Although Ryan Sawyer rescued a late point for Phoenix Sports at Stansfeld, they dropped to six points behind Southern Counties East Football League leaders Erith and Belvedere with four to play.

Joe Matthews’ second goal of the season had given the hosts the lead and it looked as though they were going to hold on until Sawyer intervened with one minute of regulation time remaining.

Tashi-Jay Kwayje had the Sports’ first chance with an effort fired into the ground that drew a diving save out of Charlie Cottrell then Dan Parkinson had a shot deflected wide at the other end.

After that, Phoenix had a spell on top with Ryan Hayes pulling the strings. First he fired over from thirty five yards before a training ground routine previously used in the opening game of the season almost paid dividends.

Hayes looked as though he was going to take a pot at goal from a free kick but instead he played in Alfie Evans who shot just beyond the far post.

Once more Hayes was in the thick of it when he was allowed to switch back onto his left foot and cross. Andy Pugh tried to head back inside the far post but was just off target.

Having seen out that spell, Stansfeld enjoyed the better of the latter part of the first half. Harry Day did well to send Rob Hughes away down the right but he couldn’t pick out Tommy Whitnell who was lurking menacingly in the middle, then Matthews followed up on a cleared free kick but shot well wide.

Callum Keeble delivered a deep free kick just before half-time but nobody could get on the end of it to finish.

Early in the second half Stansfeld captain Ross Morley spun and shot but it whistled past the post before Pugh played in Kwayje who was unable to get a clean connection on his shot and Cottrell tidied up.

Midway through the second half Parkinson’s free kick from thirty yards clattered the crossbar with Andy Walker beaten then, at the other end, Kwayie again came close when stretching to reach Lewis Clark’s cross and his effort was saved by Cottrell.

Eighteen minutes remained when the hosts went ahead. Keeble delivered a corner and Matthews rose highest to head home.

Matt Bourne had a free kick pushed round the post by Cottrell, and Sawyer headed wide from a corner as time ran down. However the Sports perseverance paid off when they levelled. Bourne whipped in a wonderful free kick that picked out Kwayie whose effort was saved brilliantly by Cottrell.

It was to no avail, though, as Sawyer was on hand to bundle home from close range.

Sawyer might have won it deep into stoppage time but was unable to turn Evans’ free kick home.

Erith and Belvedere now only need to win two of their last four games to all but guarantee the championship but the race for second place has opened up with Deal Town and Erith Town just a point behind the Sports, albeit having played one game more.

Stansfeld: Cottrell, Smith, Keeble, English, Martins, Matthews, Morley, D. Parkinson, Hughes (Shinners 84), Whitnell, Day (Moynes 65).

Unused subs: Borland, Garrod, Schorffer.

Goal scorers: Matthews

Yellow cards: Matthews

Phoenix Sports: Walker, Douglas (Birch 82), Hanfrey (Clark 60), Bourne, Sawyer, Dalton, Hayes (O’Connor 70), Bird, Pugh (Babalola 57), Kwayie, Evans.

Sub not used: King.

Goal scorers: Sawyer (89)

Yellow cards: Evans

Referee: Abdul Olol

Assistant Referees: Ashley Barnes and Steve Roots

Attendance: 124