Erith and Belvedere crashed to their worst home league defeat in their history against league title chasing Chatham Town

Ryan Palmer scored four, Jack Evans netted a hat-trick and Matt Bodkin added the other with Victor Aiyebola scoring the Dere’s lone goal.

Scott Lindsay’s Chatham came out quickly and Bodkin had already hit the bar before they went ahead in the sixth minute. Evans collected a short Bodkin corner cut across and fired home from the edge of the penalty area via a deflection.

Four minutes later, Palmer scored his first when cutting in from the same wing and firing home. John Pilbeam fired over from another short corner before Bodkin flicked wide having been found by Evans.

If the Deres were fighting an uphill battle, it soon became harder. A powerful drive struck Edward Maynard in the penalty area. It looked as if it had hit him in the chest but the referee decided that there was a hand involved and awarded a penalty. He then shocked everyone in the ground by showing Maynard a red card. None of that bothered Evans and he converted confidently from the spot.

Evans missed out on a quick hat-trick when firing over from inside the penalty area before Rob Denness was thwarted by brave goalkeeping at his feet by George Stevens.

Half an hour was on the clock when Palmer fired home from twenty-five yards having been given the opportunity from yet another short corner.

Palmer then missed his first chance of completing his hat-trick when his shot was blocked wide by Steve Springett before Bodkin chipped into the box from yet another short corner only for Denness to head over from close range.

Denness continued to miss out when Stevens was again out quickly to save at his feet and then the Deres custodian claimed a Denness drive.

Aiyebola finally gave Chatham’s defence something to think about and Ryan Nicholls turned his effort from a tight angle round the post. George Acland shot well from the edge of the area but Nicholls saved comfortably before Denness had one last chance in the half but again Stevens was equal to it.

After the interval Reece Butler fired over before Denness set up Bodkin to make it five while Erith were temporarily down to ten men with Aiyebola in the sin bin. Denness again broke through and shot when he should probably have laid it off but Stevens saved comfortably.

Pilbeam came close and Evans chipped just wide before Chatham scored their sixth. Evans played it out to Bodkin and he made for the by-line. Evans held back before timing his run to meet Bodkin’s pull back and bury to complete his hat-trick for his eighteenth league goal of the season.

Substitute Joe Smith created Erith’s consolation goal with a cross that was bundled home bravely by  Aiyebola.

However, they were soon six goals behind again when Palmer rifled home his hat-trick from the left side of the penalty area before he finished the scoring when firing home after Stevens had beaten out Paul Vines’ shot.

It could have been worse for the Deres but Pilbeam and Bodkin missed chances before the referee brought proceedings to a close.

Erith and Belvedere: Stevens, Edwards, Bolton, Towner, Kalu, Springett, Kemokai (Linham 60), Maynard, Aiyebola (Osbourne (72), Acland, Valasquez (Smith 60)

Unused subs: Ryan, Toke

Goalscorers: Aivebola (66)

Orange cards: Aiyebola

Red cards: Maynard

Chatham Town: Nicholls, Pilbeam, Sheminant, Butler, Dickins (Geddis 71), Ajayi, Palmer, Evans (Abioye 59), Denness (Vines 56), Brown, Abioye

Unused subs: Orji, Brown.

Goalscorers: Evans (6), pen (17), (59), Palmer (10), (29), (70), (84), Bodkin (51)

Referee: Jordan Whitworth

Assistants: Mark Joy and Joshua Marshall 

Attendance: 72