Erith Town completed a cup double after scoring a late winner to finally sink Croydon in the Kent Senior Trophy Final on Sunday.
Southern Counties East League Erith won the Challenge Cup on penalties against Corinthian last month and added a second piece of silverware to their trophy cabinet at Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium.
It had looked as though experienced goalkeeper George Kamarasi was going to almost single-handedly keep Erith at bay as he produced a series of excellent saves in the second half.
But James Dyer scored twice in the last 13 minutes to finally end Division 1 Croydon’s chances of causing an upset against their higher-division opponents.
“Their keeper pulled off three or four worldies and after the one from Harry Taylor, I didn’t think it was going to be our day,” Erith Town manager Adam Woodward told his club’s media.
“He (James Dyer) was poor but he scored two goals and that’s what he does. Credit to him, he got a whack in the first half and he’s dragged the team over the line.”
Croydon took the lead after just 34 seconds when Ryan Palmer was afforded time and space to step forward and fire an unstoppable 25-yard shot beyond Mackenzie Foley.
Erith were back level on nine minutes, though, when George Goodwin’s header from a right-wing cross came back off the crossbar and Ollie Milton was on hand to convert from close range.
The Dockers had a penalty appeal turned down when Milton appeared to be fouled by Lauris Chin.
But it was Croydon who finished the half strongly and should have gone in at the break ahead. Palmer’s free-kick was turned back across goal by towering captain Jordan Anderson and Ryan Hall was denied by Foley.
It took Croydon just four minutes to regain their lead in the second half, Hall
Football
All Kent Sport
Non League
Bexley and Bromley Sport
Ryan Hall
Matthew Panting
Gallagher Stadium