Deres warming up ahead of title bid

Kent Premier League favourites Erith & Belvedere have begun their pre-season campaign well, with two wins against Essex Senior League sides and a narrow 2-1 defeat to last season's Kent League champions, Maidstone United, writes Thomas Hawes.

Strangely, the Deres first friendly fixture, away to Brentwood Town, had to be played in a field adjacent to the Essex side’s home ground due to reseeding of the pitch.

However, goals from former Shrewsbury Town player Austin Berkley, Mark Nougher (2) and a trialist put a dominant Deres 4-0 up at half-time.

But a rejigged Deres side conceded two late goals, but on the whole the Park View Road based outfit were pleased with a 4-2 victory.

Last Saturday, the Deres once again travelled north of the river to play Bowers & Pitsea, a side that struggled in the Essex Premier League last time out.

Bowers were reduced to ten men after just half an hour and it was therefore a big surprise when the Essex side scored on the hour mark.

Two late goals from Tommy Martin and Berkley saw the Deres chalk up another win in
Essex.

On Tuesday night, the Deres hosted Maidstone United in a tight affair at Park View Road.

There was little to separate the sides in the opening half of the game, chances were few and far between as two evenly matched midfields battled for possession.

Erith & Belvedere were awarded a penalty after Aaron Lacy handled in the penalty area on 32 minutes. Martin stepped up and coolly fired the Deres into the lead.

However, the second half performance was below par and once key player Berkley left the field late on with cramp, the floodgates opened.

Stones captain Jimmy Strouts picked up the ball in the middle of the park before embarking on a thunderous run to the edge of the box, where he drilled an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the Deres net to equalise.

Six minutes from time, the Stones grabbed a winner as Leroy Huggins’ header flew past the wrong-footed Deres trialist keeper.

Despite the defeat against Maidstone, there is no doubt that the Deres are in a strong position to contest for the Kent League title with the likes of Herne Bay, Thamesmead Town and Whitstable Town.

Meanwhile, over the summer a Supporters Club (Deres Independent Supporters Association) was formed in order to aid the club with regards to marketing, generating extra revenue and improving the club’s image.

One such fundraiser, which is open to all Kent football fans, is the Annual Prediction competition.

More details can be found on the club’s website: www.erithandbelvederefc.co.uk

Meanwhile, the Deres kick off the competitive season with two tricky openers against
Kent League runners-up Beckenham Town on the 12th August at Eden Park Avenue
in the league before travelling to the north Kent coast to face Herne Bay in the FA Cup extra preliminary round.