Reece Barrett was a major influence on Erith and Belvedere’s win over Punjab United.

He was part of a defence that kept a clean sheet and also contributed a goal and an assist as the Deres maintained their one hundred percent league record. 

Although the result went with the form book it was far from a walk in Park View Road as Punjab played their part in an enthralling match.

For the first twenty-five minutes, the visitors were the better team. Opeyemi Aromona drew a good low save out of Oliver Pain then Joe Jarvis flashed a shot just beyond the far post. Emiliano Hysi had a shot deflected wide then picked out Paul Ansah with the corner but his header crashed back off the bar.

Somewhat against the run of play, the Deres went ahead. Barrett picked Henry Dasofunjo out and his deft glancing header gave Max Ovenden no chance.

That took the wind out of Punjab’s sails and Erith had the better of the remainder of the half. A low Marlon Patterson free kick was saved by Ovenden, then Ollie Bate also had a shot saved. The Punjab goalkeeper made another good stop, this time from Benga Ogunseye before he finished the half with a great double save to thwart Dasofunjo and Bate.

After the break, Dasofunjo picked out Ogunseye but his header hit the bar and went over but the Deres didn’t have to wait long for their second. Another Patterson free kick troubled Ovenden who could only push it out into the path of Barrett and he had the easiest of tasks in thrashing it home.

Refusing to lie down, Punjab looked to get back into the game and Dominic Vincent shot wide of the far post. Ansah again struck the woodwork, this time the post, as a deep free kick got through to him but as the visitors threw men forward, they were also prone to the break.

Bate sent Ogunseye through but he pulled his shot wide of the far post then the same two combined again when Bate squared but the Deres’ leading scorer was foiled by a block save by Ovenden.

William Johnson-Cole had a shot pushed over by Pain but the Deres had two more good chances in the closing exchanges. First, clever play by substitute Ashley Carew set up Ogunseye. Although his shot was saved, it came out to Bate who completely missed his kick. Then Ogunseye beat the offside trap but it wasn’t his night as he again shot inches wide of the far post.

As a result of their victory, the Deres moved up to third place, four points behind joint leaders Glebe and Sheppey United and with two games in hand. Punjab remain in sixteenth but know that a couple of wins will take them into the top half of the table.

Erith and Belvedere: Pain, G. Medhurst, M. Patterson, D. Allassani, McGeehan, Barrett, K. Allassani (Pell 88), D. Patterson, Ogunseye, Bate, Dasofunjo (Carew 72). Unused subs: Anderson-Parr, Anibaba, Curtis.

Goalscorers: Dasofunjo (26), Barrett (53)

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Punjab United: Ovenden, Vincent, Ratcliff (Beattie 78), Boora, Gayle, Campbell (Suman 61), Jarvis (Main 61), Aromona, Ansah, Hysi, Johnson-Cole. Unused subs: Gildea, Firth.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Referee: Ian Bentley

Assistants: Ashley Barnes and Chandon Chapman

Attendance: 73

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.