something like that,” said the 26-year-old former Thamesmead Town midfielder.
“I think we had one eye on this to be fair. The records said since we won the semi-final, I don’t think we have won a game since, so we’ve had one eye on this and that’s affected our league position.”
Reflecting on the game, Smith admitted Martin Larkin’s side were unlucky not to be leading at half-time.
Tiesse headed Erith Town into a thirteenth minute lead, before Tom Davey struck Tim Roberts’ crossbar, before Keelan Mooney grabbed his seventeenth goal of the season to level for Tunbridge Wells, following a blunder from the Dockers keeper.
Erith Town weathered the storm and according to manager Tony Russell, 32, “showed courage” during the second half and Tiesse fine run and low finish and Smith’s half-volley brought the Kent Senior Trophy to Erith Town for the very first time in the club’s history.
“Alex’s header set us up really, and then after that they pegged us back, we were lucky to come in at half-time, drawing,” said Smith.
“Again, Tiesee’s a decent player to be honest. He shouldn’t be playing in this league.”
Reflecting on his own goal, Smith said, “It just came out and I just hit it! I didn’t even think about hitting it. I just hit it on the half-volley and luckily enough it went in.
“I think, overall, we probably just edged it, but I think if they had scored before half-time, I think they would’ve put us under more pressure.
“I think they were unlucky to be honest. They’ve got a good following. I would call it a bigger club than us, but I think they thought we’d edged it at the end of the day.”
Erith Town, then dark horses for the Kent League title, climbed to the summit following an impressive 4-2 win at strugglers Fisher on 7 February, but they failed to cope with the pressure and performances went down hill.
But Smith said: “The club’s hardly got any money, just built a new stand (roof), so hopefully next year we could even win the league.”
Assistant manager, Lew Watts, 36, was delighted that a return to one of his old stomping grounds had ended in success.
“Pleased to come back where it’s close to me, having spent ten years here (playing for Welling United), so it’s nice to get the result what we wanted,” he said.
Watts paid tribute to former Maidstone United striker Tiesse, who took his goalscoring tally to nine for the season with his two goals.
He said: “Alex has worked his butt off all year for us but lacking in goals, so I’m pleased for him.
Watts added: “I think all round there was some good performances. There’s three or four players that we’ll struggle to keep hold off for next year, Alex being one. I think our skipper, Ben Payne, has been outstanding all season and we’ve got a couple of others who we will struggle to keep hold off.”
The Dockers, who are in fifth place in the Kent League table, welcome Lordswood to Avenue Road on Saturday, before travelling to Norton Sports on Easter Monday (1pm kick-off), before completing their campaign with a home derby with Erith & Belvedere on 30 April.
“We’ve still got three league games to play to try and finish as high as we can and me and Tony will sit the players’ down and we want to keep hold of as many as possible to try and push on for next year.”
Watts praised former Thamesmead Town star Pedro Knight, who was drafted in just before the transfer deadline to bolster the middle of the park, having lost combative midfielder Lee Morgan due to injury against Fisher in February.
“Pedro came and done us a favour,” said Watts. “I thought he was good on Monday (during the 3-3 draw against Corinthian) and we’ve missed someone without having Lee Morgan there and Pedro slotted in there and done exactly what we wanted him to do. He’s someone who doesn’t catch the eye because of he’s work off the ball and he gets in people’s faces and that’s something we’ve missed and I thought he done really well. Hopefully we’ll keep him.”
Despite winning two trophies in the past four years, Watts doesn’t want Erith Town to be labelled a Cup side.
“We’ve done it the hard way to win this Cup,” he said. “We’ve played away in every round to better teams in the league. Just overall we deserved it today. We don’t want to be labelled as a Cup side, but I think we peaked a bit too early in the league. We went on that good run maybe a month too early to have a shout.
“We’ll get rid of the last few games that we’ve got and enjoy our summer and go again next year and do a bit better next year and maybe pick up a Cup as well.”
Smith wants to claim three points when Lordswood visit on Saturday to grab their highest ever position in the Kent League.
“I think this will give us confidence. This was our first win in nine or ten so hopefully this will push us on and hopefully we can finish fourth.”
Visit Erith Town’s website: www.erithtownfc.co.uk
Erith Town v Lordswood
Safety Net Associates Kent League
Easter Saturday, 23rd April 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Erith Stadium, Avenue Road, Erith, Kent DA8 3AT
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd