It took a penalty shoot-out to decide the Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup third round tie when Erith and Belvedere hosted Tunbridge Wells, and it was the visitors who progressed.

Before the game, there was a spell of silent respect in memory of former Deres Chairman John McFadden that was observed impeccably.

In the early stages, the hosts looked the livelier and Freddie Baker got through down the right but George Bentley came out quickly to make a good block. The visitors’ goalkeeper was again in action when getting down well to save from a shot by Connor French after he had been played in by Tommy Whitnell. 

Rob Strachan then headed wide from Ronnie McClean’s corner but it was Tunbridge Wells who went ahead in the thirteenth minute. Rhys Bartlett’s shot was beaten out by Danny Alexander and D’Armando Lawrence controlled it before his precision shot found the bottom corner.

Eight minutes later Wells doubled their lead when Leo Vowles whipped in a low cross and Bartlett flicked it home with a first time volley.

Alexander then saved from Regan Corke before a free kick by Chris Lawal was deflected off the wall into the arms of the Erith goalkeeper.

Strachan had a header deflected over before a handball from the follow-up corner gave the Deres a chance to get back into the match, and that was taken when French fired it into the bottom corner.

Rory Ward hit a long range shot that was held by Alexander, then Tom Borders had a shot pushed out by the diving Bentley and the visitors’ defenders were first to the rebound to get it away. Erith again had an opportunity when they broke after a Tunbridge Wells free kick was cleared and French got caught in two minds between passing and shooting and was unable to set up Whitnell.

Borders headed wide after Bentley pushed out a free kick to him before the visitors added a third three minutes before half time. Lawrence found space on the right and arrowed a long range drive into the bottom corner.

Early in the second half, Whitnell crashed a close range shot against the bar after receiving Matthias Broomes’ low cross and spinning, then the latter burst through and hit a low shot wide. Ryan Fowler had a shot saved before Chris Lawal’s shot at the other end was pushed out by Alexander and Rob Strachan made a great tackle to stop Trevor McCreadie from following-up.

Another Ward low drive was saved by Alexander before the visitors were reduced to ten men when Lawal was sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes. Erith took full advantage two minutes in when Bentley made a great save from Cray’s header but Danny Lear was first to the rebound to finish.

Before, Lawal was allowed to return, the hosts equalised. A free kick was knocked out as far as Freddie Warwick and his effort evaded Bentley to find its way into the net.

Broomes had a shot turned round the post by Bentley and both teams went for the winner in stoppage time. First, Wells had a huge shout for a penalty turned down, then Lear sent in a low cross to pick out French whose flicked effort went wide.

When it came to penalties, both teams missed their first kick. Tunbridge Wells scored their next three while the Deres missed one of theirs leaving Lawal with the opportunity to finish it, and he made no mistake.

Erith and Belvedere: Alexander; Fletcher, Fitzgerald (Lear 46), Strachan; Baker (Jarvis 46), Cray, Fowler (Warwick 57), McClean; Whitnell (Melconian 57); C. French, Borders (Broomes 46).

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: French (pen 35), Lear (70), Warwick (78)

Yellow cards: Fowler (38 foul), McClean (66 foul)

Tunbridge Wells: Bentley; Vowles, Hine, Alaka, Gallagher; Lawal; Shea (Dunmall 46), Ward, Lawrence (Carty 82); Corke (McCarthur-Nolan 75), Bartlett (McCreadie 46).

Sub not used: Coward.

Goalscorers: Lawrence (13) (42), Bartlett (21)

Yellow cards: None

Sin-bin: Lawal (68)

Referee: Michael Jones

Assistants: Silvester Aina and Andrew Stanford

Attendance: 107