Deres pegged back at Bourne Park

Erith & Belvedere put on another strong show against Ryman League Division One South Sittingbourne as the Deres pre-season continued at Bourne Park.

Richard Stroud had to make a smart save early on for the Deres before the away side took the lead with their first attack of the match in the seventh minute.

Danny Beszant collected the ball just inside his own half. He played the ball down the line for the always dangerous Marcus Cassius. Stepping inside his marker, Cassius swung the ball into the middle where Aiden Pursglove met the cross with a diving header to power the ball beyond the home keeper and into the back of the net.

Aiden Pursglove dives in to put the Deres in front

Minutes later and again Cassius broke away down the right and crossed into the middle, again looking for Pursglove. This time though, Pursglove was denied a second goal by a deflection of a defender and the ball fell kindly for the Sittingbourne keeper.

The Deres were controlling the midfield at this point and were not allowing the home side’s players any time on the ball which led to the Sittingbourne players continually giving the ball back to the visitors.

But Stroud had to be alert again to keep out a Sittingbourne shot before the Deres were awarded a free kick which Adrian Deane swung over to the far post. The ball was headed out to the edge of the area to James Lyons who thundered a powerful volley goalwards. The ball hit a defender amidst Erith & Belvedere claims that it hit the defenders arm but with the ball bouncing safely into the arms of the home keeper, the referee allowed play to continue, claiming the handball as accidental.

With 30 minutes gone, Deane’s long ball towards the corner flag looked to be rolling out of play but Tom Ewell did well to stop the ball going over the line and in turn, found Cassius on the corner of the penalty area. With time to size up his shot, Cassius could only fire the ball straight at the keeper who was relieved to make a comfortable save.

Marcus Cassius torments a Sittingbourne defender

Moments later and Lyons cut out a Sittingbourne pass in midfield and played the ball through to Cassius, beyond the Sittingbourne defence. With defenders trying to catch up, Cassius decided to take an early shot from the edge of the area but the ball flew just the wrong side of the post.

A quick Sittingbourne free kick caught the Deres defence napping and Stroud had to bale out his defence again, this time making a fine save with his legs to keep the Deres in front.

Just before the break and a Deres corner is played short to Ewell and his shot from the corner of the area flashed across the goal and just beyond the far post as the Deres finished the half well on top.

After the break however, with Micky Collins again changing all of his outfield players for the second half, Sittingbourne began to ease their way back into the match with the Deres only occasionally threatening the home goal.

Sam Prett looked to be in the clear as he broke into the box, but turning inside a defender allowed another Sittingbourne defender the opportunity to block his attempted shot on goal before the home side broke away at the other end with a Sittingbourne striker firing his shot well over the bar.

Just before the hour mark, with neither side really dominating proceedings, the Deres were denied another penalty claim as Prett appeared to be brought down in the area but once again the referee waved away the Deres appeals and allowed play to continue.

But minutes later Sittingbourne grabbed an equalising goal as a corner is swung over to the far post where it is headed back into the six yard box where Tom Bradbrook was allowed time and space to pick his spot in the back of the net.

Both sides were now playing the ball around well in midfield but the final ball was always just eluding the front men, with Sean Brown’s cross inches away from Prett’s head at the far post being the prime example.

Robbie Bryant fired a volley straight at the keeper just after coming on as a second half sub before, from the clearance, Stroud again had to tip a shot over his crossbar as the game swung from end to end.

Bryant and Prett both had shots blocked as the Deres pressed forward before a Deres corner is headed out to the edge of the area. Chris Kinnear collected the ball, settled himself and hit a low shot that the home keeper could only stand and watch as the ball smacked against the post before being desperately cleared by the Sittingbourne defence.

Sittingbourne almost grabbed a second goal minutes from the end as a home striker found himself one on one with Stroud following a defensive slip. But Stroud stayed big and was able to block the effort but the ball fell nicely to an onrushing striker but he could only fire the ball well over the crossbar and the last chance of the match went begging.

Next up for the Deres is a visit to the quiet village of Otford and a meeting with United at the Otford Recreation Ground, off the High Street, this coming Saturday, 24 July, kick off 3pm.

Sittingbourne: Unknown

Erith & Belvedere

1. Richard Stroud

2. Harry Morgan (sub Mike McKeown 45)

3. Danny Tipple (sub Tom Malyon 45)

4. Adrian Deane (sub Sean Brown 45)

5. Danny Twinn (sub Paul Butler 45)

6. Paul Gross (sub Tommy Morgan 45)

7. Kevin George (sub Chris Kinnear 45)

8. James Lyons (sub Nick Mehta 45)

9. Marcus Cassius (sub Sam Prett 45)

10 Aiden Pursglove (goal 7, sub Cameron Deyton 45, sub Robbie Bryant 74)

11. Danny Beszant (sub Tom Ewell 19)

Apologies for not knowing the Sittingbourne line up but no Team Line Up was offered by the home club.