DERES' TOP 100 GAMES - No 36
Posted by Brian Spurrell on 30 January 2021
Erith & Belvedere 2 Prett 1, Deane 94
VCD Athletic 3 Scotter 73, Sinden pen 104, Rice 105
Kent Senior Trophy Final, 19 April 2009
Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history. Today, the day two current directors nearly got us a trophy.
The number 17 was strangely prominent in 2008-09: there were 17 clubs in the league, out of which we finished 8th; we were 17 points behind the champions VCD Athletic, and our goal difference was plus 17. That was largely down to our games against the whipping boys Sporting Bengal United, which we won 10-2 at home and 9-1 away – those games accounted for more than a quarter of our league goals! And in the match of the season, we were twice 17 minutes away from our first silverware in 27 years.
Having beaten Lordswood (home) 3-1, Orpington (away) 2-0 and Deal Town (away) 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, the Deres hosted champions-elect VCD in the Kent Senior Trophy Final. Some were not entirely comfortable with playing at PVR as a supposedly neutral venue, but it was the Kent FA’s decision.
In front of a crowd of 363 - the biggest to watch a Deres game for many a season - the Deres were the better side in the first period, but still couldn't create many chances of note against a miserly Vickers defence which had conceded just 23 goals in 30 league games that season.
On 12 minutes, VCD were forced into making an early substitution as former Dere Dave Hassett collided with Matt Bromby. Bromby had to be called into action again on 25 minutes as a hoisted free-kick taken by Hassett's replacement, Richard Sinden, almost caught the Deres keeper out. Sinden's free-kick was from all of 50 yards and was reminiscent of Ronaldinho's infamous goal against England at the 2002 World Cup - fortunately for the Deres, this time the goalkeeper was equal to the challenge and Bromby tipped the ball over for a corner-kick.
The Deres played some of their best football for months in the first half, but couldn't create too many chances of note and they deservedly went into the interval a goal to the good.
As the game wore on, Vickers began to come more into the game, although the Deres did have chances to double their lead in the opening exchanges of the second period. On 56 minutes, the Deres had a strong penalty claim rejected after Sam Prett was tripped in the penalty area. On 61 minutes, the Deres were breaking with pace on the counter-attack and had 5 attackers to VCD's 3 defenders. Jon Gallagher, perhaps seeing his name go down in E&B folklore, opted to shoot at goal from all of 35 yards rather than feed the ball to a team-mate. His effort wasn't a bad one, although it was always going off target.
The Deres’ best chance of the second period came on 70 minutes as some good work down the right from an inspired Adrian Deane culminated in his crossing a low ball to Nick Smith. Smith's volley, however, went wide at the near post. Smith was to rue his miss as VCD equalised three minutes later. A tricky ball from the right caught Deres keeper Matt Bromby in two minds. Bromby rushed out to collect the ball, but couldn't get his hands on it and instead Casey Scotter was on hand to head VCD level.
Both sides had one chance to steal a victory in normal time. On 88 minutes, the Deres went close as Adrian Deane's free-kick was flicked on. Substitute Robbie Bryant, on for the injured Sam Prett, jumped up at the back post to head the ball home but the ball flew agonisingly inches over his head.
VCD's chance was even more agonising. In the second of 5 additional minutes, Richard Sinden latched onto a through ball which sliced the Deres defence in two. Bromby charged out of goal to close down the angles and Sinden opted for the lob. The ball appeared to be in the air for an eternity, but it eventually clipped the top of the crossbar before bouncing out for a goal-kick.
So the final went to extra-time. And five minutes into the half-hour it looked as if the trophy would be staying at PVR. Huseyin Budak's attempts to weave himself half a yard of space to unleash a shot were ended when he was brought down two yards out from the edge of the box. Up stepped Adrian Deane, who managed to get the ball over the top of the wall and then down again leaving Tedder no chance of making a save as the ball flew inches inside the left hand post. Cue pitch invasion from the Deres management.
The Deres did well to hold on to their advantage for ten minutes, but two goals in the space of two minutes turned the match on its head. Firstly Vickers were awarded a penalty. It had looked like E&B had dealt with a free-kick, but the referee adjudged that somewhere a foul had been committed by an Erith player. Sinden's penalty left Bromby with no chance of making a save and the match was tied.
There was enough time for Vickers to grab what proved to be the winner in the dying moments of the first period of extra time. Kane Rice earned himself half a yard of space, and from all of 30 yards shot at goal, his swerving effort beating Bromby. The keeper was looking into a low sun by that time of day, but had been seconds away from changing ends.
A shell-shocked Deres team never really looked like taking it to penalties. Robbie Bryant did well to earn a free-kick down by the corner flag after some determined play, but VCD dealt with the resultant free-kick and they effectively ran down the clock. In fact, Vickers had the best chance of the second period when Sinden missed an open goal from all of 3 yards out, only for the linesman to save his blushes by raising his flag. So the Deres’ wait for silverware continued, but the team could take a lot of positives from their run to the cup final and especially the fine performance of all the players on the day.
VCD: James Tedder; Kevin Winchcombe, Kane Rice, Gary Ward, Gary Cook, David Hunt, James Duckworth (Luke May 52), Danny Penny, Dave Hassett (Richard Sinden 19), Sam May (Casey Scotter 68), Nick Hegley.
