Two teams needing to bounce back from defeats met when Erith and Belvedere hosted Punjab United and it was the visitors that claimed the three points.

There was little to choose between the two teams but two moments of brilliance by Wayne Bushell in three second half minutes made the difference. The visitors probably shaded the possession but the Deres looked more threatening when they attacked.

Joe Chalker got into the Punjab area early on and fell but managed to play it back to Tommy Whitnell who fired wide. Sam Smith then sent over a brilliant cross-field pass to Freddie Baker who got a shot away but former Deres goalkeeper Rilwan Anibaba watched it go past his post.

Dan Parkinson tried his luck with a free kick that was just too high for the Deres before their shot stopper, Charlie Cottrell, claimed a corner and launched it forward. Maxx Manktelow flicked it on however it was out of the reach of Riley Asaam and Anibaba tidied up.

Reece Deakin did well to hold up a long clearance before sending Malachi Hudson away for the visitors but his shot was deflected wide. Ryan Hayes took the corner with a training ground routine to Steve Ratcliff who got it all wrong and ballooned it well over.

After the half time break another long Cottrell clearance sent Baker away but his first time shot went well wide, then he skied another chance created by Chaker. Manktelow was next to shoot wide from twenty yards after a clearance landed in his path.

Parkinson then delivered a diagonal free kick that evaded Whitnell but Baker arrived late and headed over. Baker finally did manage to get a shot on target and was ready to wheel away in celebration until Bushell got back to make a miraculous clearance that must have been very close to crossing the goal-line.

Minutes later, Bushell made a vital impact at the other end. A Hayes delivery pinged around the penalty area and the Punjab centre-back hooked it over his head, over Cottrell, and into the net. 

Riley Asaam had a great chance to equalise when a recycled corner fell into his path and he was aghast to see his close range shot fly over.

Cruis Nyadzayo sent a curler wide from outside the penalty area for the visitors before Deakin’s drive presented Cottrell with an easy catch. Punjab substitute Bradley Ryan, another former Dere, dragged a shot wide before two more late Erith chances went astray.

First Smith slung in a dangerous cross that AJ Morrison was unable to turn in. Then, Anibaba spilled a high Parkinson ball into the area however it caught Tyller Davis-Whitlock by surprise and he was unable to get take advantage when he sliced his effort.   

That was the last chance as Punjab saw out the remaining minutes with no further alarm.

Erith and Belvedere: Cottrell, Smith, McClean (Morrison 79), Parkinson, Cheeseman, Cray, Baker, Manktelow, Assam (Fowler 71), Whitnell, Chalker (Davis-Whitlock 68).

Subs not used: Morrison, Fowler, Martins, Strachan.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow card: Asaam, Parkinson

Punjab United: Anibaba, Scudder, Lewin-Thomas, Aziaya, Bushell, Ratcliff, Hayes, Dawson, Deakin, Nyadzayo, Hudson (Ryan 60).

Subs not used: Crowe, Aderonmu, Sahni, Spencer.

Goalscorers: Bushell (59)

Yellow card: Nyadzayo

Referee: Mark Fitzpatrick

Assistant: Ron Albert and Amari Taylor

Attendance: 162