Erith and Belvedere returned to winning ways with a hard-fought victory over Rusthall.

Two second half goals were enough to win the three points for the, but they were made to fight all the way by the visitors.

Nathan Palmer created the first opportunity of the match when chasing a long pass to the bye-line.

Having done well to keep it in, he pulled it back to Bradley Ryan, but his side-footed shot flew straight into the arms of Tommy Taylor.

Louie Clarke then had two one-on-one chances for Rusthall but was thwarted by the Deres’ goalkeeper on both occasions. First Clarke tried to slot it past him, but Adam Molloy got down well to save with his left hand.

Then Tarik Ibrahim sent him clear, but Molloy stuck out his left foot to save. Erith broke quickly and came close at the other end. Nathan Palmer’s shot was parried by Tommy Taylor just out of the reach of Danny Lear.

Lively Yassin Fares went down just inside the Erith penalty area but his claims for a spot kick were waved away then at the other end, Ryan’s free kick sailed over.

From a Ryan near post corner, Ryan Johnson lost his marker but headed wide of the near post and a similar routine had the same result before half time when Rob Strachan flicked Ryan’s corner into the side netting.

Early in the second half Molloy made an excellent save from a Clarke free kick before Lear headed wide of the near post after a strong run and cross from Ryan Palmer.

Just after the hour mark, the hosts broke the deadlock. Tyrell Richardson-Brown used his strength to turn his man and burst away before launching an unstoppable shot beyond a helpless Taylor.

Substitute George Purcell then launched a powerful shot that stung the hands of Taylor as he palmed it over. At the other end, Fares took a free kick that went just wide with Molloy rooted to the spot.

Ryan Palmer was brought down in the eighteen-yard box and a penalty was awarded. James White overdid the protestations and was sin-binned before Ryan stepped up to take the spot-kick and hit it cleanly enough however Taylor read it well and made a fine diving save.

Purcell found space but shot wide before he added a second while Rusthall were still short-handed. He again found himself in an advantageous position, and with little back-lift blasted a shot beyond Taylor.

Victory for the Deres ensured that they regained their seven point lead over Stansfeld who had won on the previous evening.

Erith and Belvedere: Molloy, R. Palmer, Morrison (Wilson 88), Wade, Johnson, Strachan, Richardson-Brown, Monger (Ward 70), Lear (Aderonmu 76), N. Palmer (Purcell 59), Ryan.

Unused subs: Walker.

Goal scorers: Richardson-Brown (62), Purcell (80)

Yellow cards: Morrison, Wade

Rusthall: Taylor, Khalil, Salter (Amankueh 85), Smart, White, Lawrence, Fares, Smith (J. Miller 86), Clarke (Blunn 82), L. Miller (Archer 62), Ibrahim.

Subs not used: Kommu.

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: White

Referee: Tolu Sangawawa

Assistants: Jack Mottram and Kennedy Kikulwey

Attendance: 163

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.