Steadman Callender equalised in the seventh minute of stoppage time for Erith Town against Fisher to keep them in second place in the Southern Counties East Football League.

Still hampered by injuries, the Dockers were further handicapped by playing with ten men from the seventh minute onwards after Ryan Mahal was dismissed for fouling Isaac Thompson who was clean through.

James Miles had shot wide from long range before the dismissal but Fisher, with injury problems of their own, enjoyed the better of the territorial advantage as the Dockers took stock. Conor Darwish slung in a deep cross that Thompson was unable to turn in, and Thompson was in the action again when heading wide from an Andres Tobon centre.

Thompson wasn’t to be denied for too much longer. A long throw appeared to come off an Erith head before falling into the path of Thompson who hooked home.

Looking for a quick response Callender pulled back for Ladic Melconian but Samuel Amedu got down well to save. Then, at the other end, Andres Tobon curled wide of the far post against his former club. Thompson tried to tee up Tobon whose first effort was blocked before firing his follow up wide.

As the game continued to swing from end to end, Eni Amgbaduba fired over for Fisher then Jamie Humphris did likewise at the other end. Michael Sarpong had the last chance of the first half when his header was saved by Dockers goalkeeper McKenzie Foley.

After the break, Callender headed down for Humphris who shot wide from twenty yards, then Tobon shot well over at the other end. James Trueman did well to to chase a lost cause and pull back but nobody was able to get on the end of it to finish.

The two teams then cancelled each other out until the latter stages when the Dockers upped the tempo. Ronnie McClean’s long throw was knocked on to Jason Goodchild who flashed his low shot just wide then Joe Chalker lobbed the out-rushing Amedu but Prince Imoru got back to hack it off the line.

Goodchild shot wide in injury time and when Charlie Clover fired well over, it looked as though the Dockers were beaten but they had one more chance. Fisher had a free kick in Erith’s half but tried to play it forward.

Tom Ash intercepted and launched it forward for Callender to chase. Luke Thomas was unable to clear it, Callender clipped it past Amedu and, although the angle was against him, he made it look easy as he slammed it home.

There was barely time for the game to restart before the referee brought the proceedings to a close.

Erith Town: Foley, Jayaguru, Trueman, Goodchild, Mahal, Ash, Tanner (Clover 85), Miles, Callender, Humphris (McClean 78), Melconian (Chalker 22).

Unused sub: Ramadan, Jeffrey.

Goal scorers: Callender (90+7)

Yellow cards: Goodchild

Red card: Mahal (7)

Fisher: Amedu, Sumithran, Darwish, Bromfield, Thomas, Adewunmi (Imoru 46), Tobon (Hoy 90+4), Sarpong (Petrov 87), Thompson, Coker, Amgbaduba (Da Mata 69).

Sub not used: Ashanike.

Goal scorers: Thompson (13)

Yellow cards: Adewunmi, Imoru, Bromfeld

Referee: Harry Phillips

Assistants: Jack Heath and Darren Kempson

Attendance: 75