26 February 2022

Lordswood                       3         Wynter-Stephens 14, Murray 36, J Reid 77

Erith and Belvedere         4         Lear 12, Palmer 31, Cox 46, Lewis 52

DERES’ LATE STAND GETS A WIN AT LORDS

Lordswood and Deres have had some close tussles over the years, and over 34 meetings there’s only one goal between them in both home and away fixtures.  In recent years at Martyn Grove there’s been a 4-4 draw and a 4-3 home win.  This time the Deres won by the odd goal in seven, but it was a hard-earned win against a team fighting to stay up.

The Deres started on the front foot, and in the 12th minute a beautiful through ball by Nathan Palmer found Danny Lear in space.  Lear rounded the keeper and tucked away his 13th goal of the season.  Yet within two minutes Lordswood struck back, Dominic Wynter-Stephens exploiting a defensive lapse to make it 1-1.

Deres regained the lead just after the half-hour mark when an unfortunate rebound gave Lear another chance.  His challenge on keeper Hayden Chipping left Lear in the back of the net rather than the ball, but the ball found its was to Palmer on the right who scored from a narrow angle.

Five minutes later the scores were level again as Nathaniel Murray’s tame shot took a freak bounce just in front of Ted McDonald and squirmed past him, so the interval came with the game well matched at 2-2.

In the second half it was Lordswood’s turn to play into the awkward low sun, and within 50 seconds Danny Lear advanced down the left, sent in a shot which Stefan Cox converted at the far post.  This time, though, the quick follow-up goal was scored by Deres, with Lee Lewis crashing a shot in off the bar to make it 4-2 to the visitors.

Both keepers were tested midway through the half, Ted McDonald making a fine diving save from Grant Brown in the 65th minute and Chipping tipping Calum McGeehan’s close range header over the bar on 74 minutes.  But there always seemed to be more coming, and 13 minutes from time Joshua Reid bundled in a goal for Lordswood from a near-post corner.

It felt like a familiar story given the number of late goals with which Deres have lost points this season, but they held out for the remainder of the game with Lear’s forays forward always looking threatening.  A satisfying 3 points but a bit hairy at the end!

LORDS: Hayden Chipping; Jake Creed, Abdul Muizalaka, Dominic Wynter-Stephens, Jack Harding, Vinnie Medhurst, Sam Bailey, Rob Hicks, Joshua Reid, Grant Brown, Nathaniel Murray.  Subs: Luke Reid, Chris Ware, Lewis Tristram, Callum O’Shea, Mehmet Piro.

DERES: Ted McDonald; Josh Leach, James Dyer, Reece Barrett, Calum McGeehan, Luke Rooney, Lee Lewis (Ross Craig 71), Harry Maher, Danny Lear, Stefan Cox, Nathan Palmer (Sid Morgan 78).  Subs not used: Neil Spencer, Daniel Pepple, Airidas Vilinauskas.