Having equalled their best ever start to a league season on Saturday, Erith and Belvedere set a new club record three days later when defeating Glebe.

It was far from a straight-forward victory, though, and the team from Chislehurst pushed them all the way.

There was less than a minute on the clock when the Foxes might have gone ahead. Harry Gamble got on the end of an excellent slick passing move but could only slide it into the outside of the net.

They paid for that three minutes later when the hosts went ahead. Tyrell Richardson-Brown cut in from the right and drew a fine save out of Tom Crump, but it ballooned up into the path of Danny Lear and he nodded into the empty net.

Adam Molloy made a brilliant save from Jamie Philpot, but Gamble couldn’t keep his follow up shot down then it was Crump’s turn when keeping out Nathan Palmer’s low shot with a full-length dive.

Tom Hever made a crucial block to keep out Ryan Palmer’s effort before Crump parried a Lear shot but nobody was on hand to tuck the rebound away.

On thirty minutes, the Deres extended their lead. Glebe’s attempt to play it out from the back backfired when Freddie Cray was unable to control an over-hit pass out. It fell to Ryan Palmer, and he slipped Lear in on a one-on-one to slot home comfortably.

Three minutes remained in the first half when Glebe pulled one back. Gamble put in a good low cross and Philpot was on hand to slot home. Then, as the first half came to a close, the Foxes won a corner, Erith didn’t clear, and Harvey Smith headed home from point blank range.

James Dyer blasted over early for Glebe in the second half before Tony Beckingham brought on the creativity of Bradley Ryan as an Erith substitute. He delivered a free kick that Rob Strachan headed wide before he sent Richardson-Brown through, but the wide-man couldn’t beat Crump.

Barrett then sent Ryan through. Although Crump did well to push his shot out it fell to Richardson-Brown whose close-range shot came back off the post.

Ross Craig made a brilliant goal line clearance, but it proved to be to no avail when the Deres went ahead with just over fifteen minutes remaining. Ryan delivered a deep free kick, Barrett headed back across goal, and Strachan showed great determination to finish.

George Purcell fired over after Lear laid it off before Glebe came close to equalising when Marcel McDonald hit a low drive just wide.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Ryan found space just inside the penalty area and he gave Crump no chance with an excellent finish.

It was tough for Glebe to take as they played some excellent football but, overall, the Deres were the better team on the night and deserved their ninth consecutive win.

Erith and Belvedere: Molloy, Walker, Barrett, Wade, Miles, Strachan, R. Palmer (Ryan 53), Monger (Ward 71), Lear (Aderonmu 89), N. Palmer, Richardson-Brown (Purcell 74).

Unused subs: Wilson.

Goalscorers: Lear (4), (30), Strachan (73). Ryan (90 +-1)

Yellow cards: N. Palmer, Miles

Glebe: Crump, Hever, Green (Duncan 82), Cray, Snelling, Gillies, Dyer, Craig, Philpot, Smith (McDonald 59), Gamble (Lankshear 71).

Subs not used: Gill, Holland.

Goal scorers: Philpot (42), Smith (45+1)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Myles Hewson

Assistants: Adam Clayton and Matt Pollington

Attendance: 151

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.