26 December 2022

Erith and Belvedere          1          Aderonmu 42

Erith Town                           0

TUNDE WRAPS UP DERES DOUBLE

Tunde Aderonmu scored for the fifth consecutive game to give the Deres victory in what was to be honest a scrappy Boxing Day derby. 

It was almost a nightmare start for Deres in the first minute as an uncharacteristic error by Rob Strachan let in Alfie Eldridge, but his shot went wide.  The Dockers went close again on 7 minutes when Harry Taylor tried a snap shot on the turn and Adam Molloy had to be alert to push it round for a corner.

It took 24 minutes for the Deres to have a sniff when a good run by Tyrell Richardson-Brown led to a centre from the right but nobody was able to meet it.  Three minutes later Taylor set up Eldridge but his shot was high and wide, and soon after that Ryan Palmer's cross found Tunde Aderonmu who headed just wide

The Deres striker made amends in the 42nd minute however: Bradley Ryan worked hard as ever to make space for a cross and Aderonmu was there to head in.  Deres had been foundering on the Dockers’ defence but the goal came at the ideal time just before the break.

The second half saw little action of note until the last 20 minutes.  On 73 minutes Richardson-Brown’s centre from the right was volleyed by Nathan Palmer but well held by Mackenzie Foley.  Four minutes later ex-Dere Malik Nosike’s shot bounced awkwardly but Molloy was able to deal with it.  The last chance of a poor game fell to Eldridge seven minutes from time, but went wide.

The Deres are now unbeaten in 10 games since the Tunbridge Wells shock, and 21 points clear of Rusthall after previously second placed Stansfeld were held at home by Holmesdale.  Phoenix and Erith Town have 5 games in hand, but if they win them all the gap is still 10 points.

DERES: Adam Molloy; Ryan Palmer, Anthony Morrison, Jerome Wade, Ryan Johnson, Rob Strachan, Tyrell Richardson-Brown (Fraser Walker 84), George Monger, Tunde Aderonmu (Michael Hagan 75), Nathan Palmer, Bradley Ryan. Subs: Ben Wilson, Gerry Owen, Ayo Lugboso.

DOCKERS: Mackenzie Foley; Ladic Melconian (James Miles 62), James Trueman, Jason Goodchild, Ifeanyi Udanoh, Thomas Ash, Malik Nosike, Jerome Jayaguru, Steadman Callender, Harry Taylor, Alfie Eldridge. 

Subs: Ryan Mahal, Charlie Clover, Jamie Humphris, Ronnie McClean.