Victory for Deal Town at newly crowned Southern Counties East Football League champions Erith and Belvedere kept their hopes of finishing as runners-up alive.

Matt Longhurst’s Deres came in off the back of a draw at Tunbridge Wells two days earlier which clinched the league title while Deal had fallen to a shock six-nil Kent Senior Trophy Final defeat against Punjab United over the weekend.

In the early exchanges, Prince Domafriyie drew a diving save out of Deal goalkeeper Henry Newcombe before a half clearance in the Erith box fell kindly to Aaron Millbank but he failed to get a clean connection.

After sixteen minutes had passed the Hoops went ahead. Alex Green was brought down in the penalty area and although Jordan Perry went the right way, Macauley Murray’s penalty had the accuracy and power to find the bottom corner.

Five minutes later, Deal doubled their lead. Riley Alford’s shot was tipped onto the bar by a brilliant Perrin save however it counted for nothing as Alford followed up to bury the rebound.

Joe Reeves might have made it three when he cut in from the right but shot well off target before the Deres missed an outstanding chance to pull one back. Domafriyie was sent clear but failed to hit the target with his low shot.

Ben Wilson hooked an effort that was caught comfortably by Newcombe before Domafriyie had another chance. He turned his man brilliantly just inside the Deal half close to the touchline and burst away. He drove into the penalty area but just as he was about to pull the trigger, Green got across to make a crucial last gasp challenge.

As the first half came to a close, Ben Chapman had the last goal attempt for Deal, but his shot was deflected wide.

Early in the second period, Wilson clipped in a near post corner that Danny Lear met with a volley that flew wide before Tom Chapman got in behind the Deres’ defence but was thwarted by an excellent low save by Perrin.

Alfie Foster fired just over for Deal after a free kick was half cleared before Domafriyie headed wide from Henry Burnett’s cross. Marcus Elliott did likewise from a Domafriyie centre before Deal’s Jack Penny shot wide after his free kick had come back out off the Erith defensive wall.

Lear looked odds on to reduce the arrears when sent through but Newcombe made a fantastic block with his legs.

Nine minutes remained when Deal put the game to bed. As Erith threw men forward, they left a massive space behind and Billy Munday strode through and gave Perrin no chance with a powerful finish high into the net.

Victory for Phoenix Sports at Holmesdale means that the outcome of Saturday’s matches will decide who take the runners up spot and a one off play-off match. That was not a matter to concern the Deres, though, and they were presented with the trophy after the match, a suitable way to celebrate their centenary year.

Erith and Belvedere: Perrin, Douglas, Snelling (Howlett-Mundle 66), Chambers, Russell, Strachan (Bennett 77), Lear, Monger, Domafriyie (Takalobighashi 84), Burnett (Khanye 77), Wilson (Elliott 63).

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Strachan

Deal Town: Newcombe, Reeves, Penny, Green, Foster (Stevens-Toomey 90), Munday, Chapman, Murray, Millbank (Smith 69), Chapman (Taylor 90), Alford (Niblett 78).

Unused subs: Coyne.

Goal scorers: Murray pen (17), Alford (22), Munday (81)

Yellow cards: Foster, B. Chapman

Referee: Sam Hall

Assistants: Esther Perry and Kieran Williamson

Attendance: 270