Attendence:55

Holmesdale: Hughes (18), Stares (57), Greaves (73)

Holmesdale faced a difficult away game down at The Small Glen against Slade Green. When the two teams met earlier in the season the points were shared and Green had impressed everyone at Oakley Road. Both sides had very good results in their last fixtures, Holmesdale with a win over Hythe and Slade defeating Erith Town. The Dalers’ healthy respect for the opposition meant they ignored the fact they would remain top whatever the result. Another factor in the build up to this game is the growing reputation of the Dalers young squad. Currently top, playing good football, on the road they are not going to have an easy game any where in the Kent Premier League. And so it was in the early part of the first half as neither side could really impose themselves effectively on the opposition.

Slade did start with a couple of advantages, along with playing at home they had a deceptively strong wind behind them. This forced the Dalers back deep in their own half at times. Clearances from the keeper and defenders were going long and putting a little pressure on the defence. The visitors had to play well to get forward as the weather was a factor. Both full backs were getting involved and Holmesdale began to play their way up the field especially down the left, with debutant Roland Duo, looking comfortable in possession, and also with the pace of Morrison. The opener was to be created from the opposite channel however after very bright work from White. He linked up with Greaves who powered his way to the touch line. He crossed for strike partner Hughes who gratefully tapped in a straight forward finish.

0-1 18 mins.

The boys had settled the better and began to move the ball quickly on a good playing surface. With Green closing them and really up for the match the Dalers had little choice but to be at their best. Thompson was starting to find his range and release team mates into attacking areas. He combined well with Morrison who was bombing on all the time, when the left midfielder played the ball back to Thompson he fired in a ball into the box. Greaves’ attempted finish was straight at Grant. As the league leaders started to dominate the variation going forward was apparent, with all the midfield and forwards getting involved.

Stares and Thompson took it in turns to get forward and played a one two before Thompson again found Greaves. He appeared to have missed the chance to shoot but the ball was seized upon by White. He improvised, spun and shot, curling the ball across the goal just missing. There was not as much goal mouth action at the other end with Slade restricted to a couple of long range efforts. One that nearly caught out Harwood was a cross from Westerman. The right midfield nearly scored as the Dalers’ keeper adjusted and tipped over the bar for a corner.

The half ended 0-1 to Holmesdale but not before White and Nicoli made another opening for Greaves. The full back crossed from the right and Greaves connected with a header which was saved by Grant. In the second half the search for the all important second goal was underway with Green even more determined to get back in the match. They chased every seemingly lost ball, fought hard, as they had during the entire first half. It was clear a second goal was needed and crucially the visitors snatched it in the 57th minute. Stares was set up by Whites cross from the right. Slade failed to clear and in the scramble Greaves was a nuisance and Stares poked the ball in. Green appealed for offside and a number of defenders approached the referee’s assistant.

0-2 57 mins.

In a significant few minutes The Dalers may have secured the result and it certainly would have been a long way back for Green. This was all but confirmed with a silly challenge by Westerman. In protests at the Dalers goal the midfielder was one of two cautions that Slade received. Right after the kick off the winger was late in on left back Duo and was shown a second yellow and then a red leaving his team down to ten men. This sealed their fate and the visitors now had complete control of the match. Passing the ball around the Dalers managed to open up ten men Green and score a third goal. Morgan and Pacey had been introduced to sure up the result with the visitors not needing to force anything. Instead they created more chances and really put the gloss on an already convincing performance. Pacey won the ball in midfield and played a great ball into Greaves. The forward ran through in between two defenders like a locomotive and finished for a well deserved goal for the big no.9.

0-3 73 mins.

Towards the end there were a couple of other half chances and an uncharacteristic miss for Morgan. He exchanged passes well with Morrison and arrived in the box with the goal at his mercy only to blaze over the bar. With the other clubs at the top with games in hand it was an important away win for Holmesdale who continue to maintain the high standards they have set themselves since the start of this 2008/09 season.

0-3 90 mins.

Holmesdale

DANNY HARWOOD (6.5), CHRISTOS NICOLI (7.0), ROLAND DUO (7.0), MATT STARES (7.5), TOM McQUADE (6.5), RAY TOLFREY JNR (C) (8.0), STEVE WHITE (7.0), JASON THOMPSON (7.0), JOEL GREAVES (7.0), JOEL HUGHES (7.0), ANTHONY J, MORRISON (6.5)

Substitutes: D. MAY (6.5), L.MORGAN (6.5), R.PACEY (7.0), R. MITCHELL (gk)

HJ Sullivan 16/11/2008