In a hard fought encounter that was full of incident, the visitors had to come from behind to claim the win.

They had the first chance when Stephen Ratcliff tried a shot with the outside of his boot but it drifted away, then a massive scramble in the penalty area ended with the ball being pushed wide of the post.

Arun Suman tried his luck from distance but Rilwan Anibaba made a straight-forward save before Marlon Patterson had the Deres’ first goal effort but his free kick flew wide of the near post.

Lauric Diakiesse missed a good chance for Erith when side-footing wide but Punjab had an even better one when Ratcliff found space in the area but headed into the park. Anibaba made another comfortable save from Suman before a low Steve Springett long shot went wide at the other end.

Guyliano Mpungi went on a long run before cutting in but he could only find the side netting with his shot. Patterson then did likewise however the hosts went ahead four minutes before the break. Diakiesse was brought down in the area and although Max Ovenden went the right way, Patterson’s penalty had too much power and accuracy.

William Johnson-Cole had a chance to restore parity just before the break when he got on the end of an excellent Punjab move but Aniba made a great save.

Immediately after the interval Drew Allassani put through a terrific through ball that Diakiesse couldn’t quite control and Ovenden was out to clear.

Ten minutes into the second half, Punjab levelled, albeit with a degree of fortune. The ball bounced up and hit Allassani on the arm and under the new laws the referee was correct in awarding a spot kick. Luke Adams stepped up and fired home emphatically.

Mpungi came close with one of his specials but it went just wide with Ovenden struggling but Goodwin’s spectacular effort soon after was successful. There looked little danger as a long cross flew over but Goodwin met it with a spectacular volley that flew back across and into the top corner.

Goodwin almost scored another wonder goal soon after when Anibaba rushed out but could only find him with his clearance. Goodwin hit it first time from forty yards but it flew just wide.

There might have been another penalty awarded when Adams appeared to be caught but he stayed on his feet and the referee showed no interest but it was the hosts who had the last chance. Ovenden struggled with a high cross but it didn’t come out at an easy height for Reece Barrett and he could only hook it over.

As a result of their victory, Punjab move up to seventh whilst defeat leaves Erith and Belvedere in eighteenth place.

 

Erith and Belvedere: Anibaba, G. Oldfield (Dasofunjo 60), Springett, Patterson, Curtis, Barrett, Richards, Allassani (Humber 78), Diakiesse (Smith 60), Nosike, Mpungi.

Goalscorers: Patterson pen (41)

Yellow cards: Patterson, Diakiesse, Springett, Curtis, D. Oldfield (manager).

 

 

Punjab: Ovenden , Beattie, Mbola, Boora, Lorraine, Cuthbert, Ratcliffe (Arnold 63), Suman, Adams, Goodwin, Johnson-Cole.

Goalscorers: Adams pen (55), Goodwin (65)

Yellow cards: Goodwin, Ratcliff, Johnson-Cole, Adams, Arnold, Mbola

 

Referee: Mohammed Uddin

Assistants: Silvester Aina and Paul Greenfield

Attendance: 119

 

Thanks to Mark Doig of Kent Sports News for this report.