Dockers Too Good For Oysters

WHITSTABLE TOWN 0 ERITH TOWN 4
SCEFL Premier Division
Saturday November 19 2022 15.00

This game was all but over as a contest after just half an hour on a wet afternoon at the Belmont Ground. Alfie Eldridge and Harry Taylor both scored from crosses, either side of a 30 yard strike by James Miles, in a nine minute spell during a first half Whitstable will want to forget. Things got worse after the break when Steadman Callender took advantage of a misplaced pass to add a fourth and Josh Oliver was sent off in the 60th minute. Ten man Whitstable did at least offer some spirited resistance in the time remaining, but the damage had been done and Erith departed with a comfortable 4-0 win and maximum points.

Erith Town had lost 2-0 to leaders Erith and Belvedere in the week, but were still well placed for a top two spot. An uneven fixture list meant that this was the second meeting between Whitstable and Erith in the first half of the season, with the October fixture having resulted in a 5-2 home win for the Dockers. With Will Thomas suspended, recent signing Sam FitzGerald partnered Tom Mills at the heart of the home defence. Reiss Chandler started at right back with Jake Mackenzie moving into midfield. A presentation was made to goalkeeper Dan Eason before the game in recognition of passing 300 appearances for the club. The attendance on a wet afternoon was a very impressive 439.

Whitstable were almost caught cold in the first few seconds when an attempted shot by Taylor was deflected to Callender who fired just wide. Eason made a good save shortly afterwards, although the assistant’s flag meant that the effort would have been ruled out. Eldridge shot over from distance as Erith continued to threaten. Whitstable did have an opportunity themselves when Liam Gillies found Dean Grant in the box, but he shot over the bar. Eason saved a low Taylor shot after his team had given the ball away in a dangerous area – something that was to happen too frequently in this match. Right winger Gus Barnes posed a few problems for the Erith defence, but Whitstable could not find a way through and in the 22nd minute Erith opened the scoring. Miles passed through the home defence to Callender on the right and his cross was swept in by Eldridge. The lead was doubled in the 26th minute when a James Trueman clearance reached Miles and he turned before shooting over Eason into the top left corner from around 30 yards. Grant shot wide at the other end before a quick break down the left gave Trueman the chance to cross for Taylor to fire in the third with just under 30 minutes on the clock. Mackenzie Foley was called into action briefly, saving a low shot from Oliver, but most of the action was around Eason’s goal. Callender scooped a right wing cross over the bar and then a header from an Erith corner was also just too high. Whitstable mounted a couple of late attacks, but had Eason to thank when he pushed a Taylor shot behind to keep the score 0-3 at half time.

A Gillies pass gave Oliver another chance to test Foley when play restarted, but in the 52nd minute a misdirected pass in the Whitstable defence presented Callender with the ball on the 18 yard line and he lobbed it first time over Eason to put his team 4-0 ahead. The game was over, but Foley kept an Oliver shot out and Barnes fired over before Whitstable made their first change, introducing Joe Nelder. Oliver had looked one of the likeliest to create something for the home team, but that threat ended abruptly on 60 minutes when he was sent off for something said to the referee. The usual flurry of disruptive substitutions followed, with both managers using all five available as the game drifted to its inevitable conclusion. Eldridge had a few attempts for Erith and a dangerous cross by Whitstable substitute Muhammed Cham was cleared. James Jeffrey had a shot comfortably saved by Foley and Nelder curled an effort wide. Eason then saved another Miles shot and a good Tom Mills challenge prevented Callender from adding to the score. After four added minutes the final whistle brought some relief to the majority of the crowd as Whitstable’s miserable home form continued.

Whitstable now have a two week break before their next league fixture, but a home friendly against Rochester United has been arranged for Saturday.

Whitstable Town
Dan Eason, Reiss Chandler (Joe Nelder 53), George Sheminant, Jake Mackenzie, Sam FitzGerald (Cameron Chamberlain 57), Tom Mills (c), Gus Barnes (Muhammed Cham 71), Liam Gillies (Caoilte Deakin 66), Dean Grant (Kyron Lightfoot 66), James Jeffrey, Josh Oliver.
Subs (unused): none
Red card: Josh Oliver 60

Erith Town
Mackenzie Foley, Jerome Jayaguru, James Trueman (Joe Chalker 89), Jason Goodchild (c), Ryan Mahal, Tom Ash, Alfie Eldridge (Ronnie McClean 83), James Miles (Ladic Melconian 87), Steadman Callender, Harry Taylor (Tola Odedoyin 72), Malik Nosike (Lennie Barnes 90+1).
Subs (unused): none
Goals: Alfie Eldridge 22, James Miles 26, Harry Taylor 30, Steadman Callender 52.
Yellow cards: Jason Goodchild 90+4

Attendance: 439
Referee: Abdul Olol
Assistants: Gavin Farrington & Mark Fitzpatrick