Honours were shared in a hard fought Isthmian League South East Division encounter between Erith Town and Deal Town.

Ash Miller fizzed a shot beyond the post then Josh Vincent headed wide from Jack Penny’s long free kick as the visitors asked the early questions. The Dockers’ goalkeeper, Harrison Firth, saved comfortably from Jamie Kennedy’s header before it was they who went ahead from their first meaningful attack. A low pass found its way to Richie Atkins and his twenty yard shot gave James Tomkin no chance.

Having gone ahead, Erith’s confidence grew visibly and a slick passing move created an opportunity for Oluwadamilola Olusesi whose powerful drive was well blocked out by Tomkin. Then Albie O’Mara-Knapp’s diving header went just wide from Bertie Valler’s cross.

Miller had a shot saved comfortably by Firth, then drove in a cross that Owen Wilkinson headed wide from point blank range, before Jamie Kennedy had a header clawed out brilliantly by Firth. The Deal striker’s participation was ended in first half stoppage time when he came out worse in a fifty-fifty challenge.

Early in the second period Firth got down well to hold Miller’s shot from the left before the Hoops levelled ten minutes in. Hesitant defending allowed Wilkinson to get it across and it fell to Miller. He shifted it to the left before firing into the bottom corner from fifteen yards.

Another deep Penny free kick found its way to Ben Chapman who shot wide of the far post before O’Mara-Knapp had to limp off after going down a few minutes earlier.

Once again Miller tried his luck, this time firing well over. Erith were then almost the architects of their own downfall. They overdid the passing on the edge of their own penalty area and substitute Rory Smith nicked it away and shot towards the bottom corner. His effort beat Firth but not Elliott Wenham who had got back smartly, and he cleared it off the line.

Alfie Foster got on the end of a deep clearance by Zak Hammond but Firth came out quickly to claim his attempted flick. Smith then turned well and fired inches past the post.

Although they had been on the back-foot since the equaliser, the Dockers finished strongly and almost found a late winner. Ethan Okechukwu broke away and hit a fierce drive that Tomkin beat out and Deal cleared before a striker could follow up. Okechukwu was then threaded through by Lea Dawson and was denied by a brilliant save by Tomkin. It came out to Mal Turner and his follow up was deflected inches past the post.

Finally, Deven Reid-Solanki got on the end of Valler’s corner and headed it into the ground and over the bar.

Although both teams came into the match wanting all three points, Erith were probably the happier of the two clubs at the end. Their point moved them four points clear of the bottom four, still with one game in hand. At the other end of the table, Deal are four points adrift of the play-offs with eight games remaining.

Erith Town: Firth; Turner, Jayaguru, Wenham, Dythe; Valler, Olusesi (Christmas 84); Richards, Atkins (Okechukwu 78), Reid-Solanki; O’Mara-Knapp (Dawson 68). Unused subs: Milton, McGeehan.

Goal scorer: Atkins (15)
Yellow cards: Valler (57 foul), Atkins (73 foul)

Deal Town: Tonkin, Hammond, Strouts, Davies, Penny; Vincent (Smith 67); Wilkinson, Foster, Chapman. Miller; Kennedy (Hanson 45+3). Unused subs: Green, Fielding, Hennessey.

Goal scorer: Miller (55)
Yellow card: Hammond (delay of restart 90+4)

Referee: Liam Dawson
Assistants: Mungo Prior and Dan Boulden

Attendance: 115