Now that's what you call stats!

Eirth & Belvedere's programme editor and resident 'statto' Brian Spurrell will soon be over his side's 5-0 FA Cup hammering.

The Deres were mauled by First Division North rivals Chatham Town in Saturday's Preliminary Round but Spurrell will be consoling himself, and no doubt his fellow fans, via the pages of their next matchday programme.

In the run up to Saturday's tie, Spurrell had already been hard at work compiling a list of stats, facts and milestones set to be beaten, past or added too following their 4-1 league defeat to Chatham at Park View.

According to Spurrell, the tie was only the clubs' second ever meeting on consecutive Saturdays and the latest in a long line of meetings between the Kent rivals going all the way back to the Deres' first ever match. Chatham were the visitors back on 26 August 1922, winning 3-1 in the opening Kent League fixture of the season.

Their league clash was also the 58th meeting between the clubs, Chatham's win extending their lead in victories to 27 with the Deres winning 23 of their encounters. Spurrell said the match brought up a clutch of milestones - Chatham’s first goal was the 200th in matches between them, their third was their 100th in league matches against the Deres, and their fourth was the 100th scored in Deres versus Chats matches at Erith!

The FA Cup also threw up its fair share of 'stats and facts' which may have given the Deres hope before Saturday's game. Apparently, the teams have met twice before at this stage and they produced the Deres' biggest wins against Chatham - 5-1 in 1989 and 8-0 in 1958.

In his statistical review, Spurrell did admit that the Deres had some help from an unwelcome source. The 1958 tie was originally scheduled for 5 September but was postponed because of the heaviest storm seen in southern England for many years. It was rearranged for the following Thursday but Chatham struggled to raise a team, hence the ease of the Deres' win!