Two teams aiming for a strong finish meet when Tunbridge Wells host Erith and Belvedere in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division on Thursday evening.

For the hosts, it will be their second match in three nights as they look to cram their last six matches in before the end of the season. On Tuesday, they hosted Faversham Town who needed a point to guarantee winning the title and the mission was accomplished as the visitors claimed all three courtesy of a goal by Matthew Newman in the eighteenth minute.

Danny Lear converted a penalty in the twelfth minute for Erith and Belvedere in their home derby match with Glebe on Saturday, and that turned out to be the only goal. That put the Deres into seventh place and another win would all but guarantee them finishing in that spot.

When the two teams met earlier in the season, there was a dramatic finale to an entertaining encounter. Jacob Feasey put the visitors away one minute before the break but Dieko Falade levelled nine minutes after the restart.

Once Harry Hudson put the Wells back ahead, they appeared to be cruising to victory and they were still in charge as the game moved into stoppage time. One additional minute remained when Erith’s goalkeeper, Charlie Cotterell went up for a corner and got clattered with a penalty awarded. After a long wait, Freddie Baker converted from the spot.

That looked to be the end but the visitors had other ideas and Hudson hurled in a long throw for Ryan Hine to turn it home for a dramatic winner.

There is little to choose between the two teams over the last ten matches. Erith are slightly higher with three wins, five draws and two defeats while Tunbridge Wells have won three, drawn three and lost four. Therefore, there’s every chance that this will be a tight encounter.