One lapse of concentration proved costly for Erith Town in their home game against play-off hopefuls Three Bridges.

That meant the the aspirations of a top ten finish for the Dockers in their first season in the Isthmian League South East Division took a dent on a bumpy, dusty playing surface.

James Miles shot wide for the hosts early on then Kevin Rivera had a close range shot for Three Bridges that was well held by goalkeeper Harrison Firth.

Aaron Jeffreys drew a save out of Will Tillman at the other end from a shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty before the visitors’ goalkeeper missed an Andrew Dythe corner but nobody was able to apply the final touch and it went wide of the far post.

Although chances were few and far between, Erith continued to have the better of them and Elliott Duncan headed over from close range before Harry Taylor’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Tillman.

Despite the Dockers shading the first half they might have gone behind when they allowed a deep cross to bounce and Firth did well to claw out Noel Leighton’s header.

Ten minutes after the half time break, the visitors went ahead. Hayden Velvick went on a good run before his shot was blocked wide. Josh Hallard’s corner was cleared back out to him and he crossed to his unmarked brother Reece who made no mistake with his free header.

Reece Hallard then knocked down a long pass forward and it fell to Hayden Neathey whose clean strike flashed wide. Duncan turned his man well at the other end and should probably have driven to the bye-line but instead chose to shoot from twenty-five yards allowing Tillman to save easily.

Dythe delivered a corner for Erith and Taylor peeled away but headed over before the Bridges’ substitute Billy Irving headed a Reece Hallard free kick over. Irving then had a shot well saved by Firth after being played in by Noel Fisher.

As the clock ran down, Taylor missed a gilt-edged chance to level. Jeffery controlled a difficult pass superbly and kept his composure to lay it across goal only for the Dockers’ captain to flash it high over from fifteen yards. 

Tom Ash had one last goal effort in stoppage time for Erith but despite his shot from thirty yards taking a deflection, Tillman was right behind it and held it well to preserve his clean sheet and his team’s three points. 

Erith Town: Firth, Dythe, Udanoh (Milton 65), Jeffrey, Ash, Jayaguru, Vallrer, Miles (Williams 77), Duncan (Connor 77), Taylor, Craig (Mazzone 83).

Unused sub: McGeehan. 

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Taylor (45+1 foul), Woodman (45+2 dissent)

Three Bridges: Tillman, Ferreria, Holden, Woollard, Neathey, J. Hallard, Fisher, Velvick, Leighton (Irving 46), Rivera, R. Hallard.

Unused subs: Bull, Byrne, Matthews, Bradly.

Goal scorer: R. Hallard (55)

Yellow card: Fisher (82 foul) 

Referee: Scott Rudd

Assistants: Ayden Gillespie and Amarachi Okamgba

Attendance: 119