Bridon Ropes made it a remembrance Sunday to forget for Erith & Belvedere in this SCEFL First Division fixture as John Woodcock and Nathan Simpson both scored twice whilst the visitors finished with ten men.

The Dere’s were forced to play over half the game a man light after an off-the-ball altercation and delay to proceedings resulted in a straight red-card to Ola Rabiu.

It was a dominant display by the home side whose young exuberant side full of energy won the day although it started better for The Dere’s as Jonathan Murray saw an early header parried onto the post and away by home custodian William Warbuoys.

Bridon took the lead in the fifth minute, John Woodcock firing home first time from the left-edge of the penalty box after a delightful cross-field and defence-splitting ball from the right-hand side by Tyler Anderson-Parr.

However the lead was short as the home side inexplicably failed to clear a bobbling cross from the left with George Bryan quickest to react in front of goal to poke the ball home (7).

Being pegged back so soon did not deter the home side who dominated proceedings thereafter.

Michael Janis and early scorer Woodcock linked up well on the left and despite Jack Bradshaw coming off his line to neutralise the attack Woodcock got his foot to the loose ball first but could only watch it trickle harmlessly wide.

Simpson, leading the line well for his side, found space and despite having his back to goal was able to lay the ball off to Anderson-Parr who in turn found Janis in space but the midfielder snatched at the chance and fired over from close range.

Janis shortly after found himself in front of goal once again but shot tamely at Bradshaw after excellent work on the right by Anderson-Parr, who was giving The Dere’s full-back Sheriff-Deen Babatunde a torrid time.

Murray gave The Deres’ hope cutting in on the left only to see his low shot parried by Warbuoys but it was certainly the opposing ‘keeper Bradshaw being kept the busier.

Simpson, having earlier been the provider, saw him contribute at the end of attacking forays as Janis sent him through on goal only for an alert Bradshaw to once again effectively come racing off his goal-line to grasp the loose ball and then finding space on the edge of the box saw his curling effort go just high and wide of the angle of crossbar and post.

Simpson wasn’t to be denied though during the next attack as James Murphy did well to get to the by-line on the left-hand side pulling the ball back to an unmarked Simpson who crashed the ball home via the underside of the crossbar (29).

A goal-down, the visitors were soon a man down. After an altercation on the dug-out side of the field of play resulting in an extended delay in proceedings due to an incensed Ola Rabiu was given a straight red-card – Jordan Downes a yellow for his involvement.

With the interval approaching the hosts pushed for  two-goal cushion as Oliver Hickman blazed over from the edge of the box and Anderson-Parr found an ever-increasingly angle defy him as he blazed high and wide.

But The Dere’s went in with hope as a poorly misjudged header by Matt Dennis gave Kofi Quartey a chance through on goal but Warbuoys was alert enough to race off his line, close the angle and clear the danger.

With the second half The Dere’s had the chance to regroup but any hope of getting back into the game were soon extinguished as Simpson curled home from range (50) as Bridon Ropes got their two-goal cushion.

As Bridon Ropes and Murphy almost sealed the win with a fourth goal, the home man curling his shot onto the post with Bradshaw beaten, The Dere’s reduced the arrears as Chris McGunty (65) poked home an inviting left-hand cross by Downes.

But the hosts weren’t to be denied as the youthfulness of the home side and perhaps visitors legs tiring having played a man down for so long told – Woodcock running with the ball in The Dere’s half and striking from range into the back of the net, his second and the hosts fourth (71), again restoring their two-goal lead.

The Dere’s were still not beaten though as they continued to apply pressure to their hosts back line with dangerous crosses from both the left and right-hand side but unable to find a man in front of goal to apply the finishing touch.

That was until Bridon Ropes sealed the win inside the final ten minutes (82) as substitute Richard Jimoh did well on the right-hand touchline squaring to Murphy who had the simplest of tasks to slot the ball home.

Jimoh had the chance to notch a sixth in the final stages but when through on goal lost composure and shot straight at Bradshaw.

 

Bridon Ropes: Warbuoys, Hickman, Downes, Dennis ©, Hopwood, Hayes, Woodcock, Janis (Fanner, 81), Simpson (off for 12, 51), Murphy, Anderson-Parr (Jimoh, 68)

Subs: Atkins, Dasofunso, Hewitt

Goals: Woodcock (5, 71), Simpson (29, 50), Murphy (81)

 

Erith & Belvedere: Bradshaw, Coleman (off at ht for 14), Babatunde, Bryan, Wheeler, McKinlay, Rabiu, Odusanya (Williams, 56), Quartey © (Friend, 56), McGunty, Murray

Subs: Shipp, Nwitua, Willis

Goals: Bryan (7), McGunty (65)

 

Att: 63