As you walk into Park View Road you can sense a change in the atmosphere around the ground. 

With a large amount of changes over the summer with a new board of directors, new kit and a host of both new and old players to take the field. Smiles and elbow bumps a plenty as players entered the ground ahead of the match against Beckenham Town.

Rewind six months an there was a massive 40 points between the two sides, with Beckenham flying towards promotion and The Deres staring towards SCEFL 1 from the bottom of the league.

A crowd of 110 were treated to an exciting game as the two teams battled through the 90 minutes on a warm Tuesday night in DA16.

As Beckenham kicked off nobody would’ve have expected what was going to unfold before them, especially as a clearance after just 30 seconds showed The Becks intent to put their hosts to the sword.

As The Becks looked to make amends for Saturdays penalty shoot out defeat at the hands of Tunbridge Wells behind them, they attacked well down the left with Bolarinwa firing high with their second shot after only 2 minutes.

A foul just outside the box led to another chance for The visitors a few minutes later but the free kick would’ve troubled any passing buses more than Dan Teeley in the home goal as the ball was hit high, and the crowd watched as it flew out of the ground and across Park View Road.

It was the home side who took the lead after 9 minutes. A huge kick from Teeley causing a mix up just inside The Becks half before bouncing over everyone and falling to Henry Dasafunjo who spun and shot across the keeper from just inside the box to the joy of the home supporters.

Ten minutes later it couldve been 2-0 but for a block by the chest of McEntergert at the near post following a shot from Mpungi after a mazy run into the box.

The challenges started flying in as the visitors looked to regain control of the match, with heavy challenges from Beckenhams Hall and E&B midfielder Allassani raised the temperature on the pitch. 

As the half time whistle approached, Erith won a corner on the right, the corner crashing off the post and the keepers gloves as it flew in towards the crowd of players around the goal line.

But then something clicked with the visitors, the warning siren sounded in the 39th minute when Meditta and Bolarinwa combined only for Tunde Aderonmu to fire just over from 8 yards out.

Two minutes later The Becks number 9 wasn’t going to make the same mistake as he fired his side level.

Steven Townsend played in Aderonmu and the ex FC Elmstead striker making no mistake firing past ex team mate Teeley to level the scores to the delight of the visiting supporters behind the goal.

Just a minute later, The Deres lost procession in midfield and the ball was played over the top finding Bolarinwa all alone, the crowd called for handball and he controlled with the side of his chest and finding himself baring down on Teeley with no one around him there was no mistake firing past Teeley to give his side the lead.

It took just 8 minutes of the second half for the hosts to draw level again
A corner from the right fired in by Marlon Patterson was met by the head of Reece Barretr who was already celebrating as the ball hit the back of the net beating McEntergert at his near post.

More challenges rained in from both sides leading to a bookings for Deres Hawkins and Becks Meditta as the game became scrappy with both sides looking for a winning goal.

Erith came close to regaining the leading the 76th minute after another corner, McEntergert this time allowing the ball to fall from his grasp before being cleared for another corner.

But then it was the visitors turn, attacking down the centre of the pitch before Joe Nwoko saw his shot deflected for a corner, before a magnificent goal line clearance by Patterson kept the scores level.

As the final whistle blew, it Erith was Erith who were slightly the happier at the collection of a point against one of the pre-season favourites for promotion, but they can also count themselves unlucky not to have taken all three.

Teams 
Deres – Teeley, Adeyemo, Hawkins, Patterson, Curtis, Barrett, Dasofunjo, Allessani, Diakesse, Nosike, Mpungi

Subs – Oldfield, Anderson, Springett, Taylor, Nearly

Becks – McEntergert, Brown, Henry, Valler, Meditta, Robertson, Bolarinwa, Johnson, Aderonmu, Hall, Townsend

Subs – Nwoko, Hanifan, Brand, Cox, Humphris

Image courtesy of Dave Budden