24 October 2020

 

Crowborough Athletic      1          Funnell 58

Erith and Belvedere          3          Humphris 19, 30, 45

 

DERES ON THE UP AS IT’S HATS OFF TO HUMPHRIS

 

A second win on successive Saturdays took the Deres up four places in the SCEFL table, leapfrogging Crowborough and sitting top of a clutch of four teams on 9 points thanks to their better goal difference.  It was their first away win since last November at Lordswood.

 

The 11 Deres supporters who made the 90 mile round trip to East Sussex were rewarded for their loyalty by the team’s best performance of the season.  In a must-win relegation battle, the 7 family/players, one excellent turnstile operator and three guest AFC Wimbledon supporters saw Erith produce a masterclass in counter attack, in driving wind, rainstorms and sunshine, that overwhelmed their opponents.

 

The big difference was Jamie Humphris, thriving in the squally conditions of the first half to plunder a hat-trick.  It brought him level with Guyliano Mpungi on 5 Deres goals this season, and was the subject of a statto’s challenge.  The last Deres hat-trick within a half was by Baba Adeniran v Oakwood 15.9.19; last away hat-trick, Harry Harding at Thamesmead 18.4.19; last first half hat-trick, Dan Stewart v Fisher 30.1.16; last away first half hat-trick, Alfie May on his debut at Woodstock 9 August 2014!

 

The weather was described as atrocious as the game started.  Henry Dasofunjo and Guyliano Mpungi covered every blade of grass to assist both defence and attack, battling into the stormlike conditions.  It was so bad that goalkeeper Rilwan Anibaba was having major problems reaching the halfway line with his kicks.  Crowborough had the early pressure, but the wide open spaces of the Sussex pitch were very inviting for the E&B wing backs.  Time and again they were in acres of space and the only criticism was the failure of the Erith forwards to stay onside.  Finally, after absorbing some pressure, Erith broke away, chased a lost cause into a corner, but sent over a devastating cross which gave Jamie Humphris a tap-in into an open goal to put Deres ahead after 19 minutes.

 

Crowborough were stunned and as the weather worsened Erith produced more breakaway football that gave Humphris the chance to put the goalie and three defenders on the floor and the ball into the net (30 mins).  This was a goal of the highest class with Dasofunjo and Mpungi again working tirelessly to supply the forwards. 

 

Midfielder Jamie Taylor and his defenders protected Rilwan Anibaba so much that 2‑0 became 3-0 on the stroke of half-time: just after Crowborough were denied a penalty Humphris again made the goalie sit down (crashing against a post as he did so) and scored into the opposite corner.  This was a masterclass in goal poaching and should have sewn up a welcome 3 points for E&B.

 

With the wind and rain behind them Erith started the second half like a train, winning a penalty in their first attack.  Yet Tim Beckford’s shot was weak and easily saved.  At 4-0 Deres would have been home and dry, but they paid the price as a defensive blunder on 58 minutes saw a comical lobbed own goal, albeit officially credited to Paul Funnell.

 

Crowborough pressed but Erith held firm, and Humphris, following a catastrophic defensive blunder, failed to beat the goalie when they were the only 2 players in the Crowborough penalty area.

 

Crowborough threatened but not enough to make a comeback likely.  As the rain eased E&B played out time and Harry Smith and James Hawkins gave fresh legs to the wide attacking options.  Dasofunjo and Mpungi kept going in outstanding athletic performances but man of the match Rob Curtis, who never missed a header all day, rallied his troops to a well-deserved victory: his dad and partner looking on from the sidelines must have been very pleased!  This was an excellent advert for non-league football with sportsmanship of the highest quality.  It gave referee Ben Al-Shaikh a very easy to control match and he did it well.

 

With next week’s FA Vase opponents Risborough Rangers wining 5-0 in the Hellenic League at Abingdon, the encounter is set up nicely.

 

Crowborough: Hall; Kendall (Sharman); Salter; Boddy; White; Carbune (Smith); Mouajal; Sinclair; Funnell; Murray; Bartlett (Styles). Subs: Waterman; Grant.

Deres: Anibaba; Adeyemo, Mpungi, Taylor, Curtis, Barrett, Dasofunjo, Krasniqi, Beckford, Nosike, Humphris.  Subs: Smith, Patterson, Springett, Orisatoki, Hawkins.