Erith Town 1 Deal Town 1

Derek Hares was unable to celebrate the accolade of Jacetts Manager of the Month for October with a win but was satisfied with a point from Saturday’s Bulmers Cider Kent League encounter away to Erith Town.

Recipients of such awards find it a poisoned chalice as defeat invariably follows but Hares was happy enough with the honour, his first of the season.

“I won it last season and it’s the first time it’s come my way this term,” said Hares. “It’s not for me, it’s for the team because it shows that as a club we’re doing well.”

Former Charlton junior Dean Kearley gave the Dockers a scrambled 16th-minute lead but Stuart Vahid equalised in the 42nd minute with a well-taken goal.

In the second half Vahid twice went close in one-on-ones with the Erith keeper while Darren Waring also spurned a match-winning chance. But in the closing minutes the Dockers missed an excellent chance to have won the game.

“Erith were better than us in the first half, there is no doubt about that,” said Hares. “But I thought we were the better side in the second.