20 September 2022

Kent Senior Trophy preliminary round

 

Erith and Belvedere          2          Pinney 18, Ryan pen 50

Welling Town                      1          Davies 54

 

DERES BEAT BOOTS WITHOUT THEIR SHOOTING BOOTS

 

The Deres eased through this Kent Senior Trophy preliminary round tie with a dominant performance even if the team didn’t have their shooting boots on, and earned the right to play Lordswood in the next round.  In so doing they recorded their seventh consecutive win and now seek to equal the club record of eight at Broadbridge Heath in the FA Vase on Saturday. 

 

The early chances fell to the visitors however: in the third minute Jack Hope headed over from close range, and in the 9th an optimistic Liam Spellwood shot went well over.  For the Deres Malachi Hudson was similarly high of the mark when attempting to convert a good ball by Nathan Pinney.

 

But it was Pinney who opened the scoring in the 18th minute, turning Bradley Ryan’s free kick into goal.  Four minutes later Pinney was at the centre of things again, finding Danny Lear who just missed from a narrow angle.  Lear had another good chance in the 25th minute thanks to Hudson’s superb through ball, but his shot was blocked by the feet of keeper Charlie Martin.

 

Deres continued to press and miss: on 30 minutes another great setup by Hudson saw Pinney just fail to get enough behind the shot.  Two minutes later a lovely ball by Pinney found Ryan whose centre to Lear was put out for a corner, from which Reece Barrett’s header was blocked.  On 35 minutes Ryan was fouled in the box but Hudson’s penalty was well saved by Martin.

 

Still more chances in the last few minutes before half-time: a slick passing move between Pinney, Hudson and Ryan ended with Lear shooting over from close range; Jerome Wade was fouled just outside the D and Hudson’s free-kick was held at the second attempt; and just on half-time Hudson’s clever backheel set up another rLear shot that was blocked.  At the interval it was still only 1-0, but plenty of attractive play from Deres, Malachi Hudson outstanding apart from that penalty!

 

Welling Town started the second half as brightly as the first, Rob Brown’s lob bouncing off the bar and Sacha Gibson shooting just wide – but just five minutes into the half Deres went two up.  Bradley Ryan was brought down in the box and converted the penalty himself.

 

Just four minutes later, though, Welling pulled one back when Abi Davies was left with a tap-in at the far post.  Davies had a major influence on the rest of the half, his 70th-minute shot from outside the box being well held by Adam Molloy, then in the space of two minutes he volleyed wide and then played in Brown who produced another fine save by Molloy.

 

Butt the Deres weathered the storm and had the best chances of the last ten minutes, George Purcell screwing a shot wide after another superb ball by Hudson, and Ryan’s low volley going just wide.  All in all they looked in fine fettle for the big trip to Broadbridge Heath next Saturday.

 

DERES: Adam Molloy; Jack Miles, Reece Barrett, Jerome Wade (Alfie Osborne 61), Ryan Huckle, Ryan Johnson, Bradley Ryan, George Monger, Nathan Pinney (George Purcell 71), Danny Lear (Tunde Aderonmu 51), Malachi Hudson.

BOOTS: Charlie Martin; Jack Hope, Mo Alaka, Ollie Andrews, Jack Bancroft, Ryan Styles, Sacha Gibson, Liam Spellwood (Kam Simon-Jordan 64), Josh Biddlecombe, Rob Brown, Abi Davies