Rocco Zilli and Regan Corke scored the goals that helped Tunbridge Wells to complete the double over Erith and Belvedere in the Presence & Co. Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division.

Despite it being their third game in six days, the hosts had the energy needed to win the match against the Deres who were missing players to family and work commitments as well as injury and suspension.

Luca Sandford had an early chance for Erith when he spooned his shot over after Tyler Davis-Whitlock crossed. The creator then had a chance of his own with a fierce drive that was beaten out by George Bentley.

Rory Ward curled well over for the hosts and Joshua McArthur-Nolan hit a low shot that was well held by young goalkeeper Ben Rankine before the deadlock was broken. An Erith corner was cleared and a quick counter-attack sent Zilli free. He drew Rankine out before lobbing home expertly.

Chances were few and far between for the rest of the first period although the Deres came close with half time approaching. Tommy Kale and Sandford combined to find Freddie Baker, but he was unable to turn it home.

After the break, Tunbridge Wells had the slope in their favour and Rhys Bartlett shot on the turn but he hit it into the hard ground and it bounced high over. Zilli then hit a free kick straight into Rankine’s arms before Ward cut in only to lift his shot over. The hosts continue to probe and a long range shot by James Shield drew a good save out of the Erith goalkeeper.

Ward had another chance when meeting a corner at the near post then Rankine made a further good save from Mo Alaka after Ward and Bartlett combined to set him up. Rankine again did well when coming out quickly to block from Zilli before Corke fired into the side netting after Erith struggled to clear a corner.

Rankine was again called into action when pushing over a long range shot from Ward before he tipped away the corner and Lewis Allan hooked it wide. Corke hoisted over before delivering a free kick that Allan couldn’t keep down.

Both teams made substitutions which included the Deres’ forty-four year old vice Chair Paul Springett making his one hundred and forty-eighth appearance for the club, but it did not change the flow of the game.

Festos Kamara and Tom Jones combined to draw a great save out of Rankine before Keanu Bennett headed over from a Corke free kick.

In the final minute of regulation time, the hosts made the game safe. Corke was in the right place at the right time to fire home off the underside of the crossbar.

Jones snatched a shot wide and Shield was also unable to hit the target before Rankine made one more good save to keep out a shot from Brendan Austin.

There will be little time for Wells to recover as they are back in action again on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday before finishing the season on the following Saturday. Meanwhile, Erith will be hoping that some absentees are back for their penultimate game on Easter Monday.

Tunbridge Wells: Bentley, Austin, Alaka, Shield, Allan, Barnett, McArthur-Nolan (Unwin 66), Ward, Bartlett (Jones 69), Zilli (Kamara 75), Corke. Subs not used: White, Martin-Coward.

Goalscorers: Zilli (25), Corke (90)

Yellow cards: None

Erith and Belvedere: Ranking, Pinto, Morrison, Fowler, Strachan, Cray, Sanford (F. Springett 90+1), Whitnell (P. Springett 74), Lear (Basios 53), Baker, Davis-Whitlock (Ford 81). Sub not used: Kale.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow card: Fowler (73)

Referee: Anastasiya Voloshchuk

Assistants: Christopher Clarke and Daniel Roberts

Attendance: TBC