Southern Counties East round-up: Phoenix Sports falter to leave Erith & Belvedere on brink of title
Published: 21:40, 15 April 2023
Updated: 22:45, 15 April 2023
Erith & Belvedere need just a point from their last three games to win the Southern Counties East Premier Division title.
The Deres’ match at Tunbridge Wells was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
But with second-placed Phoenix Sports beaten 3-2 at Whitstable, Matt Longhurst’s men stand on the verge of winning the league.
Their first chance to get over the line comes on Monday night when the re-arranged trip to Tunbridge Wells now takes place.
Francis Babalola put Phoenix in front at Whitstable but they trailed 2-1 to a Jefferson Aibangbee double.
Mikey Dalton appeared to have rescued a point but James Jeffrey scored a last-minute winner for Town.
Erith Town’s hopes of finishing runners-up suffered a big blow with a 2-1 home defeat by a Canterbury side who kept their survival hopes alive with a second successive win.
Henry Arnold scored both City goals, including a 70th-minute winner, after James Miles had cancelled out his opener.
Stansfeld were the day’s biggest winners, Alfie Moynes with a hat-trick and Dan Parkinson, Harry Day and Ade Lahan also on target in a 6-0 victory over relegated K Sports.
Kennington also had their shooting boots on, running out 6-2 winners over Welling Town with goals from Max Sutton, Rajan Sahni, Liam Middleton (2), James Haylock-Ashdown and Mitchell Harman. Lauris Chin and Nathan Palmer scored for Town.
Hollands & Blair ended a run of defeats with a 3-3 draw at Sutton Athletic.
Sam Wright and Ben Brown struck as Blair twice led twice, only to fall 3-2 behind, but Scott Porter’s side rescued a point in 77th minute.
Harry Lawrence, Theo White (penalty) and Conor Evans were the Sutton scorers.
Lordswood made it back-to-back wins thanks to Randy Otoo, Josh Reid and Archie Risdon in a 3-0 victory over Fisher.
Holmesdale missed the chance to clinch safety after late goals from Yassin Fares and Louie Clarke gave Rusthall a 2-0 away win.
The four teams in the Division 1 play-offs were confirmed, although Wednesday's fixtures will not be known until Larkfield play their postponed game on Monday night. Joining the Larks in the play-offs will be Tooting Bec, Lydd and Faversham Strike Force.
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Craig Tucker