Erith & Belvedere 0-4 Fisher Athletic

Wayne Burnett’s side, like the hosts, were playing their first pre-season friendly, and they found themselves deservedly three-nil up at the break, before changing their entire side at the interval, and adding a fourth early in the second half.

Right-sided winger, Shaun Batt, signed from Coca-Cola League Two new boys Dagenham & Redbridge, caused the Deres’ defence all sorts of problems with his pace for the 45 minutes that he was on the pitch.

And his low centre opened up a chance for Luke Hickey, but his shot rolled agonisingly past the foot of the right-post, from just four-yards out.

The only first half chance that the Kent League hosts created came in the eleventh minutes through striker Steve White.

The experienced front-man cracked a fierce drive, from an acute angle, but Simon Overland managed to parry the shot, and White’s follow-up shot was headed over his own crossbar by Romould Bouadji.

However, it didn’t take too long for the Fish to break the deadlock, when Hickey latched onto a through ball and coolly slotted the ball past Chris Conneally after fourteen minutes.

Conneally, who finished last season with Kent League runners-up VCD Athletic, was beaten for the second time eight minutes later.

And former Deres’ defender, Lewis Tozer, enjoyed his return to Park View Road, by scoring that goal.

The central defender rose to meet Batt’s near-post cross, which was missed by Conneally, to loop a header into an empty net.

Fisher found it easy to burst through the middle of the hosts’ defence on many occasions, and their third goal arrived in that fashion, after 31 minutes.

Striker Jeff Goulding, one of just four players to survive the club’s summer cull, rolled the ball past an exposed Conneally, finding the bottom far corner from twelve yards.

But Conneally made a smart save later in the half when his full-stretching dive ensured he prevented Gavin Heeroo from scoring with a right-footed screamer from thirty yards.

Fisher Athletic changed their entire team at the break, and Theo Fairweather-Johnson impressed before being forced off due to an injury.

The striker twice burst through the hosts’ defence, once agonisingly hitting the foot of the far post, before he added the game’s last goal after 48 minutes, slotting the ball into the bottom left-hand corner, with only Conneally to beat.

But brave Erith & Belvedere battled back and created three second half chances of their own.

Striker Nigel Day, who was with Billericay Town last season, rose to head Mitchell Crawley’s free-kick past the post.

And then his strike partner, Dave Hassett, was unlucky not to score a consolation, when his angled 12-yard lob dropped over Chris Lewington’s crossbar.

Lewington was, however, called into action after 56 minutes, parrying Mark Nougher’s right-footed drilled free-kick from 28-yards, which went through his four-man wall.

Conneally made a smart save after 65 minutes when he prevented striker Serge Musungu from punishing more slack defending.

Erith & Belvedere defender Michael Gonzague earnt himself his first yellow card of the season, for his challenge of Fairweather-Johnson.

The Deres, who were without key players, Paul Gross, Lee Morgan and Adrian Deane (all injured), Matt Bedford (holiday) and Nick Smith (illness), brought goalkeeper Neil Murray into the action for the last nineteen minutes, and the shaven headed stopper made a smart save when he turned Fairweather-Johnson’s effort around his post.

Erith & Belvedere: Chris Connelly (Neil Murray 71), Ricky Hardie, Joe Diggings (Matt Johnson 45), Tom Maycock, Michael Gonzague, John Farley, Marlon Button, Mitchell Crawley, Dave Hassett (Ashley Dunkley 58), Steve White (Nigel Day 45), Mark Nougher (Paul Ambrose 58).

Booked: Michael Gonzague 67

Fisher Athletic: Simon Overland (Chris Lewington 45), Simon Jackson (Adam Moriaty 45), Jason Thompson (Nathan Simpson 45), Lewis Tozer (Gavin Dayes 45), Romould Bouadji (Anyiam-Osigwe Emmanuel 45), Gavin Heeroo (Nic Plumain 45), Shaun Batt (Dean Carpenter 45), Luke Hickey (Kenny Beaney 45), Jeff Goulding (Serge Musungu 45), Andre McCollin (Theo Fairweather-Johnson 45, Matt Dean 81), Sol Pinnock (Ludovic Quistin 45).

Goals: Luke Hickey 14, Lewis Tozer 22, Jeff Goulding 31, Theo Fairweather-Johnson 48.

Referee: Mr Paul Kelly
Assistants: Mr Lee Venamore & Mr Simon Finnigan

NO EXCUSES NOT TO MAKE TODAY’S BIG MATCH !

Is your other half giving you grief that you’re planning to watch Erith & Belvedere play Fisher Athletic this afternoon, instead of taking her shopping?

Well, you can still make today’s pre-season friendly at Park View Road, thanks to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

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If you shop online anyway then why not raise valuable extra funds for us by using this fantastic scheme - allowing you to join us at Park View Road to watch this match!

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