Erith & Belvedere 4-1 Billingshurst - I want to get promoted, I want to have cup runs but we need to be more clinical, says Erith & Belvedere manager Gary Alexander

Erith & Belvedere 4 – 1 Billingshurst
Location	Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY
Kickoff	09/08/2026 13:00

ERITH & BELVEDERE  4-1  BILLINGSHURST
The Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Sunday 9 August 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

ERITH & BELVEDERE manager Gary Alexander says he wants his players to be more clinical after creating 21 goalscoring chances during their comfortable FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round victory over Billingshurst.

Eddie French’s side arrived at Park View Road sitting in fifteenth-place (bottom six) in the Southern Combination League Premier Division after losing 2-1 to Bexhill United and drawing Horsham YMCA (1-1).

Fifteenth-placed Erith & Belvedere opened their campaign with a 2-1 home defeat to newly-promoted side AFC Greenwich Borough and created 13 attempts on target as Billingshurst goalkeeper Oliver Courtney made nine saves.

Erith & Belvedere played some scintillating on the deck one or two touch football during an explosive start to the game, with Jack Sammoutis the stand-out player in the middle of the park before he was withdrawn after 34 minutes due to a calf strain.

The outstanding Deres raced into a 3-0 lead inside the opening 38 minutes with attacking midfielder Casey Dudley, right-winger Frederick Baker and left-winger Clarence Tambe all finding the bottom far corner of the net with clinical strikes.

Eddie French was forced into making a double change at the interval with left-winger Tosin Dada and humiliated central midfielder Benjamin Cole both hooked after letting the game pass them by and the Sussex side vastly improved their performance after the interval and striker Tom Edwards also found the bottom far corner to open his account for the new season.

Erith & Belvedere lowered their standards during the second half but they still created chances and big targetman Connor French came off the bench to open his account for his new club in stoppage time.

Alexander’s side will face a much sterner test when they face Isthmian League South East Division big-hitters Sittingbourne at Park View Road in the Preliminary Round on Sunday 23 August.

Reece Prestedge’s side opened their eighth-tier League campaign with a 2-1 win over AFC Croydon Athletic yesterday.

“Plenty of positives, like I said, it’s FA Cup football, so it’s about getting into the next round and we’re in the next round,” said Alexander, 46.

“They’re just a hardworking side, like they all are out of the Sussex League. They came here, they’re going to work hard, they’re going to try their best but I thought we knocked it about well in the first half and we took them apart at times.

“I thought the first half was very good but going into the second half conditions obviously play their part in that. It’s tough conditions.  The boys put everything in the first half.  We pressed them and we earned the right to be three-up. If it had been six it wouldn’t have been, it would probably would’ve been fair.”

Erith & Belvedere’s nineteen-year-old goalkeeper Danny Alexander gifted Billingshurst their only chance of their lacklustre first-half performance, kicking the ball straight to striker Matthew Hards who lacked quality and composure by rolling his poor right-footed shot harmlessly wide of the goal from 30-yards after only 161 seconds.

Erith & Belvedere then started turning on the style with Sammoutis pulling the strings in the middle of the park, with one or two touch passes with his team-mates inside the Billingshurst half of the field.

Tambe delivered a right-footed cross into the penalty area where the ball was flicked on by lively striker Alfie Bloomfield and Baker ghosted in at the far post to slice his right-footed half-volley high and wide of the far post.

Bloomfield missed a glorious chance following another fine move from the home side with 12:29 on the clock.

Centre-half Frederick Fletcher travelled before playing a deck pass into Dudley, who put it on a plate for Bloomfield in the middle, who swept a first-time right-footed shot past the left-hand post from 12-yards.

“Listen, it’s a good move and it’s another opportunity. We’ve got to get up to full speed. Alfie put himself in the right position, so no complains from me,” added Alexander.

The dominant hosts deserved their lead when it arrived with 15 minutes and 55 seconds on the clock.

Centre-half Chigozirim Njoku hit a long ball into the Billingshurst penalty area, which was knocked clear by their left-back Darren Titre-Wilson.

Erith & Belvedere’s right-back Tyrone Gondoh drilled a low ball back into the penalty area and Bloomfield controlled the ball in the middle before falling over but remained composed to flick the ball inside for Casey to drill a first-time right-footed drive into the bottom left-hand corner from 18-yards.

“I think it was just deserved. We’ve had a lot of the ball and we’ve created chances and I think it was just deserved,” added Alexander.

“Credit to Alf, he’s on the floor and he’s still managed to find his team-mate to slot one in.”

Fletcher, Sammoutis and Baker were all involved in another sweeping move before the ball was worked back to Sammoutis, whose left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty area was tipped over by Courtney, high to his left.

When asked about Sammoutis eye-catching performance in the middle of the park before another injury set-back, Alexander said: “That’s the quality of Jack. That’s what you get out of Jack. That’s what he does, he runs games and he was certainly doing that and he was bossing the midfield. 

“Jack’s just got a little knock. He’s been carrying it and obviously we nursed it at the back end of pre-season and today he felt it (his calf) a little stiff, so we were 2-0 up, we didn’t need to risk Jack.

“We’ve got a squad where we’re strong enough to make changes and we’ve done that and we don’t have to risk him.”

Courtney pulled off a brilliant reaction save when left-back Ronnie McClean delivered a deep cross towards the back post and Njoku’s glancing header was tipped around the post by the brilliant Courtney.

Tambe easily skipped past Billingshurst right-back Ewen Day, before cutting into the penalty area and his right-footed angled drive took a nick off centre-half Matthew Rendell and was palmed away by the busy Courtney at his near-post as Erith & Belvedere kept knocking on the door (30:23).

“Look, let’s give their keeper credit. He made four, five, maybe six saves during the game, which obviously kept the score down, so fair play to him,” said Alexander.

“We need to be more clinical in that situation. I feel Clarence will be disappointed he hasn’t scored.”

Courtney was beaten for a second time with 32 minutes and 39 seconds on the clock through Tambe’s first goal in senior football.

Fletcher played the ball along the ground, the ball was laid off by the threatening Bloomfield and referee Christopher Rammell played a key advantage despite Billingshurst centre-half Matthew Rendell clearly pulled back Dudley before the ball ran loose for Baker to clinically drill his left-footed drive into the bottom far (left) hand corner.

“It’s exactly what we want. We want people arriving in the box and we want people putting it in the net and Freddie’s in the right place at the right time,” said Alexander.

“I’ll say it again, we’ll be disappointed that we haven’t scored more goals as a unit as forwards.”

The awful Cole, who lost the midfield, gifted Erith & Belvedere their third goal, when it arrived with 37 minutes and 19 seconds on the clock.

Cole had his pocket picked by a hungry Tambe some 30-yards from goal, the winger cut into the box and clinically drilled his low right-footed drive past the diving Courtney to find the bottom near corner from 16-yards on the angle.

Alexander said: “It’s what Clarence does.  For an eighteen-year-old, he’s tremendous. He can get at people and that’s what he does. He’s done it all through pre-season and he’s a talent and we’re happy to have him on board with us.

“I’m sure in time he gets his minutes under his belt with us. I’m sure he’ll go on and have a good career.”

Casey drilled the ball into the Billingshurst penalty area and some 20-yards away the ball smacked Bloomfield in the face and knocking out the number nine, who recovered after treatment inside the Billingshurst penalty area.

The referee dropped the ball back to the home side and Tambe put the ball into the box and the versatile Stefan Wright glanced his header across the keeper and just past the top of the far post.

Former Whitehawk man Wright is on dual-registration with Isthmian League Premier Division side Welling United.  Wright came on against AFC Greenwich Borough last week and slotted in at right-back while he played in the middle of the pitch when he replaced Sammoutis.

“Stef’s a utility player, he can play a number of positions. He’s a great character. The opportunity came to sign Stef. He’s infectious around the lads. He’s a good person and he’s certainly a good player at these levels, so it was a non-brainer to have Stef on board,” explained Alexander.

McClean’s diagonal switch played in Baker on the right-hand side of the penalty area and the winger controlled the ball with his chest before dragging his stoppage time shot across the keeper and trickling past the far post.

The hungry Bloomfield drilled in a low cross from within the left-channel and Baker controlled the ball inside the penalty area before Tambe dug the ball out from under his feet and Courtney comfortably caught the ball between his legs to make his fifth save of the first half.

“Listen, we knew we’d get a response because all due-respect to Billingshurst, I’m sure they’re better than what they showed in that first half as they showed in the second half,” said Alexander.

“They came out with a little bit of fight and we expected that and we needed to match them at times. We did and at times it looked like we could score when we wanted but credit for them for coming out and giving it a go and giving it a little bit of flight.

“We probably got sucked into how they wanted to play a little bit. We didn’t have much possession of the football and it was a little bit bitty, back-to-front, which is not us but again conditions are tough.  They made it difficult by changing their shape.”

Billingshurst, who were awful and played off the park during the first half, came out with more heart and desire after the interval, with central midfielder Brandon Enstrom putting in a vastly better performance than his team-mate Cole.

Wright won the ball in the final third before threading the ball through to McClean, whose left-footed rasping drive was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Courtney, using his left-hand high to his right (6:09).

Billingshurst also found the bottom far corner with a clinical strike of their own, timed at seven minutes and seven seconds on the clock, when Erith & Belvedere centre-half Njoku failed to cut out a through ball from winger Luke Brodie and Edwards drilled his left-footed angled drive across the diving Alexander to find the bottom far corner.

Alexander said: “It’s a good finish. We’re all disappointed with that. I’ll probably take responsibility for that because I asked ginge (Baker) to go and get a short corner and he’s ended with a shot but they’ve obviously broke and we need to recover quicker and better but fair play to them.

“They couldn’t had been as bad as they were first half. They came out second half and they’ve given it a go and had they scored a second goal we was in for a cup game wasn’t we?”

Billingshurst were now making a game off it and things would have got nervy for the home side had they conceded a second goal.

Their big moment arrived with 16:18 on the clock when Brodie cut in from the right and played the ball inside to substitute right-winger Thomas King, who swept his first time shot looping over the crossbar from within the D.

“That’s what we said. That’s through us not being clinical. We spoke about numerous chances, they broke on us at times but whether they created a clear-cut chance is a different story but had they scored then we certainly would’ve been in for a cup game but on another occasion but that’s all hindsight. We’ve gone on and scored the goal and sowed it up.”

The scorching temperatures of 29 degrees ensured Erith & Belvedere didn’t replicate their slick passing of the first half and Sammoutis was lone gone by then.

“Although we’re looking at the second half performance not being as good as the first half, we still had a number of chances. We could’ve scored six goals in the second half. It’s one of them and we just need to be more clinical,” said Alexander.

“The performance, passing wise, was it good enough? No. But did we create enough chances to win six football matches? Yes!”

Courtney pulled off a couple of saves towards the half-way mark when Alfie Morgan stole the ball off Harry Smith and cracked a right-footed rasping drive, which was held above head height by Courtney’s two hands.

Connor French came off the bench and held the ball up before prodding the ball into Jack Low’s path and the substitute central midfielder ran through on goal and the outstanding Courtney stuck out his right leg to prevent the ball nestling inside the bottom left-hand corner (21:52) to scoop the Man of the Match award.

“That’s what I mean. We’ll probably have to give their goalkeeper MOM. He’s made six or seven good saves and kept the scoreline down,” added Alexander.

“But it’s good combination play, good timing from Josh Low. Jack not really trained with us. He’s been away, so it’s his first day back and he’s got some minutes into him and he’s showed what he’s about, making runs off centre forwards and Frenchie getting hold of it.”

Alexander revealed Frederick Cray missed today’s game because he is away on a family holiday.

Erith & Belvedere jumped out of their slump and Wright and McClean linked up before the threatening Low curled his shot around the diving Courtney and past the far post as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

Danny Alexander, a virtual spectator throughout, launched a big kick straight down the middle and put Tambe through on goal and his flicked header was brilliantly tipped behind by Courtney, flicking the ball away with his outstretched left-hand.

Going by this performance it won’t be too long before Horsham based Estate Agent Courtney is playing higher than the ninth-tier.

Alexander said: “As I said to the keeper after the game, I said, ‘well played mate. You made nine saves.’ He’s definitely kept the score down, so fair play to him because as much as we weren’t great in the second half, conditions are tough but we got the job done and that’s all that we ask for.  Cup football is different isn’t it. It’s about winning the game and we’re in the hat.”

Fletcher switched off on the corner of his penalty area and let in Edwards, who ignored an inside pass to Brodie and went for goal himself but the angle was too tight and Alexander got down low at his near post to narrow the angle to make his only save of a one-sided FA Cup tie.

Erith & Belvedere sealed the deal by scoring their fourth goal 47 seconds into stoppage time, as the game finished in an open end-to-end fashion.

Substitute left-back Joe Wilson went on a lung-bursting run from inside his own half towards the by-line, before Tambe kept the ball alive despite being clattered into and Connor French turned the ball in across the keeper to find the bottom far corner from inside the six-yard box at the near-post, as the former Bearsted striker opened his account for the new season.

Alexander said: “Good for Connor. Connor’s been working his socks off. He’s getting himself into shape. Connor’s a very good footballer and a good player and one of the best hold-up players there are at these levels, so if we can get Connor into good shape, which he’s getting himself into, we’ve got a hell of a player on us.

“It’s great to see him get on there and get his goal inside the six-yard box because he deserves that.”

Looking ahead to their Sittingbourne test in 14 days’ time, Alexander said: “Listen, they’re a team up there. They’ve established themselves up the last few seasons. They’ve been a big side in these leagues and pushing and budget wise and things like that but we’re not going to dwell on that.

“We’ve got to go there (Erith & Belvedere are the home side) and match ourselves and contest ourselves against a team that plays in a League higher. It’s a cup tie again. If we turn up, I’m sure we’ll give them a game.”

Erith & Belvedere play another Sussex side in Bexhill United next Sunday 16 August in The FA Vase First Qualifying Round and hold the favourites’ tag.

The game has been switched to Park View Road because Bexhill are unable to stage the tie due to cricket being played at their ground at this time of the year.

They have beaten Billingshurst (2-1) and Seaford Town (2-0) in the Southern Combination League Premier Division but suffered a 3-0 home defeat to East Grinstead Town in The FA Cup yesterday.

“Listen, the Sussex sides, they’re always going to be hardworking sides. There’s some good sides out there. It’s cup football again. It’s The FA Vase. We want to progress. We want to go as far as possible, so we’ll be doing our best to get into the next round.

“Obviously, the game’s been spun to be a home fixture, so we have to take that in our advantage.”

Erith & Belvedere sit in the bottom four in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division after only 90 minutes of football and travel to Bromley to tackle Petts Wood & Holmesdale on Wednesday 19 August.

“We want to be challenging. We’re a young side. We want to be up there and improve on last season. You sit here and ask me how our players are?  We’re a young team out there, so they’re learning but we’re more than capable of challenging in these leagues and more than capable of going on to bigger and better things.

“If we can move one or two on to go on and have football careers than that’s great but at the same time, I’m not going to sit here not to be a winner.

“I want to get promoted. I want to have cup runs and same as all of my staff and all of the players’. We’re hungry and we’re not going to sit here and say that we don’t want to get promoted. Of course, we want to get promoted. It’s everyone’s dream.

“So we’ll be pushing and doing all we can to be challenging. I think it’s an open League. You’ve seen it, I think it’s pretty open. I think it will be down to consistency. You look at the teams, does anybody really stand out by a country mile? I don’t think they do.  I think it’s all pretty close.

“You’ve watched games, I’ve watched games and everyone’s of similar standard, so it’s going to come down to consistency and on the day.  You up your standards, you win the game. You drop your standards, you lose the game but I think it’s going to be a tight League.

“I don’t think there will be, like previous seasons, we’ve had runaway winners. I don’t think they’ll be runaway winners this year.”

Erith & Belvedere: Danny Alexander, Tyrone Gondoh (Wayne Lewis-Obiang 85), Ronnie McClean (Joe Wilson 88), Alfie Morgan, Frederick Fletcher, Chigozirim Njoku, Clarence Tambe, Jack Sammoutis (Stefan Wright 34), Alfie Bloomfield (Connor French 61), Casey Dudley (Jack Low 61), Frederick Baker.
Subs: Ellis Procter, Josh Harper

Goals: Casey Dudley 16, Frederick Baker 33, Clarence Tambe 38, Connor French 90

Booked: Frederick Fletcher 53

Billingshurst: Oliver Courtney, Ewen Day, Darren Titre-Wilson, Harry Smith (Harry Smith 80), Matthew Rendell (Lucas Bolton 70), James Bendell, Tosin Dada (Thomas King 46), Benjamin Cole (Brendon Engstrom 46), Tom Edwards, Matthew Hards (Jack Sizzey-Carter 74), Luke Brodie.
Subs: Jack Hayes, Daniel Laws

Goal: Tom Edwards 53

Attendance: 201
Referee: Mr Christopher Rammell
Assistants: Mr Tarik Guernane & Mr Ian Nelson

Match Duration:
First Half: 50:03 (Official Water Break between 22:36-25:02)
Second Half: 51:56 (Official Water Break between 22:22-24:48)

Long Throws into the Penalty Area: Five
James Bendell (Billingshurst) 3
Stefan Wright (Erith & Belvedere) 2