One goal was sufficient to settle a competitive match between Erith Town and Snodland Town.

For the Dockers, it was their third game in six days whilst the visitors were without several first team players so both teams could be forgiven for not being at their best. However, they put on an entertaining display with the only thing lacking being accuracy in their shooting.

Alfie Eldridge created the first half chance for the visitors against his former club but Francis Babalola couldn’t turn it home. Eldridge then had a header cleared off the line.

Erith’s first opportunity came when they turned another Snodland corner from defence into attack. Goalkeeper Tommy Taylor claimed it and released it immediately sending James Dyer away down the wing. He crossed but it was just too high for Ollie Milton at the far post.

Zead Masood hit a twenty yard curler narrowly over for Snodland before the Dockers were denied by an amazing double save by Scott Andrews.

Harry Taylor thought that he had scored when heading powerfully towards the bottom corner but the visitors’ goalkeeper made a stunning save. It came back out to Taylor who hit it first time only to see Andrews recover quickly to block it.

Freddie Doherty’s shot for Snodland was saved comfortably before, at the other end, James Miles’ shot swerved away late and it clipped the far post on the way out.

Bradley Ryan did well to keep a long punt from Tommy Taylor in play before crossing to Dyer whose first time shot fizzed over. Dyer again blasted over after good work by Miles. The Dockers went ahead shortly after the half hour mark. Harry Taylor intercepted a poor pass out and wasted no time when firing home.

He had another shot soon after. Although it took a nasty bobble Andrews got well behind it to make the save. Jack Holland then sent Dyer away with a clever header forward but once again Dyer was off target with a half volley that flew wide.

Dyer continued to be a threat and his cross had to be punched out from under the bar before he had a low shot saved from Ryan’s pull back. 

After the half time break, Miles was off target with a free kick before Taylor Fisher’s long shot for Snodland rolled harmlessly wide.

Tommy Whitnell, playing at left back for Snodland, sent a great ball down the wing to put Masood away and he cut in from the wing before shooting over from a tight angle. Dyer then found Milton out wide and his low cross found Miles who rifled his first time shot wide of the near post.

Another low Miles shot went just wide before Masood met Fisher’s deep free kick with a close range header that went the wrong side of the post. 

Louie Clarke, who had come on as an Erith substitute for his home debut after missing almost the entire season through injury, got in behind but shot into the side netting then team-mate Calum McGeehan shot wide.

In the final ten minutes, Snodland searched for an equaliser and Tommy Taylor tidied up after Babalola flicked on Whitnell’s long throw before they went even closer when Doherty’s header was nodded off the line by Holland.

That was as close as the came and they will finish their season on Saturday against Welling Town. For Erith, the win took them into third place and they will have to wait for other results on Saturday before knowing who they will meet in the play-offs. 

Erith Town: Taylor, Holland, Jeffrey, Jayaguru, McGeehan, Ash, Dyer (Clarke 63), Miles (Goodwin 82), Milton (Lovell 82), Taylor, Ryan (Melconian 63).

Sub not used: Walters.

Goal scorers: H. Taylor (33)

Yellow cards: Ash, Holland

Snodland Town: Andrews, Memishaj, Whitnell, Bath, Fisher, Doherty, Muggeridge (Sharp 64), Masood, Babalola, Eldridge, Twist.

Subs not used: Tshilumba, Kuchkov.

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Masood 

Referee: Jack Smith

Assistants: Ron Albert and Amari Taylor

Attendance: 173