Midweek football returns to the Acclaim Handling Community Stadium, Park View Road on Wednesday when Erith and Belvedere host Hackney Wick in the London Senior Cup first round.

Currently in seventh place, in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division, the Deres are just four points adrift of second placed Bearsted, although they have played three games more. 

On Saturday they would have moved into third position had they not suffered a home defeat to Larkfield and New Hythe, another club who harbour play-off ambitions. Sam Fitzgerald scored the only goal in the second half. The table is so tight, though, that the Deres are in a good position to make a second half of the season charge for the play-offs.

Their visitors are in ninth place in the Essex Senior League having collected twenty points from thirteen matches. They sit five points outside the play-off zone.

They also suffered a dent to their play-off ambitions over the weekend, one day earlier on Friday evening. The Wickers hosted Halstead Town and were two-nil down before Leo Laporte pulled one back two minutes before time. Another goal for the visitors midway through the second period ensure that it was they who claimed the three points.

Although the London Senior Cup may not be top priority for the two clubs, an opportunity to play a league club’s under 21 side at a latter stage is an incentive for the victors should they also win at Woodford Town in the second round.