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 heading back a deep cross for Uli Fischer to turn the ball over the line.
Kamarasi brilliantly tipped over Ladic Melconian’s volley and then beat away Dyer’s left-foot effort as he looked to get behind the Croydon defence.
Croydon had a golden chance to extend their lead midway through the second half but Fischer ignored options in the box and his shot lacked power.
Dyer’s free-kick was pushed away by Kamarasi but he was beaten with 13 minutes left when substitute Bradley Ryan did well down the left and pulled his cross back for Dyer to sweep home.
Kamarasi produced an outstanding save to somehow deny Harry Taylor heading Erith ahead but he could do nothing to prevent Dyer latching on to a Taylor header in the 90th minute and firing home the winner.
Erith Town: Mackenzie Foley, Jack Holland, Jerome Jayaguru, Ryan Mahal, Tom Ash, James Miles, James Dyer, Harry Taylor, George Goodwin, Ollie Milton, Jake Lovell. Subs: Jamie Miller, Bradley Ryan, Calum McGeehan, Ladic Melconian, Ted Green.
Croydon: George Kamarasi, Sammy Morgan, Cam McGovern, Jordan Anderson, Richard White, Ryan Palmer, Ryan Hall, Aaron Reber, Uli Fischer, Lauris Chin, Aaron Bogle. Subs: Kieran Rufus, Evans Lamboh, David Green, James Ayetine, Jahquan Springer.
Referee: Joe Dann-Pye.
