Ollie Milton scored a brace to fire Erith Town into the semi-final of the Kent Senior Trophy at the expense of Snodland Town.

There is one South East Counties Football League Premier Division place between the two clubs so it came as no surprise that the entertaining cup tie could have gone either way.

George Monger came close to giving the visitors the lead in the opening minutes when he spotted Erith goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley off his line and fired just over from the halfway line.

James Dyer then had a great chance for the Dockers when going round Snodland goalkeeper only to see his shot come back out off the post.

Francis Babalola had shot saved at the second attempt by Foley before the former Cray Valley PM player created an opportunity for Isaac Thompson whose shot was saved. Babalola was again in the thick of it when he tried to slide it home from the right but Jerome Jayaguru got back to hack it off the line.

Thompson shot wide after a ricochet fell kindly for him before his clever pass found Matt Gething and his shot was deflected past the post. From the corner, Thompson set up Babalola whose shot was knocked out as far as Connor Pring, but he was unable to keep his shot down.

It was not all one way though and Ladic Melconian got on the end of a long through ball but snatched his shot wide before the hosts went ahead in first half stoppage time. Tom Ash’s long free kick picked out Jake Lovell. He headed across goal to Harry Taylor. Although his shot was blocked, it fell to Milton who converted from close range.

After the half time break, Monger again came close with a twenty-five yard shot that flew back out after clattering the crossbar. Babalola then cut in from the wing but was off balance when he shot and it flew high and wide.

Just before the hour mark, Erith scored again. Taylor brought a difficult high ball down cleverly. He then turned his man well and just as he was about to shoot, Milton appeared and cracked it into the bottom corner.

Milton looked as though he was going to complete his hat-trick but Robbie Bissett got back to make a brilliant last ditch challenge before Erith were reduced to ten men for ten minutes when Ted Green, on debut, was sent to the sin-bin.

Babalola had a great chance to pull one back while the hosts were short-handed. He beat the offside trap and slotted it past Foley but also past the post.

Taylor headed over from a Dyer corner in the latter stages but it was the visitors who had the last attempt that came and went when Thompson fired over.  

Both teams are back in Premier Division action on Saturday with Erith visiting Kennington while Snodland travel to league leaders Glebe.

Erith Town: Foley, Ash, Green, Goodwin, Jayaguru, Mahal, Lovell (Akanni 79), Melconian, Taylor, Milton, Dyer (Jeffrey 87).

Subs not used: Miles, Trueman.

Goal scorers: Milton (45+1), (58)

Yellow card: Green, Taylor, member of coaching staff, 

Sin bin: Green (68)

Snodland Town: Andrews, Muggeridge, Fisher (Duah-Kessie 78), Wells, Bath, Bissett, Babalola, Monger (Olowale 81), Gething, Pring (Davisson 54), Thompson.

Subs not used: Freeman, Linton. 

Goal scorers: None

Yellow cards: Monger, Bissett

Referee: Christopher Cannon

Assistants: Thomas Amber and Martin Bullock 

Attendance: 55