Three second half goals ensured that Erith Town progressed in the Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup at the expense of Rusthall.

Adam Woodward’s Erith team came out quickly and good juggling skills by Harry Taylor created the space for him to lay it off to James Dyer who fizzed his shot just beyond the angle of bar and post.

Dyer then turned provider when squaring across the edge of the penalty area to Henry Arnold and he shot towards the bottom but not with the power to worry goalkeeper Tommy Taylor.

Kulani Barton had Rusthall’s first effort at the end of a solo run but McKenzie Foley fielded it comfortably before Taylor had a chance for the Dockers with a volley from Joe Chalker’s deep cross that was well off target.

Ladic Melconian had a long shot saved easily by Taylor then Arnold hit a shot from thirty yards that drew a good save out of the Rusthall goalkeeper. Dyer fired well over as the hosts continued to have the better of the territorial advantage but were reduced to shots from outside the penalty area.

That changed when they came close with half time approaching. Arnold nodded back Dyer’s corner and Taylor’s close range header came back out off the underside of the bar. Melconian then burst through only for Rusthall’s Taylor to stand firm and beat out his shot.

However, Rusthall had the last chance of the first half when Jack Lyons cut in from the left and curled a shot just beyond the far post.

Immediately after the interval, Henry snatched a shot wide of the near post before Atkinson was well off target at the other end.

In the fourth minute after the restart the deadlock was broken. It dropped invitingly for Melconian and he hit a beauty that dipped over Taylor and into the net.

Arnold hit a couple of long shots, the first off target, and the second drawing a flying save out of Taylor before Rusthall had a great chance to level. Barton sent substitute Hayden Velvik clear down the inside left channel but he screwed his shot wide of the near post.

That proved costly as the Dockers added a second shortly afterwards. Dyer was sent away down the right hand side, and he outmuscled his man before hitting his shot low inside the far post.

Rusthall’s Taylor was forced to make a diving save from Erith’s Taylor however, the latter was not to be denied and he added a third with eight minutes remaining, James Miles’ corner was knocked back out to him and he whipped in a follow up cross that Taylor met with a stooping header that flew into the net.

One more Taylor versus Taylor clash ended in the favour of the Rusthall goalkeeper who saved the striker’s eighteen yard shot.

Both teams are back in Premier Division action on Saturday with Erith hosting Hollands & Blair while Rusthall travel to Kennington.

Erith Town: Foley, Chalker, Trueman, Mahal, Ash, Goodwin, Dyer (Amodu 76), Milton (Miles 46), Melconian (Lovell 86), Arnold, Taylor.

Subs not used: Hall, Miller.

Goal scorers: Melconian (49), Dyer (69), Taylor (82)

Yellow card: Trueman, Woodward (manager)

Rusthall: Taylor, Njuguna, Khalil, Blunn, Taylor, Branch, Lyons, Youngah, Adams (Velvik 46), Atkinson (Amankwah 60), Barton.

Subs not used: Anderson, Ibrahim. 

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Branch

Referee: Michael Corderoy

Assistants: Sylvester Aina and Abi Oyeleke

Attendance: 53

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.