Phoenix Sports put in a five-star performance at The Badgers Sports Ground with a 5-1 away win against lowly Erith Town with a brace from Yacine Gnahore and Ricky Freeman.

Continuing their good form in both the league and the FA Vase, The Sports are now four points clear at the top of the table without tasting defeat in the league this season whilst Erith Town’s differing fortunes see them go bottom on goal difference – Tonight’s fifth for the visitors consigning them to the foot of the table.

The league leaders dominated the opening half, taking a three-goal lead into the half time interval.

The Sports’ Gnahore opened the scoring after only three minutes – Picking up the ball 25yds out, he turned his marker and struck a left footed effort in-off Dan Clark’s right hand post – Clark unmoved as the ball ricocheted off the woodwork.

Gnahore, a menace to the hosts throughout, almost grabbed a second soon after but his attempted first time lob was weak and straight into the hands of the grateful Clark.

Moments later a deep corner by The Sports was headed back across goal by Scott Whibley who found Russell Bedford unmarked at the near post but his goal-bound header was cleared off the line by a well placed Antonio Gonnella.

Gnahore again looked to add to his opener, chasing down a seemingly aimless ball into the box by Myles Keizer-Burrows, but ‘keeper Clark did well to smother the impressive strikers’ effort with the home defence clearing any additional danger.

The Dockers main chance of note in the opening half then came along after good work on the left by Antonio Gonnella and Brandon Hobbs but the latter’s low cross was intercepted before Marcus Cassius could pounce in front of goal.

Once again Gnahore found room inside The Dockers’ box after a good low cross on the left by Louis Valencia but Cedric Abraham defended astutely to slide in and block Gnahore’s attempt on goal.

The Sports’ dominance finally shone through as Ricky Freeman took up the ball on the right hand side and squared the ball to an unmarked Gnahore – The striker calmly controlled the ball, took it round ‘keeper Clark, and scored despite three defenders on the goal-line.

Freeman added a third before half time after a moment The Dockers’ Clark will not want to see again – Scuffing a back-pass to The Sports’ striker only a matter of yards in front of him – Freeman coolly slotted home into an empty net.

The Dockers’ came out in the second half with more guile and purpose, pushing their visitors back – Substitute Stephan Cox made an immediate impact with some good touches on the left and inviting diagonal balls to the right hand side – An early sighter to Ellis Green found Cassius eight yards out but his well struck first time effort was well blocked by Ryan Andrews.

Erith’s positivity was soon rewarded when Cox and Green linked up once again and this time Cassius didn’t miss, scoring from close range.

However the home sides’ joy was short lived as only 41 seconds later Freeman scored his second of the game and The Sports’ fourth when Harrison Carnegie’s run down the right-hand touchline and cross found Freeman unmarked with a simple header from close range.

Carnegie’s second half performance was rewarded soon after picking up a half-cleared corner and driving low into Clark’s bottom right hand corner – The ‘keeper perhaps a little unsighted through a crowd of players.

After a glut of substitutions from both sides, The Sports’ ended the game with ten men after Captain Bedford limped off injured – Leading handsomely with only five minutes to go it was certainly a risk worth taking in going a man down.

 

Erith Town: Clark, Hobbs, Mascoll, Gonsalves, Abraham, Kanu, Green (Thomas, 72), Sesay ©, Cassius, Norris (G. Gonnella, 77), A. Gonnella (Cox, HT)

Sub not used: Weston, Carter

Goals: Cassius (62)

 

Phoenix Sports: Phillips, Andrews (Brown, 72), Keizer-Burrows, Bedford ©, Whibley, Hill, Carnegie (Callendar, 77), Nelson (Perryman, 78), Freeman, Gnahore, Valencia

Subs not used: Moore, Kemp

Goals: Gnahore (3, 32), Freeman (38, 63), Carnegie (69)

 

Referee: Mr Paul Greenfield

Asst Referees: Mr Steve Tunnicliffe and Mr Graham Scott