New look Deres gain respectable draw in opening fixture

Erith & Belvedere kicked off their 2010-2011 season with an entertaining and enjoyable pre-season friendly fixture against Ryman League Premier Division side Maidstone United.

With both sides having decided on wholesale changes to their teams at half time, the match produced two even halves of football that were not punctuated by numerous substitutions. The game flowed nicely as a result of this approach and was a far better spectacle than many pre-season games can be.

Both sides quickly settled into a neat passing style as the all more often than not stayed on the deck and it took only six minutes for the Stones to create their first effort on goal. Ashley Ulph floated a free kick into the penalty area and this was met by the head of Danny Hockton who saw his header loop onto the top of the Deres crossbar.

Marcus Cassius heads the Deres in front

Within four minutes, the Deres created had good chance of their own. Marcus Cassius sped past James Peacock on the left flank and pulled a low, hard cross beyond keeper Harry Lee. With Cameron Deyton hurtling towards he goal, Ulph stretched full length to hook the ball from the goal line to keep the scores level.

Within a minute, Stones striker Adam Marsh chipped a decent effort narrowly over the bar from 18 yards out before he Deres went 1 – 0 in front. A corner on the left from Adrian Deane was headed home from close range by Cassius, despite the attentions of keeper Lee. From a Maidstone perspective, this was a disappointing goal to concede considering that Cassius was one of he smallest players on the pitch and that no defender appeared to mark him despite him standing directly in front of goal.

For a few minutes the Deres got their tails up and pushed forward. Cassius shot narrowly wide from 25 yards out before Deyton saw his shot from 20 yards deflect off Nick Davies and strike the outside of the left hand post before going out for a corner.

Danny Twinn keeps a close watch on a Maidstone striker

The Stones maybe should have equalised in the 20th minute when Simon Glover headed straight at the excellent Richard Stroud in the Deres goal following a deep cross from Marsh.

With the lively Cassius continually running at the Maidstone defence, Peacock was drawn into a rash tackle that earned him a yellow card in the 34th minute. Fellow centre back Davis was also fortunate to escape a caution when he pulled Cassius back as he ran towards goal. Although avoiding the caution, Davis did suffer a badly bruised left ankle in the challenge.

Glover, who looked strong and assured in midfield, shot narrowly over before Keelan Mooney’s corner was headed goalwards by Hockton. However, Danny Tipple was on the line to keep the Deres in front with a fine headed clearance.

The last first half incident of note came from Deane who saw his low drive from the edge of the area tipped round he post by he outstretched hand of Lee.

Marcus Cassius draws a foul from James Peacock

Maidstone looked the more assertive of the two sides for the majority of the second half and Adrian Stone and Antonio Gonnella in particular showed a positive approach to the game. 10 minutes into the second half, former Dere Marc Cumberbatch was upended in the penalty box by Mike McKeown and referee Mr Bakalarz awarded the Stones a penalty. Jake Hobbs stepped up to take the spot kick and his well struck effort was superbly saved by Stroud with a full length dive to his left.

Just after the hour, a long throw from Simon Petit was headed narrowly over the bar by Stone before the equaliser was scored. A short free kick was laid back to Gonnella inside the penalty area and his miss-hit shot found Stone, unmarked 10 yards out from goal. Stone swung his right boot through the ball and fired a low shot through a crowded six yard box to score Maidstone’s first goal of the season.

The Deres keep the Stones at Bay

The Deres continue their pre-season programme this coming Tuesday evening when they visit Ryman League Division One South club, Sittingbourne FC.

Sittingbourne v Erith & Belvedere
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Kick off 7.45pm
Bourne Park, Central Park Stadium
Eurolink Industrial Estate
Church Road
Sittingbourne
Kent
ME10 3SB

Erith & Belvedere

1. Richard Stroud

2. Harry Morgan (sub Danny Beszant 45)

3. Danny Tipple (sub Tom Malyon 45)

4. John Wilfort (capt, Jim Lyons 81)

5. Danny Twinn (sub Tommy Morgan 45)

6. Jim Lyons (sub Mike McKeown 45)

7. Sean Brown (sub Chris Kinnear 45)

8. Adrian Deane (sub Kevin George 45)

9. Marcus Cassius (goal 15, sub Sam Prett 45)

10. Cameron Deyton (sub Robbie Bryant 45)

11. Jake Williams (sub Tommy Ewell 45)

Maidstone United. Harry Lee (sub Andy Waler 45), Tom Parkinson (sub Rob Carter 45), Ash Ulph (sub Jermaine Darlington 45), Simon Glover (sub Ant Bodel 45), James Peacock (caution 34, sub Marc Clary 45), Nick Davies (sub Marc Cumberbatch 45), Keelan Mooney (sub Steve Elliott 45), Joe Fuller (sub Simon Petit 45), Danny Hockton (sub Adrian Stone 45, goal 68), Adam Marsh (sub Jake Hobbs 45), Shannon O’Donovan (sub Antonio Gonnella 45).

Referee: Mr A Bakalarz

Kevin George in action v Maidstone United

Report by Darren Lovell www.maidstoneunited.co.uk