Attendence:82

Holmesdale: Jason Thompson x 3

The Dalers' visited local rivals Croydon in the bank holiday fixture, a side that had also started their Bulmers Kent League Premier campaign well. 'The Trams' had six points out of six and had set their ambitions as high as promotion to the Isthmian league. The visitors had a change from the first few games with a 4-3-3 formation. Croydon lined up 4-4-2 and immediately tried to release their pacey forward line. They appeared to be confident and threw themselves into every early challenge. Skipper Ray Tolfrey Junior was injured after just five minutes as the Dalers gave as good as they got. Holmesdale, who have started games well, not just this season also last, weathered the attacks and looked dangerous on the break. Hughes and Greaves were not only threatening the Trams defence they were prepared to close down defenders and midfielders in possession.

In the 10th minute Holmesdale won a free kick just outside the Trams box on their right hand side. A fabulous free kick routine caught out the home defence and from 25 yards Thompson span out of a mini wall to slam the ball into the back of the net.

0 - 1 11 mins

A quality strike for the midfielder's first goal of the season.

Croydon responded almost immediately and from their own attacking set piece, and then a follow up cross, the Trams had a header inside the box that was goal bound. Corneille cleared off the line. The game was now pretty much end to end and very entertaining although the visitors wanted it a bit more. In fact the Croydon tried to turn the screw the more determined the Dalers seem to get. After more pressure the Dalers broke and Morgan and Hughes linked up well and Morgan was through. He shot low down to the right and Roberts managed to tip the ball round the post for a corner. Holmesdale then kept the Trams in their half as they had three corners in a row but never made the dominate spell count.

At the end of the half Holmesdale had played the better football but their was not a great deal in the game. The Trams must have felt they were worthy of being level however they had been literally stopped in their tracks.

0 - 1 at Half time.

The second half kicked off with no changes and Croydon still appeared to have no answer to the formation or determination of their opponents. They were throwing everything at it in fairness and had a couple corners in succession, just like Holmesdale at the same end in the first half, they could not take advantage. The game was that even and then was one of those pivotal moments you get in such a contest. Croydon broke through the Dalers back four and Freeman was on the edge of the box and one on one with former Tram Harwood. The keeper was off his line in a flash and made a save right out of the top draw. He saved an almost certain goal and the visitors never looked back.

As the Dalers got on top they were squeezing the will out of their opponents and were unlucky not to win an indirect free kick after a back pass to Tim Roberts stopped another attack. Croydon introduced former Erith Town gaffa Tomkins in an attempt to get back in the match. On the next break forward the Dalers won another free kick in a similar position to the one in the first half. Again Thompson stepped forward and as Morgan moved away from the ball Thompson struck into an on rushing wall. The ref ordered a retake and booked the player responsible. Thompson had a dress rehearsal and confidence from the 1st goal. He started his run up and fired the ball into the back of the net and the keeper could only get a hand to it.

0 - 2 59 mins

The visitors now had a tight grip on the match and the influential midfielder had not settled on a brace either. A memorable performance was capped by a 3rd excellent strike. Corneille and Thompson had passed the ball confidently in midfield and with Smith's work rate they had worn down their opponents and taken over the game. The defence's resolve and a superb performance by Harwood in goal was sealed in the 70th minute.

Thompson played a one two with Hughes and cut inside to strike home from the edge of the box for a hat-trick.

0 - 3 70 mins

In the last twenty minutes Harwood pulled off another class reflex save point blank from the Trams attack, confirming a shut out for the frustrated side that had scored 9 times in their other two games. Corneille missed a fantastic chance to make it four and the Dalers played out the match in a professional manner. A few angry and frustrated words were exchange at the end between a couple of substitutes and management backing their players. This did not however spoil an excellent performance by the team announcing their intentions for 2008/09.

Another 3 points for the league leaders and without praising the team to highly they actually played like a side worthy of the position at this very early stage of the season.

Holmesdale

Danny Harwood (9), Christos Nicoli (7), Ricky Hardie (7), Charlie Corneille (7), Tom Macquad (7), Ray Tolfrey (7), Jason Thompson (9), Lee Morgan (7), Joel Hughes (7), Joel Greaves (7), Aaron Smith (7).