On Wednesday evening, Southern Counties East Football League champions Erith and Belvedere host Deal Town at Park View Road.

At one stage it had seemed likely that the Deres would have had the league well wrapped up by this stage but two changes of management and a squad pheaval made the season final week tenser than expected.

Phoenix Sports, Deal and Erith Town have all pushed hard and second place is still up for grabs for any of those three although the latter could be out of the running by the final weekend.

It has been a tough final week for Matt Longhurst’s Deres. Their match at Tunbridge Wells was postponed on Saturday, meaning it was rescheduled for Monday where they claimed the point that they needed in a goal-less draw.

They were pushed all the way and Wells hit the bar with ten minutes remaining before Jordan Perrin was called upon to make a brilliant save in stoppage time.

However, they held on and can celebrate the end of their centenary season in style.

Steve King’s Deal team were in cup action on Saturday, surprisingly crashing six-nil in the final of the Kent Senior Trophy against a resurgent Punjab United at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium.

That ended a fantastic eighteen league and cup match unbeaten run.

When Erith visited Deal in November, there was late drama when they came from behind to win two-one. Tom Chapman gave the hosts an early lead that they held until the hour mark. Tunde Aderonmu, who has now returned to Beckenham Town, equalised and Tyrell Richardson-Brown notched the winner with eight minutes remaining.

Although the pressure is off for the Deres, a defeat could yet add a twist to the battle for second place and a one-off play-off game away to a club at step four.

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.