First Team Vs K Sport

8 February 2020

K Sports                               7          Arif 7, Bray 24, Gething 33 (p), 48, 51,

Alderman 82, Pring 90

Erith and Belvedere          0

NO DISGRACE FOR BATTLING YOUNG DERES

It was another heavy beating for Erith and Belvedere, conceding seven or more for the third time in the league this season.  But given the situation at the club, with most of the players following manager Owen Jones out of the door, and caretaker Stuart Webb scrabbling around for young players to step in, there can be little criticism of the team for this defeat. 

Ramell Lake and Bruce Muchenje had made 66 previous appearances for the Deres between them, the other 12 players who took the field had made only 19.  Keeper Charlie Payne, James Przeslawski and Tate Rayner were making debuts, as were all three subs, Victor Aiyelabola and Archie Deal who came on at half-time, and late sub George Martin.  Chris Alhassan and Max Gayle, substitutes v Lordswood last week, made their first start; Dominic Edwards, Bailey Cooke and Best Toke were making their second, and Harry Towner his fourth.  And they were playing on an artificial pitch.

So it was no disgrace when Alex Arif opened the scoring after seven minutes.  For a while the new-look Deres, some of whom had first met at training the previous Thursday, started to find their feet and put some moves together, until a simple header by Jack Bray from a corner caught the tall Payne unprepared.  Just after the half-hour a lunging tackle gave the Aylesford side a penalty, converted by Matt Gething.

Gething capitalised with two quickfire goals to complete his hat-trick in the first six minutes of the second half as Deres’ half-time substitutes took time to settle in.  At 5‑0, K Sports were more than comfortable, and for the next half-hour there was no further scoring.  Deres were getting more used to each other and Towner even hit the bar with one effort.  Yet two late goals by James Alderman, another simple corner, and Connor Pring made the scoreline even more convincing, at the end of a baptism of fire for the youngsters, some of whom were not to return.

SPORTS: Chipping; Debnam, Hooper, Bray, Penfold, Dolan, Corke, Pring, Gething, Alderman, Arif – subs Cheek, Akanni, Arabio, Rogers

DERES: Payne, Edwards, Przeslawski, Rayner (Aiyelabola ht), Gayle, Toke (Deal ht), Alhassan, Cooke (Martin 81), Towner, Lake, Muchenje.