Erith & Belvedere   2          McFadden 65, Burman 67 

Gosport Borough  0                     

FA Trophy 1st qualifying round, 23 September 1989

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, another look at the FA Trophy run of 1989-90, which began with a great result against a team from the Southern League premier, the division above us.

 

After a few decent seasons and top-half finishes in the Southern League southern division in the mid-80s, 1989-90 would prove a disappointment, finishing 20th of 22.  But before the league turned sour, there were some FA Cup and Trophy exploits to savour, including this notable scalp.

 

Two goals in three second-half minutes earned a place in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy for the Deres.  After a tentative first half the Deres stepped up a gear, forcing their Premier Division guests to adopt a more defensive approach.

 

The breakthrough came after 65 minutes when Tony Burman worked an opening on the right and fed Kevin Alexander.  The visiting defence hesitated and Sean McFadden stepped up to drill the ball past Tony Stares.

 

The Gosport keeper then made a fine save from a Graham Cowley header but minutes later it was 2-0.  The visitors again failed to clear and Burman lashed the ball home from 12 yards.

 

Gosport brought on both substitutes in an effort to take something from the tie and they looked threatening as they knocked the ball long into the Deres’ defence at every opportunity.  But on the one occasion they managed to break through the Deres’ rearguard Micky Orme raced quickly from his line to deny Gary Llewellyn.

 

Indeed it was the home side who came closest to scoring in the final 20 minutes.  Gary Andrews crossed into the box after 74 minutes, Gary Fiore’s header looked every inch a goal until Stares somehow parried it away.  Kevin Alexander then crashed the loose ball against the crossbar with the goal gaping.

 

“That was probably our best result since we came into the Southern League,” said manager Peter Peters.  “It was not a scrambled win because to be honest it could have been four or five.  It was very encouraging.”

 

Deres: Micky Orme; Ian Ball, Graham Cowley, Dave Beagley, Lou Robinson, Gary Andrews, Sean McFadden, Tony Wilson, Tony Burman, Kevin Alexander, Gary Fiore.

 

Of our two goalscorers, Tony Burman had made 18 starts and 3 sub appearances for Charlton Athletic from 1976-78, then in 1984 had the distinction of scoring on Match of the Day – playing for Dartford against Met Police in an FA Cup tie.  He returned to Dartford after his spell at Deres, became manager and won three promotions in the five seasons following the opening of their new Princes Park ground, taking them back to the Conference.

 

As for Sean McFadden, he and his family would have quite an influence on the Deres…