8 October 2022

Erith and Belvedere          6          N Palmer 5, 21, 41, Richardson-Brown 8, Aderonmu 72, Strachan 84

Kennington                          1          Middleton 51

TEN OUT OF TEN FOR CLASSY DERES

Tony Beckingham was away, Danny Lear was unavailable, in Birmingham according to assistant manager Andy Constable, and Erith & Belvedere were playing opposition they hadn’t scored against in two previous home games and who had always been a tough obstacle before.  No matter – the Deres produced perhaps their most accomplished performance of the season so far and completed a perfect ten league wins to start the season.

As has happened a few times this season, the win was built upon a rapid start, as Deres were two up inside eight minutes.  After an early scare when skipper Tom Scorer’s fine cross was met with a header from Kundai Munyama, which Adam Molloy pushed around a post, Deres took the lead in the fifth minute when a move which started with a Molloy clearance and a lovely touch by Bradley Ryan was finished off by Nathan Palmer.  Kennington claimed offside but replays indicated both crucial passes (Jerome Wade and Tyrell Richardson-Brown) were timed to perfection.

Three minutes later Tyrell Richardson-Brown tucked away a long ball for a second, before Nathan Palmer made it three on 21 minutes following an intricate exchange of passes involving Richardson-Brown and George Monger.  There were two more chances as half-time approached – a lovely dummy by Ryan followed by a cross to Richardson-Brown whose header went just over the bar, and a curling shot by Nathan Palmer easily held by Joe Mant.

Palmer finished his hat-trick in the 41st minute.  Harry Stow was sent a nightmare ball across the defence which he couldn’t control before Palmer closed him down – there was a hint of handball but the referee waved him on to advance on goal and tuck it away.  4-0 at half time.

Deres have often suffered a dip after half-time this season, and here again Kennington were allowed to get on the scoresheet if not back in the game, as Liam Middleton’s 52nd-minute shot was half blocked by Molloy but bounced in.  There was no more scoring until 18 minutes from time, when the outstanding Bradley Ryan slightly miscontrolled a pass, but recovered to slip the ball past Jordan Griffin and run the other side of him, before delivering an exquisite centre into the box which curled invitingly for Tunde Aderonmu to score his 8th of the season. 

Six minutes from time Rob Strachan went upfield for a corner looking for a header opportunity, but the ball fell to his feet six yards out and he drilled it home to round off the Deres’ second 6-goal league victory of the season.  This outstanding performance, with quality all over the pitch, put them eight points clear at the top as Deal Town went down 3-0 at Phoenix Sports and Erith Town moved into second place.

DERES: Adam Molloy; Fraser Walker (Tunde Aderonmu 66), Ben Wilson (Reece Barrett 78), Jerome Wade, Ryan Johnson (Jack Miles 78), Rob Strachan, Ryan Palmer, George Monger (Rory Ward 72), Tyrell Richardson-Brown, Nathan Palmer (George Purcell 72), Bradley Ryan.

KENNINGTON: Joe Mant; Harry Stow, Liam Whiting, Ed Miller, Tommy Penfold, Harry Lavender, Kundai Munyama, Tom Scorer, Mitch Harman, Matt Kirby, Rajan Sahni.