Match Preview: Eastbourne Town vs Erith Town

Date: Saturday, 5th October
Time: 3:00 PM Kick-off
Venue: The Saffrons
Ticket Prices: Adults £10, Concessions £5, Under-16s £2, Under-12s Free
Match Officials: Simon Faires (Referee), Matthew Dyson (Assistant), Nathaniel Roff (Assistant) and Timothy Lawrence (Observer)

This Saturday, we welcome Erith Town to The Saffrons as we aim to bounce back from a tough defeat last weekend. Currently sitting 12th in the Isthmian League South East Division, we face a stern test against Erith, who are flying high in 4th place. It promises to be a competitive afternoon of football, and with your support, we’ll look to make The Saffrons a fortress once again.

Opponent Form and Achievements

Erith Town have been on an impressive trajectory, achieving significant success in the 2023–24 season. They lifted the League Challenge Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Corinthian, and they also secured the Kent Senior Trophy with a 3-2 win against Croydon. Not stopping there, Erith qualified for the promotion play-offs, where they defeated Glebe in the semi-finals and beat Corinthian again on penalties to earn promotion to our division. It’s clear that Erith are a force to be reckoned with, and their current league position reflects their strong start to the season.

James Dyer and Harry Taylor have been their danger men in front of goal, both netting five goals this season. Our defence will need to be at its best to keep these two at bay.

Eastbourne Town Team News

We’ve had some tough breaks on the injury front over the past two weeks, with Leon Greig, Dan Hull, and our leading goalscorer this season, James Stone all facing time in the physio room. Their absence will be felt, but we’re buoyed by the return of striker James Hull, who made his comeback last weekend after an injury layoff. Hull, our hero from last season’s playoff semi-final with his brace against Hassocks, will be keen to get back among the goals and drive us forward.

While we came up short against Deal Town in our last fixture, losing to another team with playoff aspirations, the team showed plenty of fight and determination. We’ll need to show that same spirit on Saturday to overcome a well-drilled Erith side, who themselves lost to league leaders Beckenham Town last time out.

Weather Outlook

For Saturday’s game against Erith Town at The Saffrons, Eastbourne is expecting pleasant football weather. The forecast suggests sunny intervals throughout the day with temperatures around 15°C (59°F) by kick-off at 3 PM. The wind will be a moderate breeze from the south-southeast, reaching speeds of 12-14 mph, which should create ideal conditions for both players and fans alike. There’s no significant chance of rain during the game, with precipitation predicted to stay below 5%​. Full Weather Outlook

The Challenge Ahead

Facing Erith Town will be no easy task. Their momentum from last season has clearly carried over, and their attacking prowess will keep our defence on its toes. But with the home crowd behind us and the return of key players like James Hull, we’re ready to rise to the challenge.

Let’s make sure The Saffrons is rocking and get behind Jude Macdonald and the squad. See you on Saturday!