4thoct04

I made a mistake, admits Deres physio

PRIDE is at stake for Erith & Belvedere on Tuesday following their shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Flackwell Heath at Park View Road on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Flackwell Heath take their place in the third qualifying round and they travel to the winners of Tuesday's replay between Folkestone Invicta and Harrow Borough as a Mark Xavier strike - he used to play for Harrow Borough - from a 25-yard curling volley just before the half an hour mark sent Barry Lakin's side crashing out of the FA Cup.

Erith & Belvedere are once again in cup action - this time the second round of the London Senior Cup - against lower league Southall at Park View Road on Tuesday, and the club's supporters will be expecting and demanding a home victory.

However, the club's physio, Chris Davis has put his hands up and shouldered some of the responsibility as the Deres were unable to complete Saturday's game with a full complement of players.

"Having passed Wayne Brown as fit to play before kick off, he suffered a recurrence of his Achilles injury and subsequently couldn't complete the game," he said.

"With Barry (Lakin) having already played his hand to get us back in the game, we were without a replacement for Wayne and had to try and complete the game with a man and a goal down.

"One of those things but it really undermined the planned tactics for the last twenty minutes."

Brown, however, is certain to miss Tuesday's London Senior Cup clash and at this early stage he could be missing for a couple of weeks.

Dean Fenton's return, however, was one of a few pleasing aspects from the Flackwell Heath defeat, as Davis continued:

"It was great to see Dean Fenton have 25 minutes of competitive football as he completes his rehabilitation. 

"With a couple more intensive fitness sessions we will hopefully see his full potential that caught the eye in pre-season.

"Denva McKenzie also proved his successful rehabilitation with a few typical boisterous challenges.  Again, with a couple of fitness sessions he should be firing on all cylinders.

"Chris Dickson's hamstring injury is not as serious as initially thought, and I am pleased to report his return to action may not be delayed as initially feared if he continues to respond to treatment.  However, he is still up to three weeks away from returning."

Following his hamstring injury, Chris Whitehouse is now back in full training.


Tuesday 5 October 2004
Erith & Belvedere v Southall
London Senior Cup Second Round
Kick Off 7.30pm
at Park View Road, Welling