The Dockers survived an early penalty scare to move into the FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round and a home tie with Sheppey United.
In truth SC Thamesmead rarely caused them a problem, but it could have been very different early on when Taylor McDonagh appeared to catch Ayo Bakare as he ran through on goal, only for referee George Barker to wave away the visitors’ appeals.
Having lacked patience in some of their early play, the Dockers finally benefitted from a move of real quality when the ball was played across the pitch to Dan Nash who fed Fred Obasa on the right. Obasa then beat Joel Mensah and crossed low for Steadman Callender to score his sixth of the season.
Two minutes later, Jason Goodchild picked up a loose ball in the area and hit a shot that Adam Highsted could only parry to Callender who appeared to have made it 2-0 only for the assistant to raise his flag off for offside.
The introduction of Alfie Eldridge from the bench stirred things up and within a minute the lively teenager scored his first competitive senior goal, following up Tolu Jonah’s saved shot to poke in The Docker’s second.
Alfie was later put clear through on goal, but was denied his second after the assistant again raised his flag to rule the effort offside, a controversial call at best when everyone else in the ground could see he was clearly on.
The Dockers are next up on Wednesday where we take on Tower Hamlets in a SCEFL Premier match at Erith Stadium, kick off 7.45pm.
#UpTheDockers! #WeAreErith