Ryman One North: Barkingside 3 Erith & Belvedere 0

A first half treble sealed a vital Ryman One North victory for Barkingside over relegation rivals Erith & Belvedere at Oakside last night.

Chaz Liddiard, Steve Carvell and Charlie Rolls netted to secure Side the three points, while it also marked their first clean sheet since a 1-0 win over Waltham Forest back in October.

Matt Frew’s side started well and forced an early corner with just a minute on the clock and it was only four minutes later that they took the lead.

And it came in fine style as Carvell started the move just inside their own half before finding skipper Matt Gulfer.

He was then able to tee up striker Liddiard who found space in the box to shoot low past Erith goalkeeper Robert Sturgeon.

After that though Side seemed to sit back on their one-goal lead and let their Kent rivals back into the game.

The Oakside outfit have been weak from set pieces in the past and a corner in wasn’t fully cleared. It fell invitingly to Reis Boyle who’s fierce effort thundered against the post as Side survived an early scare.

Chances were few and far between as the half wore on but the hosts managed to secure a vital second on 31 minutes when Carvell got on the end of a left-wing cross.

He could have taken his effort first time and appeared to lose the opportunity to force an effort on goal.

But his perseverance paid off as he jinked his way through and from close range slotted past Sturgeon.

Barkingside still looked nervous on occasions at the back but Erith were unable to expose that.

A minute before the break Gabriel Onireti shot weak at Sturgeon when through on goal, but on the stroke of half time Side secured a vital third which knocked the stuffing out of the Deres.

Former Redbridge left back Charlie Rolls was up in the box and the ball fell nicely for the youngster to coolly slot past an onrushing Sturgeon to put the hosts on course for victory.

Erith came at Barkingside early in the second period, but the home defence, marshalled by Joe Ellul and Matt Waldron restricted Erith to very few clear cut chances.

Felix Ogeah-Andrews headed wide two minutes into the half, while Gulfer tested Sturgeon up the other end.

The visitors had plenty of pace up front but were unable to make a breakthrough as the half wore on.

George Savage forced a smart stop from Side goalkeeper Chris Clark in the final 10 minutes and in a swift counter attack late on Tyler Christian-Law should have given them a late consolation but shot wide after Marcus Cassius played in his fellow striker.

The hosts were comfortable throughout the second period and almost rounded off the night in style two minutes from time when a fine one-two from Rolls and Carvell saw the latter’s shot well held by Sturgeon.

Barkingside: Clark, Hayes, Rolls, Ellul, Waldron, Suchley, Onireti (Ellis 87), Carvell, Liddiard (Poku 78), Gulfer, Francis (Davie 68).

Unused substitutes: Crossley, Pitman (gk)

Attendance: 92