There was a surprise result at the Erith stadium as Erith Town crashed out of the SCEFL Challenge Cup at the hands of Tower Hamlets.

Coming into  the game on the back of a league win at Holmesdale, the Dockers would have expected to beat their visitors who suffered a heavy defeat at Chatham Town on the same day. However, Tower Hamlets thought otherwise and enjoyed a good win

Andrew Demby was encouraged to have a shot for the visitors early on but the angle was against him and he fired into the side netting. Then at the other end Emanuel Oduguwu picked out Dan Palfrey from a corner but he headed straight at Ali Dogan in the Hamlets goal.

Benas Vaivada, a constant threat in the first half, crossed for Wade Odedoyin to meet with a firm header for Tower Hamlets but it flew over. Jack Moore then launched a long clearance that caught out the visitors defence and sent Fred Obasa clear but his first time lob over Dogan drifted wide.

Once again Vaivada caused problems but his shot was blocked by Ronnie McClean before play again went to the other end when Steadman Callender spun and shot but he couldn’t garner sufficient power to bother Dogan.

Two minutes before the break, the visitors went ahead in a moment that Moore will want to forget. Demby’s long shot appeared to pose no threat but the Dockers’ goalkeeper tried to control it with his foot rather than pick it up and it slipped underneath and rolled into the back of the net.

Seven minutes after the break, the scores were levelled. Callender exchanged passes with Jude Jeffrey before placing his shot just inside the far post.

Jeffrey sent over a cross that hit Fred Osaba and bounced into Dogan’s arms then Callender twice burst through, first firing just past the post and then being thwarted when Dogan rushed out to smother. Callender came close once more when his header from Oduguwu’s free kick flashed inches wide.

Three minutes from time, Tower Hamlets scored the winner. Odedoyin burst down the right wing and played it in to Hasan Yilmaz who showed great composure to cut across goal, wrong-footing the last defender and Moore before planting it into the back of the net.

As the game moved into stoppage time, Erith had one last chance when Palfrey crossed and picked out Harry Gamble but he was unable to beat Dogan with his header and moments later, Tower Hamlets were celebrating a morale boosting victory.      

Erith Town: Moore, Jeffrey, Palfrey, McDonagh, McClean, Ash, Oduguwu, Nosike (Gamble 78), Callender, Obasa (Power 78), Goodchild.

Subs not used: Ozcelik, Nash, Eldridge.

Goalscorers: Callender (52)

Yellow cards: None

Tower Hamlets: Dogan, Prushi, T. Odedoyin, Bingol, Marfo (Fera 55), Said (Traore 64), Vaivada, Adeoti, W. Odedoyin, Demby (Ngongang), Ylmaz.

Subs not used: Abu, Maganga..

Goalscorers: Demby (43), Yilmaz (87)

Yellow cards: None

Referee: Thomas Fennelly

Assistants: Esther Perry and Kevin Greenhead 

Attendance: 42