While Rusthall were conceding a late equaliser, victory for Erith Town over Hollands and Blair took the Dockers up to second place in the Southern Counties East Football League.

However, it was far from straightforward for them and the visitors will have gone home wondering how they left North West Kent empty handed.

A combination of some great saves by McKenzie Foley, the woodwork, and some poor finishing meant that they drew a blank. The Dockers had fewer chances but Jerome Jayaguru’s excellent goal was sufficient for them to claim all three points.

Daniel Lopes had the first goal attempt for the hosts with a fierce shot towards the near post that Dan Ellis had to turn around the post at the cost of a corner.

Then at the other end, Harvey Welford broke clean through and shot early, drawing an outstanding save out of Foley.

Joe Kane stabbed wide for the visitors after a bout of head tennis following a corner before Erith’s Steadman Callender crossed deep but Lopes was unable to finish at the far post. Blair’s striker Ben Brown shot straight at Foley then Jamie Humphris intercepted an attempted header back but his lob cleared Ellis and also the bar.

Brown shot over early in the second period before the Dockers went ahead nine minutes in. Erith’s best move of the match enabled Jayaguru to have the time to look up from the corner of the penalty area and measure his shot past a helpless Ellis and inside the far post.

Welford picked out Tom Walmsley at the far post and his downward header hit the foot of the post then hit him on the rebound as he fell and went wide.

Blair came close again when Tom Loynes hooked a shot towards goal but could not beat Foley who made another fine save.

Again, the impressive Welford created a chance when pulling back for Elbie Boichat only for his shot to be saved comfortably by Foley. However, Foley was beaten soon after when Brown’s header hit the underside of the bar and the Dockers custodian was pleased to see it come out without crossing the line.

Foley then beat out a shot from Welford as far as Brown who was unable to force it home then Loynes hit a rasping drive just over the bar.

Hollands and Blair were reduced to ten men with four minutes remaining when Kane was sent to the sin bin for dissent. Jason Goodchild fired well over before the visitors had one last chance.

Welford was again the creator pulling back to an unmarked Danny Walder but he smashed his shot too high.

On Saturday Erith visit third placed Rusthall whilst Blair will look to bounce back when they entertain Deal Town.

Erith Town: Foley, Carrington, Jayaguru, Goodchild, Jeffrey, Ash, Tanner (Chalker 86), Miles, Callender, Humphris, Lopes (Tenyue 72).

Unused subs: Trueman, Melconian, Bullae.

Goal scorers: Jayaguru (54)

Yellow cards: Carrington, Goodchild

Hollands & Blair: Mitchell, Kane, H. Brown, Walder, Sharp, Gillman (Loynes 46), Boichat (Hall 81), Valencia, Walmsley, B. Brown, Valencia (S. Welford 90).

Subs not used: S.Welford, Hall.

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards:

Sin bin: Kane (86 – FT)

Referee: Richards Myers

Assistants: Hamish Louie and Keith Wenham

Attendance: 79