Match Report by Steve Cantle
An inspired second-half performance including a hat-trick by wingman, Shaun Hale finally brought Fleet their first league win of the season on Tuesday night in a seven-goal thriller at Welling Utd's ground in East London.
Behind 1-0 at the break, the improving Fleet side finally showed what they could do, with Hale's hat-trick and some great saves by keeper, Steve May just getting the better of a tough Erith side.
Coming on the back of a draw against Banbury on Saturday, the win not only lifts Fleet off the bottom of the Dr Martens Eastern Division table, but also provides a great confidence booster to Mick Catlin's side ahead of Saturday's crucial FA Cup tie at Newmarket Town.
On this performance Fleet will be looking to build on their current three-match unbeaten run and win a place in the draw for the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Rd, scheduled for Monday lunchtime.
Once again Fleet started Tuesday's game slowly and went behind in the 24th minute when Erith striker, Akbo Sodje found the net with a powerful strike from 20 yards out.
Problems mounted for Fleet two minutes later when skipper Craig Anstey had to leave the field, later requiring stitches to a nasty gash on his shin. A couple of minutes later, keeper May kept his side in the game with a great diving save from another great strike from Sodje.
At the other end, striker, Barry Parker went close for Fleet with a header from a corner, which was just finger-tipped over the bar by Erith keeper, Clark Hunt.
But as the teams left the field for the interval it was clear that something special was needed by the Fleet side if they were to get anything from this game.
The Fleet faithful didn't have long to wait after the break, when 3 minutes into the second-half, a header from Hale somehow slipped though the hands of Hunt and into the goal. Fleet had drawn level.
Immediately May was in action again at the other end, bringing off two great saves to deny the pacy Erith forwards.
But May had no answer in the 56th minute when the powerful Sodje struck again with another well-directed strike from 20 yards out.
Behind again for the second time in the game, it was now or never for Mick Catlin's side as they suddenly began to find their form. A great passing move down the right found Hale in space on the left, his shot bringing a great save from Hunt.
Fleet were now in control for the first time in the match and soon the Erith goal was under renewed pressure following some great moves down both sides of the pitch. From one such move in the 62nd minute, down the left, Hale shook off two defenders and beat the keeper, this time with a delicate lob from 15 yards out.
Twelve minutes later Fleet went ahead for the first time in the match, sub Ed Hare blasting in from the right, after a great knock-back by striker, Mark Frampton.
With 10 minutes remaining, Erith then made it 3-3 against the run of play, when defender Terry Penfold struck with a curling long range effort that just crept into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Fleet then went all out for the winner. Hale continued to threaten on the left and Steve Black was playing one of his best games for Fleet down the right. Eventually it was Black who rounded his marker on the right and his cross found Hale in space in the centre. Keeper Hunt could then only watch as Hale¹s neat flick just rolled into the far right-hand bottom corner, to put Fleet back in front.
FLEET TOWN: May, Buckland, Millerick, Murphy, Blakely, Jeffrey, Black, Anstey, (sub Hare, 26 mins), Parker, (Tiller, 62), Frampton, (Proctor, 75), Hale. Sub not used: Ed Smith.Attendance: 68.