First Team Vs Kent Football United

12 January 2019

Erith and Belvedere          3          Harding 45, 85, Lake 60

Kent Football United         2          Jenners 51, Musundi 80

TOP SCORER AND NEW BOY KEEP DERES ON A ROLL

Harry Harding’s remarkable season keeps rolling on, the former Bromley and Kingstonian striker now on 27 goals from 25 appearances.  His brace, with a debut goal in between from Ramell Lake, kept the Deres in the hunt towards the top of the SCEFL second division table.

It was a quiet start on a dull afternoon, with the first chance not coming until the 14th minute when Chan Quan made space and shot well over the bar.  Guy Mpungi failed to test Lewis Mitchell with a shot from distance a minute later.  KFU had a good spell of pressure around the half-hour mark with Chris Round winning a corner and Ben Cotter having a volley well block by Dan Teeley.

After the out of sorts Jamie Taylor was replaced by Jerome Wade, Deres finished the half strongly, Reggie Yembra having a shot cleared off the line, until in first half stoppage time Lake cut in from the right wing and set up Harding, who slipped his marker and found the target from close range to give Deres a half-time lead.

Joseph Ogunbiyi should have made it 2-0 with a header on 49 minutes, but two minutes later another good chance for the Deres no 9 led to a break for KFU and an equaliser for James Jenners.

On the hour mark Lake, who was having an impressive debut, found himself in space on the right of the box and tucked a shot in from a narrow angle.  Deres continued to press to increase the lead, an Ogunbiyi glancing header just going wide on 72 minutes, but KFU always looked dangerous, and on 80 minutes Deres’ failure to clear a corner let in substitute Sam Musundi to equalise.

But Deres had the last laugh five minutes from time when George Jones’ free-kick set up an attack during which Mitchell dropped the ball under pressure for Harding to pounce.

Deres have compiled a 9-game unbeaten run since going out of the SCEFL Cup to FC Elmstead on 6 November.  They still have to travel to the top four, but they are 5th and with enough games in hand to overtake the top three.  It could yet be an exciting end to the season – and Harding is on course to become only the 7th player to score 30 in a peacetime season for the Deres.

DERES: Teeley; Hill, Barrett, Taylor (J Wade 39), Yembra, Jones (Dobson 78), Lake, Quan, Ogunbiyi, Harding, Mpungi (Muchenje 70).

KENT FU: Mitchell; Guard, Ojenen, Deon, Beckett, Lotter, Round, Jenners, Bertrand, Blake (Musundi 70), Jones (Marshall 83).