Marcus Cassius grabs a hat-trick as Deres shine in the sun

Erith & Belvedere scored six in the sunshine at the Recreation Ground as the Deres completely dominated proceedings in the picturesque village of Otford.

Sean Brown tussles for the ball

The Deres started brightly and never took their foot off the pedal throughout the 90 minutes as Otford were totally overwhelmed by the visitors pace and application.

With the Deres midfield constantly pushing forward, the home keeper had to make an early save from Adrian Deane before Daniel Westerman fired a shot narrowly wide.

Minutes later and Deane’s cross from the right missed Marcus Cassius and Aiden Pursglove in the middle but Danny Tipple arrived at the far post to volley goalwards only to see the keeper block the shot with his legs. As the ball rebounded away, Cassius collected the ball and fired a in a shot that again the keeper did well to block.

But the goal the Deres early dominance deserved arrived after 19 minutes. A Deres corner was cleared out of the penalty area to Westerman. He crossed the ball to the far post where Paul Gross rose highest to head the ball back across the face of the goal and into the far corner of the goal. 

Tommy Morgan wins this aerial battle

Two minutes later and the Deres increase their lead as Deane split the Otford defence with a glorious through ball to James Lyons who collected the ball on the edge of the area before calmly rounding the keeper and sliding the ball into the empty net.

Soon after and as the Deres clear a rare Otford corner, Pursglove played the ball inside to Cassius who rounded the keeper and from a tight angle, hit a shot against the near post. But Cassius wouldn’t have to wait long to make his mark on the game.

Pursglove and Cassius again combine as Pursglove’s cross from the right is headed into the net at the far post by the unmarked Cassius after 24 minutes.

Sam Prett tries a shot

Otford almost pulled a goal back after 27 minutes as a loose back pass was intercepted by an Otford striker, who found himself one on one with visiting keeper Richard Stroud. With defenders pouring back, the home striker hit an early shot which Stroud easily blocked.

After 38 minutes, Sam Prett was brought down on the corner of the Otford penalty area to set up a Deres free kick. Deane played the free kick wide to the overlapping Chris Kinnear who fired in a low cross towards the near post. After a bit of pin-ball in the six yard box, the ball eventually fell to Cassius who had the simple task of volleying home from close range.

Ten minutes later and Cassius completed his hat-trick with a shot from 10 yards out that took a deflection off a defender. The ball skied high into the air and somehow, looped slowly over the bemused keeper and into the back of the net.

Marcus Cassius sets up another Deres attack

Despite rotating his squad every 30 minutes, Micky Collins’ Deres kept pressing forward and a sixth goal arrived after 70 minutes. As a ball into the Otford penalty area is cleared out of the danger area, Tommy Ewell collected the ball and from fully 25 yards out, hit a low, powerful shot into the corner of the goal beyond the despairing dive of the home keeper.

Westerman, Lyons and Tom Malyon all hit shots narrowly wide of the target and Cassius was denied his fourth by a great challenge from an Otford defender as the Deres continued their build up to the Safety Net Associates Kent Football League season.

Those preparations continue on Thursday 29 July, when Bromley visit Park View Road, kick off 7.45pm.

Erith & Belvedere

1. Richard Stroud (sub Jack Moore 60)

2. Paul Butler (sub George Kendall 60)

3. Danny Tipple (sub Billy Chatterway 30)

4. Daniel Westerman (sub Tom Ewell 60, goal 70)

5. Paul Gross (capt, goal 19, sub Tommy Morgan 60)

6. James Lyons (goal 21, sub Chris Kinnear 30)

7. Sean Brown (sub James Lyons 60)

8. George Kendall (sub Danny Twinn 30)

9. Adrian Deane (sub Tom Malyon 60)

10. Marcus Cassius (goals 24, 38, 48, sub Aiden Pursglove 60)

11. Aiden Pursglove (sub Sam Prett 30)