Merstham 1-1 Erith Town - All we have to do is we've just got to win as many games of football and get to that magical 40 points mark and I'll be happy, says seventh-placed Erith Town boss Adam Woodward

Merstham 1 – 1 Erith Town
Location	Moatside Stadium, Weldon Way, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3QB
Kickoff	08/10/2024 19:45

MERSTHAM  1-1  ERITH TOWN
Isthmian League South East Division
Tuesday 8 October 2024
Stephen McCartney reports from Weldon Way

ERITH TOWN manager Adam Woodward says he is learning about the ruthless nature of playing in the Isthmian League South East Division.

The Dockers’ are playing in the eighth-tier for the very first time this season following their Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division play-off success, after beating Glebe and Corinthian.

Erith Town grabbed the lead with their first shot on target with winger Ollie Milton notching his sixth goal of the season, before Jamie Decruz’s side levelled through impressive winger Aaron Jenkins on the stroke of half-time with his third of the campaign.

“I think we were well worth the point,” said Woodward, whose side had lost their last three games to Herne Bay (1-5, Kent Senior Cup), Beckenham Town (2-3) and came away from Eastbourne Town with a 2-1 defeat at the weekend.

“We should’ve gone in at 1-0, a little bit of naivety. We’ve got two minutes to go of the first half and we have the ball in the corner and we’re trying to cross balls in.  Just a little bit of winning mentality really, maybe we should learn that we should be seeing halves out, take the 1-0 and go in.

“But look, Ill take nothing away from the boys. I thought we were exceptional tonight and we were really worth the point.”

When asked about the difference between the ninth-tier and the eighth and reflecting on his side’s start to their maiden campaign at this level, Woodward replied: “It’s ruthless.  I thought we dominated the second half at Eastbourne. First half we were poor, second half we came out and dominated and we was undone by one flukey shot, cross in that went in and tonight we were punished.

“Other than Nathan Edwards’ save from Lee Lewis (tonight), I thought we were pretty comfortable.

“I’m over the moon with the start. We’ve been exceptional.  Listen, we were disappointed Saturday, there were a few choice words said between players’ and me and the chairman had a little bit of a chat as well because he wasn’t overly happy that we lost the game.

“But we’ve got to have a reality check. We’re Erith Town, no one expected us to go up last year. Where the club’s gone since the chairman’s taken over, the last six years, we couldn’t believe this.  We wouldn’t believe that we’ve got promoted to Step Four.

“Look at the teams that were in the League last year, with the big budgets and things like that. We held our own and got ourselves promoted.”

Merstham came out on the front foot for the first 15 minutes on a rain lashed Tuesday night at Weldon Way.

Holding midfielder Bradley Wilson hit a long ball over the top of right-wing-back Hayden Bullas for Jenkins to cut inside before drilling a low right-footed angled drive from 20-yards, which was comfortably gathered by Nathan Edwards diving low to his right with four minutes and 44 seconds on the clock.

Merstham were finding joy down the right with Dockers’ left-wing-back Andrew Dythe often leaving space in behind for Merstham’s lively wingers to exploit, following some long balls into the channel.

Another long ball from Wilson sailed over Erith Town’s centre-half Jerome Jayaguru to release winger Olumayowa Lawal, who cut the ball back to right-back Oliver Khinda, who whipped in a first time cross for four-goal striker Aidan Brown to send his bullet header across Edwards and past the post.

Merstham’s central midfielder Billy Oram wasn’t pressed as he travelled over the half-way line before hitting the ball into the right-channel again for Lawal, who cut the ball back to Khinda again and Brown’s downward header from eight-yards hardly troubled Edwards who comfortably gathered.

Dominant Merstham went close in the 14^th minute when Jenkins and Samuel King linked up well with a one-two triangle in the centre of the pitch in the final third before Jenkins placed his right-footed shot across the keeper and past the far post from 20-yards.

“We rode the storm.  Listen, we had a game plan to come in, we were organised, we were settled,” added Woodward, who has been without George Goodwin all season with a bruised heal, while James Dyer returns on Saturday as he is currently in Dubai.

“We rode our luck a little bit first half but I thought we were comfortable. I don’t think they had anything clear-cut.”

Erith Town weathered the storm, however, and holding midfielder Aaron Jeffery wasted a chance on the edge of the box at the half-way point.

Bullas looped a long throw into the box from the right channel, the ball was laid off by seven-goal central striker Harry Taylor, but Jeffery’s first time shot troubled the birds in the trees behind Robert Tolfrey’s goal.

Jeffery hobbled off with an left ankle injury, although he serves a suspension on Saturday.

“He got a whack in the first half and to be fair to him he’s carried on playing on it and he couldn’t feel it, it’s numb and I think the last tackle done him in the end,” said Woodward.

“Do you know what, he’s my best mate. He was my best man at my wedding, I was best man at his wedding. 

“He was only due to play 10 games this season, just to help us out and be more on the management side. He’s won player-of-the-month for September and I think he has that little bit of experience that we need.”

Woodward made a tactical change before the half-hour mark and pushed the impressive Bullas, 18, into a high attacking midfielder role, as Erith Town kept ineffective winger Harrison Carnegie on the right, Taylor in the middle and Milton on the left.

Erith Town grabbed the lead with their first shot on target, with 35 minutes and 16 seconds on the clock.

Milton started the move close to the half-way line, playing a short pass back to Dythe, who swept a first time left-footed long ball along the deck to release Bullas down the left.

The 18-year-old, who is on a work-experience deal from EFL League One side Leyton Orient put in a low cross towards the near post and Milton placed a first-time right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner from eight-yards.

“He’s been clinical this year, Ollie. Nineteen goals last year.  He had to step up and my front players, Ollie, James Dyer (who scored 33) and Harry Taylor (35) are stepping up.  I think they’re all in the top 10 of the goalscoring charts, which is phenomenal really, so Ollie’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing and he’ll have a good season,” added Woodward.

Merstham had plenty of the ball during the first half and hardly troubled Edwards, that was until their equaliser when it arrived one minute and 37 seconds into stoppage time.

Centre-half Harry Pointing hit a long ball out of defence and Khinda and Lawal linked up well down the right before Lawal cut in from the flank before curling a right-footed shot heading towards the far corner.

Edwards did well to dive to his right and push the ball out with two-hands and just 10 seconds later, Jenkins cut onto his right-foot to drill an emphatic drive into the far corner from 20-yards.

“I think we pressed it, we had a bit of poor communication. We need to tell them to engage.  Once we engaged, we’ve not really narrowed up. We saw their lad play a one-two around him and obviously a good finish,” added Woodward.

“We had a few tactical things we needed to do and we done them well.  I said second half you’ve got to ride the storm. They’re going to come out, they’re at home, they want to engage the football. They’re a good side, they move the ball well, the pitch is good and do you know what, I think we stood up and we was counted.”

Merstham came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second half and Edwards made a vital low save just 89 seconds in.

Brown laid the ball off to Wilson, who sprayed the ball out to Jenkins on the left, who cut inside before curling a low shot towards the bottom far corner, which the former Holmesdale goalkeeper got down low to his left and held after the ball bounced just in front of him.

“He’s had a tough time in the last two weeks, Nathan. He made a mistake at Beckenham and he made a mistake on Saturday,” revealed Woodward, who had second choice goalkeeper Tommy Taylor at this game but wasn’t selected in the sixteen man matchday squad.

“There’s a lot of pressure on the kid at the moment and he stood up and I thought he was really good tonight.”

Jayaguru slipped the ball out of the Dockers’ defence straight down the middle and a fine first touch from James Miles saw the central midfielder travel some 20-yards, as he wasn’t pressed, before chipping a right-footed 35-yarder towards the top left-hand corner, only for Tolfrey to comfortably pluck the ball out of the air high to his right.

Woodward said: “Listen, it was a good little chip by Milo.  He’s had a tough time recently. He hasn’t had lots of games of football but he’s been patient and he’s come in tonight and I thought he’s done really well.”

Merstham had momentum for a large part of the second half and no one in red-and-black pressed the impressive Wilson as he pinged a sublime diagonal over to Lawal out on the left and his angled shot was blocked by Edwards legs in the 55^th minute.

Bullas was covering almost every blade of wet grass tonight, starting at right-wing-back, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder and giving the Erith Town team plenty of energy and desire.  This kid has a very good future in the game.

Woodward agreed, adding: “Listen, he’s a good kid.  I gave him his debut in the SCEFL in the Semi-Final away at Deal three years ago before he went to Orient at 16 years of age.  He’s gone into Orient, he’s done really well. He went pre-season away with the first team to Spain, which is good experience for him and when we had a chance to take him on loan, it was a no-brainer. He’s a good player.”

Erith Town called Tolfrey into making a comfortable save as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

The otherwise quiet Taylor dropped to the half-way line and was closely marked by Merstham’s centre-half Matthew Drage but a reverse pass sent Milton on his way, charging into the box before hitting a right-footed rasping drive towards the top near corner, only for Tolfrey to comfortably pluck the ball out of the air at his near post.

“I thought second half, it was a bit of a boring game. It was a case of us cancelling them out,” admitted the Dockers’ boss.

“It was a good chance for Ollie and he’s been getting in good positions.”

Erith Town have reached The FA Youth Cup Third Qualifying Round where they travel to Burgess Hill Town on Thursday 17 October.

Left-winger Brandon Hatega, 17, came off the bench in the 81^st minute here tonight, while 16-year-old midfielder Jacob Connor didn’t.

“Jacob travelled with us Saturday, just to get a feel with it, along with Sid Petters, who is the captain of the youth team.

“I watched them over at Chatham the other day and Sid played centre-mid and I thought he marked that Sean Sene-Richardson out of the game and kept him quiet, which is a hell of a feat. 

“Sid travelled with us Saturday, he hasn’t travelled with us tonight.

“Brendon was exceptional at Chatham, so was Jacob.

“We want to get these boys just get a feel of it, even if they’re coming and doing the warm-up and experiencing (first team football).  Sid came on the coach on Saturday so he’s got the experience, seeing what it’s like being in and around the first team dressing room and on the coach away from home and it’s good experience for them and we ned to rely on them and we needed them tonight”

Woodward revealed he is looking to bring in fresh blood.

“There’s a few seven-dayers in at the moment. We need to get a few bodies in just to help a few of these lads out.

“Calum McGeehan, who is knocking on 36-37, he’s had a lot of games recently.  Leo Mazzone hasn’t played a lot of football in the last two or three years, he’s playing a lot of games.  Aaron Jefferey’s 35, he’s playing a hell of a lot of games.

“This league is a lot different to the SCEFL. I’m finding out their bodies are taking a lot more of a punishment.”

Edwards ensured a point was maintained in the 85^th minute when substitute right-back Jack Holland left gaps in the channel.

Oram put in a low cross, a poor clearance from Erith Town centre-half Calum McGeehan went straight to Pointing, before substitute attacking midfielder Lee Lewis drilled a right-footed drive towards the roof of the net from 20-yards, which forced Edwards to use a strong right hand to push over his crossbar.

“A good save against Lee Lewis, a good player. I was quite surprised to see him on the bench but a good save by cat,” added Woodward, a now retired goalkeeper.”

Erith Town had a chance to grab the victory following their fifth and final corner in stoppage time.

Miles floated the ball in from the right and Taylor’s free-header was comfortably plucked out of the air by Merstham’s 37-year-old goalkeeper.

Beckenham Town remain at the summit with 22 points from their 10 games, while the play-off zone contains Sheppey United (18 points from six games), Sittingbourne (15 points from six games), Ramsgate (15 points from five games) and Margate (15 points from seven games).

Burgess Hill Town are in sixth-place tonight with 15 points from seven games, while Erith Town have slipped down a couple of spots to seventh with 14 points (four wins, two draws and three defeats) from nine games, Merstham are now in eighth-place with 14 points from eight followed by newly-promoted Deal Town are in ninth-place with 12 points from eight, while Eastbourne Town make up the top 10 with 10 points from seven games.

Steve King brings the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division champions Deal Town back to Bayliss Avenue on Saturday (15:00).

“I do know a lot about Deal and obviously they’re going to come back to us and they want to get one over on us after we won in the Semi-Final,” said Woodward.

“Look, that will be tough.  King will bring a good side up. He’s not really changed too much either, like us. 

“We’re walking wounded.  Thursday night is going to be a massive recovery session. We’ve got to get the boys in, we’ve got to make sure they’re looked after.

“There’s a couple of seven-dayers in for a few people that hopefully I can get over the line for Saturday. I’m not saying we need to improve but I think we need help. We need to get bodies in.

“We’ve just got to win as many games of football and get to that magical 40 points mark and I’ll be happy. That’s all we have to do.”

Erith Town welcome Margate to Bayliss Avenue for a League game on Tuesday 22 October and Isthmian Premier Division side Dartford arrive in the Velocity Cup Third Round on Tuesday 29 October.

Woodward said: “Listen, for Erith Town to play Dartford in a Cup game is phenomenal. It shows how far we’ve come as a club to play teams like Margate as well in the League.

“This League has got some big teams in it. Teams we shouldn’t really be playing. Like we wouldn’t thought five years ago we’ll have a chance of playing your Ramsgate’s, your Margate’s.

“It’s just an experience that we’ve got to enjoy it and make sure we do the right things.

“I am learning massively.  Learning teams punish you if you don’t do the right things.  Set-pieces are massive, make sure you keep the ball a lot.  Teams try to play football. There’s a lot of smash and grab in the SCEFL.

“It’s an experience I wanted. I said at the start of last season or towards the end if we didn’t get promoted I’ll probably jack it in because I had enough of Step Five and luckily enough we got over the line, so I’m experiencing Step Four football (for the first time).

“I’ve got two young kids, two under two’s. My wife takes a lot of s**t .  This football effects everything. I’m out twice a week, I’m out on a Saturday all day, she deals with all the children while I’m working as well.

“I felt I owed her a little bit of family time but unfortunately we got promoted so I said I need to have a crack of Step Four.

“Listen, I’ve got a text from her, first thing she says ‘how did you get on?’, so she buys into it. She loves the club as well. She gets on well with the chairperson Kay and Mark (Deveney) as well. He’s been really good to me but it’s an experience for us.”

Merstham: Robert Tolfrey, Oliver Khinda, Harry Murphy, Bradley Wilson (Dean Gunner 90), Matthew Drage, Harry Pointing, Aaron Jenkins, Billy Oram, Aidan Brown (Andy Kabuiku-Somo 72), Samuel King (Lee Lewis 76), Olumayowa Lawal (Michele Maccari 66).
Sub: Alex Rihoy

Goal: Aaron Jenkins 45

Booked: Olumayowa Lawal 9, Harry Pointing 9, Oliver Khinda 15, Samuel King 74, Lee Lewis 90

Erith Town: Nathan Edwards, Hayden Bullas, Andrew Dythe (Jack Holland 58), Calum McGeehan, Jerome Jayaguru, Tom Ash, Ollie Milton (Brandon Hatega 81), Aaron Jeffery (Leo Mazzone 62), Harry Taylor, James Miles, Harrison Carnegie (Kola Salami 66).
Sub: Jacob Connor

Goal: Ollie Milton 36

Booked: Hayden Bullas 24, James Miles 90

Attendance: 299
Referee: Mr Gerry Heron
Assistants: Mr Phillip Jones & Mr Adan Siage
Referee Coach:  Mr Nigel Freelove