In a battle between the two teams promoted from the Southern Counties East Football League last season, Erith and Belvedere took the Velocity Cup honours at Phoenix Sports.

Both managers used the game to give playing time to fringe players who needed playing time and the first twenty five minutes were very cagey.

Junior Sarpong tried his luck with a quick free kick for the Sports but Jordan Perrin was alert and pushed it round the post.

Veteran Chris Dickson had the visitors’ first chance when he intercepted a sloppy pass out but Andy Walker burst out to make the block. The let off was short lived, though, as the Deres went ahead from the corner. Callum Peck flicked it on and it hit Dickson. Although Kieran King appeared to get the last touch into his own net, the Erith hit man claimed the goal.

Looking for a quick response, Kane Phillip hit a fierce drive that was beaten out by Perrin but it was the Deres who netted again in the third minute of stoppage time. Dickson worked his way down the inside right channel and squared for Kian Garlinge to fire home.

After the interval, Phoenix came out quickly. Sarpong had a shot blocked bravely by Callum Emptage and the Sports player tried his luck again when shooting over from the edge of the penalty area.

Solomon Addy had Erith’s first chance of the half when he turned his man but shot over. In their next attack, the visitors scored again. Denzelle Olpade pulled it back and Dickson finished clinically.

On the hour mark, the Deres made it four. Jamie Coyle was allowed an unopposed close range header from a corner and he made no mistake.

There was some dispute when Erith made it five. Billy Crook met a diagonal cross with a deft flick for a birthday goal while the Phoenix defenders appealed for offside but the assistant referee kept his flag down.

Addy might have made it six after twisting and turning to make space for himself only to see his shot come back out off the post. However, it was the hosts who scored the final goal with six minutes remaining when Ashdon Day headed home from Kieran King’s cross.

Phoenix Sports: Walker, Sahni, Cousins, O’Connor, Sawyer, Bourne (Douglas 61), Phillip, Sarpong, Thompson (Burchatt 80), Day, King. Subs not used: Clark, Hayes, Bird, Burchatt.

Goal scorers: Day (84)

Yellow cards: Day

Erith and Belvedere: Perrin, Emptage (Nicholas 68), Craig, Olopade (Taylor 73), Coyle, Fitchett, Addy, Garlinge (Clarke 77), Peck (Ajayi 63), Dickson (Elliott 58), Crook. Unused sub: None.

Goal scorers: Dickson (28), (53), Garlinge (45+3), Coyle (60)

Yellow cards: Fitchett

Referee: Teddy Osborn

Assistants: Sam Wiggington and Joshua Reid

Attendance: 126

Images courtesy of Michael Browne