9 March 2022

Canterbury City                1         Lawrence 8

Erith and Belvedere         2         McGeehan 23, Lear 90        

DERES SAMPLE THAT LATE DELIGHT

After throwing away points on multiple occasions by conceding stoppage-time goals, Erith and Belvedere had the delight of clinching a game with a stoppage-time winner on a mild March night at Faversham’s Salter Lane ground.  Nathan Palmer crossed from the left and Lear, the Ramsgate loanee, was on hand to head home his 14th goal of the season.

Until that point it had been a fairly frustrating evening for the Deres.  Canterbury City were the last SCEFL team they had yet to face in a league game this season, although they had already been to the ground in the Kent Senior Trophy, for a 4-0 win in which Chris Dickson had scored twice within a minute, Gary Alexander had added one at the age of 42 and Keanan Allassani had completed the rout.  None of the scorers turned out in this game, and their replacements made heavy weather of it.

The game was only eight minutes old when Canterbury took the lead.  Sammi Takaloo’s shot was only parried by Ted McDonald and Rob Lawrence snapped up the rebound.  Deres fought back, with Stefan Cox catching the eye, but it was a corner from the right by James Dyer which brought the equaliser midway through the first half, Calum McGeehan using his height to perfect advantage to head a simple goal.

Danny Lear was always a danger up front, and typical tenacity on his part in the 27th minute created a chance which Neil Spencer hit towards goal but couldn’t quite beat Tom Benham in the City goal.  Late in the half Lear and Dyer combined well to set up a chance but Benham pulled off a fine save to keep the scores level at half-time.

The second half fell into a pattern with Deres not quite clicking going forward and Canterbury creating half-chances.  McDonald saved well from Takaloo after narrowing the angle early on, Dan Lawrence fired wide from a free-kick routine and Takaloo hit the post with a decent effort just after the hour. 

But just when thoughts were turning to the transport home, Danny Lear decided it in favour of the Deres.  The win takes the Deres to 5th in the table, level on points with fourth-placed Deal Town from four games more, and looking to stay clear of Erith Town and Kennington during the run-in.

CITY: Tom Benham, Joe Nelder, Charlie Weston, Adam Turton, Enock Soganile, Rob Lawrence, Josh Strouts (Jake Munday 90), Harry O’Donnell, Sammi Takaloo (David Senga 78), Dan Lawrence, Lewis Stevens-Toomey.

DERES: Ted McDonald, Josh Leach, James Dyer, Harry Maher, Calum McGeehan, Ross Craig (Teddy Green 82), Sid Morgan (Daniel Pepple 64), Luke Rooney, Danny Lear, Stefan Cox, Neil Spencer (Nathan Palmer 68).