There was a turn up for the books in the Kent Senior Trophy Quarter Final tie when Southern Counties East Football League Division One side FC Elmstead won at Premier Division team, Erith and Belvedere.
Although from the league below, the visitors soon showed that they weren’t at the Acclaim Handling Community Stadium just to make up the numbers when Joshua Fill got on the end of a deep cross. However, he was at full stretch and was unable to turn it home.
At the other end, Freddie Cray volleyed into the side net after Freddie Fletcher’s header from a Freddie Baker free kick was flicked on before the visitors went ahead in the eleventh minute. Jordan-James Tingley broke down the right and hit a low diagonal pass in that was turned home by Fraser Page.
As would have been expected, the Deres then had more of the possession and territorial advantage while Elmstead looked dangerous on the break, especially when getting in behind the wing backs. Danny Lear laid it off to Freddie Warwick for the Deres, and his shot went narrowly wide of the far post, then Connor French turned on the edge of the Elmstead penalty area, and fired over.
Ten minutes before half time, Lear was brought down in the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded. Sadly for Lear, he fell awkwardly and suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder so had to be substituted with Tommy Whitnell replacing him. Two minutes after the offence, Baker was finally able to step up and fire home.
Warwick then shot well over for Erith from twenty-five yards before Elmstead had the last chance of the half when a quick counter attack resulted in Page shooting from wide on the right but his shot went behind the near post side netting.
Early in the second period, Page hit a long range drive that took a kick off the surface and came back out off Danny Alexander’s chest. Then the Deres’ goalkeeper made a more orthodox save at the feet of Page after he had broken down the left.
Matthias Broomes made a long run down the left for the Deres and shot towards the near post where Tom Cleary made a comfortable save. Then Page got behind the Erith back three from Cleary’s long kick and drew a brilliant block out of Alexander.
Yet again, Page came close when meeting a Tingley cross with a firm header that hit Fletcher and ricocheted just past the post. It was then Cleary’s turn to make an outstanding save from Baker after French had sent him away.
Baker had further chances, first when Whitnell hooked over a cross and his header was blocked off the line, and then when getting on the end of a long Alexander clearance and shooting first time past the post as Cleary raced out.
Isaac Hadlow went on a long run down the left for the visitors and his low cross was scrambled away by the Deres. However, when he next broke down the wing with seven minutes remaining, it proved crucial. Although his centre hit a defender it came back out to Elmstead substitute Jamie Fearne and he swept it back inside Alexander’s right hand post.
Deep into stoppage time, Alexander went up for a free kick which was cleared and last man Baker made two excellent tackles to stop Elmstead from having a shot at the empty net. Although that kept the Deres in the match, they couldn’t fashion another chance and it was Elmstead who progressed deservedly to the last four.
They now await the semi-final draw as the only Division One team remaining and they will meet either Punjab United, Rusthall or the victors of the match between Whitstable Town and Fisher.
Erith and Belvedere: Alexander; Fletcher, Cray, Strachan; Morgan; Baker, Fowler (Day 68), Warwick (Borders 75), Broomes (Dudley 68); C. French, Lear (Whitnell 36).
Sub not used: Jarvis.
Goalscorers: Baker pen (37)
Yellow cards: Broomes (17 foul), Day (69 foul)
FC Elmstead: Cleary; Green, Faithorn, Saunders; Neale (Croucher 90); Tingley, Hadlow (Alliband 85), Hyslop (Fearne 62), Tingley, Myles (Goodayle 57); Page, Fill (Kattah 66).
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: Page (11), Fearne (83)
Yellow cards: None
Referee: Jack Owen
Assistants: Liam How and Owen Jenner
Attendance: 125