Two first half goals were enough to fire Erith and Belvedere into the second round of the Kent Senior Trophy at the expense of Welling Town.

Despite the fact that the Deres are top of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division, and the visitors are in the lower reaches of Division One, it was not as straightforward as might have been expected. The Boots pulled one back just shy of the hour mark and had chances to take the tie to penalties but Erith held on and it’s they who progress.

Jordan Samuel was thwarted by a brilliant double save by the Deres’ goalkeeper Danny Alexander in the early stages but it was the hosts who went ahead in the eighth minute when Tommy Whitnell, celebrating his birthday, knocked back a deep cross brilliantly for Danny Lear to finish.

Zak Howard saved well when Harvey Mead was one on one before Whitnell burst clear and squared unselfishly to Lear whose first touch gave Howard time to get across and make an outstanding double save.

Harvey Roberts shot just beyond the far post for the Boots, and they had a further opportunity when Harry Beech sent David Chandler through on goal but Howard burst out to make an excellent block save.

At the other end Freddie Cray headed over from a Bobby Dunn corner before the Deres increased their lead just after the half hour mark. Another Dunn delivery was flicked on by Rob Strachan and Beech could only slice his attempted clearance into his own net.

Sam Huckle, the Boots’ captain, had to be carried off and was replaced by Tejan Heywood and they came close again just before half time when Roberts’ corner was met by Chandler but he was unable to direct it goalwards.

Straight from the second half kick off Dunn tried to catch Howard unaware but shot wide before another Dunn long range effort was saved easily by the Boots’ custodian. It was then Alexander’s turn to make a comfortable catch to keep out Samuel’s low shot.

Samuel shot wide of the near post after good work by Roberts before Welling halved the deficit. Chandler did well to control a deep cross by Leo Onye before laying it off to Paddy Curran whose clean strike from twenty yards gave Alexander no chance.

Tom Borders wormed his way through the Welling defence but could only poke it into the hands of Howard then Freddie Baker fired over when well placed. Baker was again involved when delivering a deep free kick that Strachan was unable to head goalwards before Freddie Warwick volleyed wide.

As the game moved into the latter stages, Curran turned his man but shot well over and that was Welling’s last chance of taking the game to a shoot-out.

Baker might have ensured that there was no necessity for spot kicks in stoppage time but shot over the near post. However, it was not important as the Deres now await news of who they will oppose in the second round.

Erith and Belvedere: Alexander; Jarvis (Morgan 46), Cray, Strachan, Morrison (McClean 60); Fowler; Dunn (Warwick 60), Mead, Whitnell (Ikeusan 60); Lear (Baker 60). Subs not used: None.

Goal scorers: Lear (8), Beech og (32)

Yellow cards: None

Welling Town: Howard; Aikon, Huckle (Heywood 38), Sesay-Ince (Bain 73); Hearn, Curran, Beech (Cucel 86), Onye; Roberts (Lembikisa 65); Samuel (Mark 65), Chandler. Subs not used: None.

Goal scorers: Curran (59)

Yellow cards: Samuel (61 foul)

Referee: Christopher Bowdrey

Assistants: Temitayo Okulaja and Serumun Biam

Attendance: 153