First Team Vs Welling Town

13 March 2019

Welling Town                      4          Samuel 54, Golding 56, 73, Piro 77

Erith and Belvedere          3          Mpungi 16, Quan 45, Lake 71

EPIC SUMMIT MEETING BRINGS DERES RUN TO AN END

Erith and Belvedere’s club record unbeaten run ended on 17 matches as Welling Town twice came from behind to win an epic encounter which lived up to its billing as the SCEFL second division’s match of the season.  The Deres went in at half-time 2‑0 up, regained the lead after Welling equalised, but again fell victim to a quick brace of goals from the home team.

Deres took the lead on 16 minutes when Harry Harding released Guy Mpungi down the left wing and he easily turned ex-Dere Jamie Taylor, cut in towards goal and from a very tight angle drilled a low right-footed shot across Jack Moore to find the bottom far corner from 12 yards.

Deres were outstanding for the rest of the half, playing more like the home team and causing Welling problems, but failed to capitalise with another goal.  Mpungi drew a good save from Jack Moore on 20 minutes, and Lake was unlucky to hit the left-hand post with a 35-yard drive on 32 minutes.  Towards the end of the half Ryan Golding could have levelled for Welling but his looping header hit the bar.  Then in stoppage time George Jones’ corner was cut back to Ramell Lake, whose quality cross to the far post was met by Chan Quan with a header to make it 2-0.

Deres looked good value to hold on or increase their lead, but in the 54th minute Mehmet Piro launched a long throw into the box from the left.  The ball was flicked on by centre-half Jason Mensah and sailed across the penalty area for Jordan Samuel to volley into the top far corner from 15 yards.  Just two minutes later a hefty clearance from Moore was flicked on by Harry Gamble, and before Tony Hill could clear the danger, Golding blocked him and was first to the rebound, rolling the ball home from 12 yards.

Stunned at losing a two-goal lead within two minutes, the Deres nevertheless hit back in the 71st minute when Quan played a forward ball to Harding.  The 37-goal striker was relatively quiet on the night, but his beautiful flick on found Lake on the left, who strode forward to beat Moore with a delightful shot into the far corner.

Yet within six minutes two long throws into the Deres box undid all their good work.  First Piro’s throw found the defence too static and Golding was able to cut in and shoot across Teeley to find the bottom far corner from a tight angle.  Four minutes later it was Piro’s turn to convert Samuel’s throw through a crowd of legs.  Having conceded two goals in eight games before this evening, Deres had let in four in 23 minutes. 

Quan and Harding came close in the remaining time, but it was Welling who celebrated wildly at the final whistle after a memorable game.  With 20 minutes to go Deres stood to go three points behind Welling with four games in hand; instead they’re 9 points behind.  Still “dormy top”, able to overtake the leaders with games in hand, but with away trips to Bridon Ropes and Kennington in the next few weeks it’s a tougher assignment now.

WELLING: Moore; Taylor, Piro, Patterson, Wells, Mensah, Samuel, Gamble, Golding (Adjei 90), Brown (Dylan 76), Bailey.

DERES: Teeley; Hill, Barrett, Lake (Curtis 81), J Wade, G Jones, Pope-Campbell, Quan (Holley 85), Ogunbiyi (Muchenje 69), Harding, Mpungi.