Attendence:43

Holmesdale: White 68

Man of the match: John Maloney

Holmesdale faced a difficult challenge away to the in form Erith Town at Bayliss Avenue. Third playing second hardly requires any build up in setting the scene however in this game the home side were certainly determined to keep their run going with Erith club officials volunteering their services reportedly from as early as 7am to ensure the pitch was fit to play, perhaps wasn’t just about the recent weather, as much as recent results. They may have also thought it wasn’t a bad time to play the Dalers with all the recent changes and with the likes of Greaves, Hughes, Thompson and Hatt all out for various reasons. The pitch was extremely soft and difficult for both sets of players to keep their balance. Given no one could have been confident of passing the ball around on such a surface it was clear there was to be a battle first and foremost. You may not think the Dalers would be favourites in such a situation but all season long Holmesdale have defied the odds in the league and been up there with the best.

And it was the away side that settled the better and looked to try and keep the ball and play from full backs through to forwards. When they were not in possession they quickly closed Erith down and forced mistakes. The Dockers, who were missing players themselves, noticeably Ted Hart whose presents in midfield may have made a difference, could just not get going. In fact it was a bizarre incident that was really the first thing of note when the referee’s assistant had to leave the field for five minutes. He had some how broken his flag and disappeared to the dressing room to find a replacement. Holmesdale’s first effort to go close came from Bedford who was playing in a midfield role for the game. This followed good hold up play from White ,linking up with debutant Lamine Mamadou, they forced a corner. The ball was cleared only as far as Bedford out side the box and he hit a sweet half volley just over the bar.

The delay was a bit of a shame for Holmesdale as Erith used the time to gather themselves and start a fresh. Cassius had hardly had a kick and was strangely cautioned early on perhaps for something he said. It was a reflection of the home side’s contribution so far, frustrating for the small crowd supporting them. Moments later he showed what a threat he can be by picking up the ball in the right channel and he went on a run from right to left beating four or five opponents. Nicoli was there again as a last line of defence with a perfectly timed challenge to prevent the striker from entering the box. There was now a definite pattern to the game with Holmesdale playing well but just failing to shoot in or around the box. Erith did then have their best chance of the half against the run of play.

Looking like a worked out routine they had a man over on the left as they counter attacked. As the midfielder cut inside he forced a superb stop from Harwood. During the same attack the visitors were forced into some resolute defending but the attack ended with the Dockers crashing a follow up shot against the bar. This was certainly as close as anyone had come but did not reflect how well the Dalers acquitted themselves to the difficult conditions. Chick on the left had looked bright and had the beating of the Erith defence. He laid the ball back to left back Duo who’s effort went surprisingly close. Strange with a good showing by the visitors this was only their second real effort at goal. The half ended with White again involved setting Nicoli free down the right and his cross was just cut out by a scrambling Dockers defence.

0-0 45 mins.

In the second half Holmesdale put pressure on Erith from the outset and the Dockers defence was again the busier. The only criticism if any was that there was sometimes one pass to many rather than the confidence just to have a strike at goal. There was no question Erith’s defence looked solid at set plays as the Dalers forced two corners which were dealt with. In open play however this was not the case as Stares and Semakula kept the ball and started to complete more and more passes to team mates. On the now occasional counter attacks Nicoli, the sometimes unconventional Duo plus McQuade and the outstanding Maloney were adding to their growing reputation as part of the leagues meanest defence. The Dockers were now seeing less and less of the ball and what was needed was a breakthrough to cap the play of the Dalers. Chick broke forward from a clever flick from White and he took on his man and appeared to be tripped inside the box. Nothing was given and the players just got on with the match.

White on the next flurry forward won a free kick just outside the box. Maloney stepped up and hammered an effort at goal forcing Bradshaw to tip over the bar. From the resulting corner Erith half cleared and White spun and his snap shot meant Bradshaw was called into action again. Perhaps it was going to take something special to break the deadlock? When the goal came it was on merit however clearly it was with a real slice of luck for the visitors and turn out to be valentine’s heartbreak for Erith. White, who’s persistence was admirable, made himself available for team mates at all times. He was a real nuisance around the box and when Stares burst forward it looked like another move with that extra pass. The striker did not appear to have the half yard required but hit an effort which took a big deflection and went in pass the hapless Bradshaw who had no chance.

0-1 68 mins.

Both benches then made changes, Erith looking to get something from the game and Holmesdale to maintain the upper hand. The Dockers could have been level after a brief spell as they through bodies forward in search of a goal. Anything direct seemed to find Maloney who was relentless in his quest to keep a clean sheet. It would not be an exaggeration to say the central defender won almost every header he went up for. It would also be fair to say the Dockers could have had an equaliser when Collins missed a guilt edge chance. Almost inevitably as is the case in a tight match a chance will come at some stage. Town forced two corners and Lawrence Collins found it fell to him, some how blazed a shot over, clipping the top of the bar from just a few yards out.

The points were not only destined, they were earned by the best all round team display in the league this season. Erith were made to struggle in truth. Every player deserves the credit after such a professional performance, along with the management who picked up their first win in the league since taking charge. This was a performance to be proud of by the Dalers, and hopefully something to build on for the future.

0-1 90 mins.

Holmesdale

DANNY HARWOOD (C) (8.0), CHRISTOS NICOLI (7.5), ROLAND DUO (7.5), JOHN MALONEY (8.5 *), TOM McQUADE (8.0), PAUL SEMAKULA (8.0), RUSSELL BEDFORD (8.0), MATT STARES 8.0, LAMINE MAMADOU (7.5), STEVE WHITE (8.0), BEN CHICK (7.5)

Substitutes: J. DADSON (6.5), C. CORNEILLE (6.5), L. DEAN (6.5)

HJ Sullivan 15/02/2009