There was drama late on when Erith and Belvedere claimed all three points in their local derby with Stansfeld in their Presence & Co. Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division meeting.

Injuries to three of the Deres’ starting back four left them with a makeshift defence and with the visitors looking to take advantage, they left themselves open to a counter-attack and paid the penalty.

Dario Sesay-De Luca had the first goal attempt of the evening when he found room to go on a run down the left hand side. He fired a low shot but it did not concern the Deres’ goalkeeper, Charlie Cottrell, too much and he saved comfortably.

In the sixth minute, Stansfeld were forced to make a change when right back Archie Panyi went down injured. Ibrahim Barrie came on and took up a central defensive position and Stef Kempton moved out to the right.

Oliver Andrews, the Stansfeld captain, shot well over then, at the other end, Tunde Aderonmu headed wide from a Ronnie McClean cross. Dieko Falade had the Deres’ next chance when cutting in and hitting a shot that clipped the bar on the way over.

Barrie shot over from the edge of the area before Falade’s next effort was blocked out to McClean who shot wide. Freddie Cray won possession in midfield and slid Aderonmu through. His shot was beaten out by Stansfeld goalkeeper Tom Crump as far as Falade who blasted over from eight yards.

Chris Alhassan sent in a deep cross for the visitors and Sesay-De Luca finished well but from an offside position so it didn’t count.

Dan Parkinson delivered an Erith corner to Falade whose header was saved by Crump. Although he was unable to hold it first time, he reacted quickly and dived on it before Aderonmu could tuck it away. Andrews then got on the end of a good Stansfeld move but excellent defensive closing down resulted in his shot being deflected wide.

Again, the visitors were frustrated by an offside flag when Rob Hughes netted before he was unable to finish when it came out to him after Cottrell made a great save from Harrison English just before half time.

Donnell Anderson was replaced by Tyller Davis-Whitlock for the second period for the Deres and in the second minute after the restart they went ahead. Cray picked out Aderonmu and he marked his return to the club with a good finish.

Billy Shinners, Stansfeld’s manager, responded by replacing Jack Mahon with Harvey Mead and the substitute made an immediate impact. He sent over a deep cross and Alhassan finished clinically.

Alhassan came close to scoring again with a long range shot that Cottrell dived to save, then an Andrews shot fizzed wide from thirty-five yards.

As the game moved into the closing stages, Sesay-De Luca had a low drive from a tight angle saved by Cottrell before both McClean and Rob Strachan went down with cramp and were unable to continue.

Mead almost scored without knowing much about it when a clearance hit him and flew past the post however, it was the Deres that grabbed the winner in the last minute of regulation time. A long pass out of defence found Davis-Whitlock unmarked down the left hand side. He eased in and slotted it beyond Crump and inside the far post. 

Four minutes of stoppage time were signalled but the visitors were unable to create another opening and it was the Deres who celebrated at the end.

Erith and Belvedere: Cottrell, Anderson (Davis-Whitlock 46), McClean (Morrison 83), Parkinson, Strachan (Assam 83), Curtis, Chalker, Cray (Fowler 72), Aderonmu (Baker 77), Falade, Cheeseman.

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Aderonmu (47), Davis-Whitlock (90)

Yellow card: None

Stansfeld OB: Crump, Panyi (Barrie 5), McCormack, Andrews, Buhari, Kempton, Sesay-De Luca, Hughes, Mahon (Mead 50), Alhassan, English (Mendez 90+1).

Subs not used: Gray, Williams.

Goalscorers: Alhassan (51)

Yellow card: Andrews

Referee: James Black

Assistants: Henry Saxton and Michael Dye

Attendance: 177 

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.