Erith and Belvedere turned in a disappointing display when they lost 3-1 at Stamford on Saturday.

The game started in freezing conditions and it made it very difficult for both clubs to play good football, but Stamford took the lead on 18 minutes when Richard Bailey fired home from 12 yards.

They went two-up six minutes later when Carl Holmes volleyed in from the edge of the box.

Darren Adams came close to reducing arrears when he had a left-foot effort parried by Stamford keeper Steve Corry, and from the follow-up, his second effort was cleared off the the line.

The Deres did manage t pull a goal back in the last minute of the first half when Karl Emerick, who two minutes earlier, saw his header flash over the crossbar, this time made no mistake from 10 yards.

Stamford hit the crossbar on the stroke of half-time, but six minutes into the second half, David Staff's superb free-kick flew into the top left corner and, for the rest of the game, both defences stood firm and neither keeper was really tested after that.

Erith have lost their last five league home games and will be hoping to get back to winning ways with four of their next five fixtures at Park View Road.