Click on images to enlarge.
Images can be navigated using the prev and next icons.
Attendence:40
Holmesdale faced Greenwich Borough at Oakley Road in another difficult match in their push to stay in touch with leaders Hythe and away from the chasing pack. Both clubs were coming off the back of good results with the Dalers beating Deal just a few days before and Greenwich, picking up their tenth win in nineteen games, against Erith & Belvedere. That result by Greenwich was a reminder that this is a very close league with so many clubs at a similar level. In fact a win against the Dalers would have put them on 34 points, just one point behind several teams who still have some title ambitions. The away side certainly started the better and like a side who had taken confidence from their win. In contrast Holmesdale looked out of sorts and were beaten to the punch far too often to be effective and they had a rabbit in the headlights reaction when in possession.
Borough were swift and sharp and just 10 minutes in had a lead that they had earned. The visitors forced a corner and whilst they looked a threat more from open play, they caught a bit of a break in the box. The corner was flicked on from the edge of the six yard box and it caught out attackers as well as the defence. Not always how a routine would work, the flick, perhaps deflected, was goal bound and Harwood’s attempted parry only hit Stares guarding the post. The ball came off his knee and was slammed into the roof of the net by Walton.
0-1 10 mins.
The some what scrappy start to the match was a surprise. With both sides known for passing the ball it was thought this would be about two good football sides playing an entertaining match. Any neutrals in the small crowd would have thought those playing in red and black were chasing the title and those in green and yellow were the solid mid table team. Borough were not only first to the ball they were comfortable in possession and swift to turn almost every situation into another attack. Even on the occasions in the first half the Dalers had the ball they looked off the pace and short on ideas. White typically held the ball up well and won a free kick. Moments later the Dalers were defending again as Greenwich counter attacked so quickly their striker had a one on one with skipper Harwood. He should have made it two as he flicked the ball over the keeper but wide of the goal.
Holmesdale had not created anything yet for their front two but on their first meaningful attack Semakula released White who did some good work in the channel and managed to cross. Greaves arriving was to tightly marked to do more than fire an effort straight at Firkins in goal. Counter attacking football has been seen aplenty at Oakley Road this season however it has more often been the home side doing this well. In a now open game Greenwich were the masters on the break. It was almost knife through butter stuff as one defence splitting pass was enough, lucky for the Dalers, as from the edge of the box Borough struck the post in their search for a second goal.
And then there was a rare glimpse of some nice football by the home side. From Harwood to Duo, Hatt and Maloney all involved in exchanging and retaining the ball. The flowing move ended with Hatt crossing for White who was off balance and just struck wide of the target. Almost as if to reflect the play in general Borough’s skipper Seefah was to have their next chance as he made a run from midfield. As his marker dozed he was another to have what was becoming a frequent sight of goal. He confidently shot and it just flashed the wrong side of the post. The home side’s goal was most certainly leading a charmed life as the visitors missed opportunities to extend their lead. The chances continued as Borough won a free kick 25 yards out. It was devilishly swung in and surely over hit as it missed all those waiting in the box. The ball even flew over Harwood who perhaps, in his frustration with the lack of defending in front of him, came for it. Not even his tall frame prevented it from hitting the angle of post and crossbar and fortunately not falling to a black and red shirt. In a boxing contest this one sided the ref would have stopped it.
The only real good news for Holmesdale was they were only one goal behind in a contest where the score should have been around three nil at the break. Maybe too that in the back of Borough minds was the knowledge that for all their good play the game was some how not over.
0-1 45 mins.
Holmesdale introduced Corneille at the start of the second half in an attempt to get back in a very one sided contest. Greenwich remained a threat and quick all over the park as the home side slowly began to believe in themselves again. No one took the game by the scruff of the neck for the Dalers but then neither was their a great deal of panic or arguing at the lack of success in the game so far. The first rallying cries came from Maloney and Harwood at the back and from the dugout who could not have enjoyed what was unfolding in front of them. As time continued the game turned into a stalemate somewhat as Borough were slightly less ambitious and the Dalers not finding the final ball well enough when moving forward. The midfield had appeared second best to often and out wide the delivery was never picking out the forwards runs.
It would be difficult to find a specific turning point but perhaps the closest was a half chance for Greaves who was trying to latch on to a forward through pass. Firkins rushed out of his box as Borough appealed in vain for offside and the keeper got something on the ball as the two players collided. The visitors called for some action as the keeper lay hurt.
The officials judged it correctly as just a coming together. With a short stop for treatment when the match resumed there was a little pressure for the first time culminating in White spinning and hitting a speculative effort from outside the box. No doubt Firkins was fine as his flying save was perhaps for the benefit of anyone with a camera. Sanga and Chick were introduced to the game as the Dalers tried to at least give it a go. Whilst their impact cannot be described as immediate or incisive Borough were now taking issue with any decision that did not go their way. It was a strange reaction from a side that had totally dominated around almost three quarters of the match and still seemed to be at the races when the home team could not say the same.
Is it possible that they started to sense their efforts were not to be rewarded? Or just a bit of pressure building from the fear they could be punished if just one chance fell to Holmesdale? Well their nerves were about to get really tested as a few cracks started to appear. In reflecting on what happened in the match they were unquestionably better however a little naive. An exciting side full of pace and they should have wrapped the contest up before an unnecessary incident. The only thing that let the visitors down was their temperament as after another coming together the play was stopped. Both Borough’s players and bench wanted to make points to the officials when it had not been a contentious game. The referee’s assistant flagged to get his attention and after a consultation a red card was shown to Kevin Seefah, the Borough captain. One can only assume for something he said to the linesman.
Needless to say Greenwich now felt frustrated and hard done by, and like the game was in the balance when it had not been. With the game resuming again all eyes were occasionally glancing at watches to check how long was remaining. It was well past the 90 minute mark when Holmesdale won a corner and Harwood came up for the ultimate gamble. When Borough cleared the ball but did not counter attack this was a final indicator that they just wanted to hold onto a win they would have deserved. In their eagerness they only managed to concede a free kick on the left and with it being well outside the box Harwood was not so determined to join in a hopeful scramble for an equalizer.
The ball was crossed with seconds remaining and cleared by only as far as a yellow and green shirt. Everyone stayed forward and Maloney was coming back from perhaps an offside position when the ball was won back. In the chaos of bodies the ball was just helped on towards Maloney, whose marker tried to play for offside despite the centre half, then centre forward starting in front of him and on side. He stuck out a leg and guided the ball towards goal as the keeper tried to close him in vain. Borough stood still for the first time in hope of a linesman’s flag that was never raised.
1-1 90 + 4 mins.
Some how the Dalers snatched a goal after being battered and bruised in a comeback not even Rocky Balboa would have tried. If you witnessed it you would come away from the game still scratching you head as to how it happened.
The away side deserved a win and a point is nothing short of a football miracle for Holmesdale, who remain unbeaten at home and should consider the match as a wake up call, certainly a bad day at the office.
Perhaps a slither of light is that Greenwich will surely be determined to ensure they put their opponents away next time they have them on the ropes.
Holmesdale
DANNY HARWOOD (C) (6.0), CHRISTOS NICOLI (6.5), ROLAND DUO (5.5), JOHN MALONEY (7.0), TOM McQUADE (6.0), PAUL SEMAKULA (6.0), MATT STARES (5.5), RUSSELL BEDFORD (5.5), JOEL GREAVES (6.5), STEVE WHITE (6.5), CHRIS HATT (5.5)
Substitutes: C.CORNEILLE, (6.5), L.M.SANGA (6.0), B.CHICK (6.0), R.PACEY, J.THOMPSON
HJ Sullivan 23/02/2009
