Two goals in three second half minutes helped Bearsted to victory after going in behind at in-form Erith Town.

Bearsted manager Kevin Stevens was delighted to have got a good result against a team that has had a tremendous run of results. “I’m really pleased.” he said “I went and watched them last Saturday. They’re a good side. I thought that we were really, really good today, apart from we gave a goal away. 

“It was a good delivery but it was a bit disappointing to give that goal away, but other than that, I thought we were really at it and we deserved the win.”

Some of the Bears’ movement up front, and passing game overall, demonstrated their philosophy. Stevens said “That’s what the boys can do. The front three and our attacking midfield player, those four when they’re on it, they’re undefendable. They are another couple on the bench, actually, who are fighting to get off the bench but that’s what we’re good at. I think when we’re on it we can beat anybody.”

Stevens confirmed that they were well prepared for the game, adding “We said to the lads at training on Tuesday and Thursday to prepare for the game after watching them last Saturday at Sheppey, they’ve been on a good run. I know Adam (Woodward) quite well. He sets his team up, really hard to play against. They work hard, they’re committed, but we knew that if we can get on the ball, control the game at our pace, and get our front four on it, we’re going to be a handful for anyone.”

Due to results already recorded this season, a promotion challenge looks unlikely and Stevens admitted “It looks like we’re going to become a bit of a cup side because we’ve given too many results away in the league. Having said that, I think we can go on and win lots of games in a row but we gave away a lot of results when we’ve played like this and should have won games of football and either drawn or lost.

“We should be easily in the top half this season. We’ve never done that and hopefully we’ll do well in one of the cups.” The Bears’ manager continued “We’ve dominated games. We’ve been three goals up and then conceded a goal and all of a sudden we’ve drawn four-all, or three-all, or lost four-three. That’s annoying but I think we’ve got the defensive side sorted out now. We’ve put a lot of work in over the last month or so, so that’s getting better.

“We want to finish as high as we can in the league. That was what we wanted to do at the start of the season with the squad we’ve got. It’s the best squad we’ve ever had so we really, really want to finish as high as we can.”

Picture supplied by Dave Budden.