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Deres on the slide

Erith and Belvedere were unlucky to lose to midtable side Wingate & Finchley in this tight encounter at Park View Road.

Both sides played well defensively in the opening quarter of an hour and chances were hard to come by. Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening 15 minutes. 

Chris Dickson returned for the Deres in the midweek League cup exit to Waltham Forest, but he didn’t look at his best and his knee was heavily strapped. Dickson did combine well with strike partner Dean Fenton, but Dickson’s spurts of activity were few and far between.

The attacking players got into the game more after the half hour mark and it was to be Wingate who were to capitalise on this slightly against the run of play. After some great work to keep the ball in play, Sam Sloma received the ball just inside the corner of the Deres area and he stormed his way through the Deres defence, before coolly slotting the ball through the legs of debutant keeper Glen Knight.

Back came the visitors, who had numerous chances to double their lead before the break, none better than when Theo Kissi was played in, but in the last kick of the half he blasted the ball over the bar. Wingate went in at half time with a one goal cushion.

Wingate came out after half time, playing in exactly the same style that they ended the first half. T Kissi making up for his miss at the end of the second half when he guided the ball home after two minutes of the second half and it looked as if it was going to be another comfortable defeat for the Deres.

But, the Deres kept on going and finally got the goal they craved and deserved when the Wingate defence was penetrated and the ball was played in to Dean Fenton who couldn’t miss from six yards and he thumped the ball into the back of the net.

The Deres continued to attack, but to no avail and as the game wore on the more frustrated the players and the home fans were getting.

With eight minutes remaining “Win & Fin” had a chance to secure victory but the ball rebounded off the upright.

In the end the Deres felt that they deserved a draw at least and Wingate won the game due to ten minutes of good play either side of half time. Apart from the Deres were on top.

The Deres now slip down a place to 18th, but still have a four point cushion above the relegation places.