Attendence:55

Holmesdale: Hatt 19, 20, 51 (Pen), Corneille 83, Greaves 86, 87

The Dalers played hosts to Sporting Bengal United on a bitterly cold December afternoon at Oakley Road. The home side, who have spent most of the season so far on, or near the top, were expected to win comfortably against the team who have spent the equivalent time propping up the table. The margin of the win may have been the talking point for some, on the usual forum. Many probably speculated on how much of a hiding it may be but certainly the Dalers were on a hiding to nothing if they did not deliver as expected. The side wasted no time in attacking and found ways through the leagues busiest defence. Bengal had certainly not just come to make up the numbers and chased and worked like a side with nothing really to lose. Indeed they may have even raised a few eyebrows with the way they tried to counter attack with pace and enthusiasm.

The Dalers were organised and had variation in their attacks. United in contrast were very unorthodox and looked like a collection of hastily assembled individuals. Within the first few minutes the visitors did have a long range effort but had spent most of the time in their half trying to be as difficult as possible to break down. Holmesdale had forced a couple of corners and almost took the lead. There was not much of an appeal for a goal some what strangely as the first major incident in the game did see the ball over the line. Following a clearance from a corner Dadson struck at goal and his effort when through the keeper and the ball slowly rolled towards the goal line. A combination of Stares and Greaves followed up to make sure and then the referee’s assistant raised his flag for offside.

Just inside 20 minutes the goal, which had certainly been coming, was delivered from the in from Hatt playing on the left. Whilst his first few touches were less than perfect within minutes he released all the frustration of the home supporters and gave the visitors that sinking feeling. In no time at all he had two quality strikes created from instinctive and classy simple passing. The side switched the ball from one side to the other and he did not take on his opponent with the intention of dribbling round him. Hatt simply dropped his shoulder, came inside and struck the ball perfectly in the far corner.

1-0 19 mins.

Just moments after kick off the Dalers in possession moved the ball around in what was almost a carbon copy of the attack before. Again isolating Hatt against the full back he again hit a snap shot at goal. A second sweet strike and within minutes the visitors had a mountain to climb and the midfielder was on for a hat trick.

2-0 20 mins.

All the players appeared to relax a little more and passed the ball around comfortably but some how did not extend the lead before the break. Greaves and Dadson both went close and in truth should have scored. Highwood was the closest of the front players though, on the end of a good move his effort came back off the angle of post and crossbar.

In the second half the home team were on the attack looking to completely seal the win and resign Bengal to their seventeenth league defeat of the season. The break through happened just five minutes in when Hatt released Greaves with a defence splitting pass. Greaves was in and his run was only halted by the challenge of Bengal’s keeper who brought him crashing to the ground. The ref correctly pointed to the penalty spot and despite strong protests and appeals credit where it’s due he got his decisions spot on. After quickly consulting his assistant, he confirmed the spot kick and showed the keeper a yellow card. Greaves was not heading direct at the goal and a defender managed to get goal side of everyone to prevent a straight red.

Almost inevitably Hatt picked up the ball and was clear he was taking the kick. He calmly slotted the penalty away for his hat trick.

3-0 51 mins.

With the contest effectively over the home side stayed in complete control made a few substitutions and then went on to compound Bengals misery. Almost everyone joined in attacks, although not always with the best outcome, as defender Duo skied an effort after a slick passing move. Highwood, who deserved a goal for all his work, missed a chance after Hatt played him in, one on one with the keeper he elected to shoot rather than take on a nervy and deflated opponent. The attempts kept coming and after pulling the defence apart the side scored another when Greaves, who had his effort blocked and was forced wide, centred and Stares heard a call let the ball run across and Corneille arrived and placed the ball in the bottom corner.

4-0 83 mins.

A now tired United lost their last bit of resistance and Greaves headed home from a delivery from Neeves to make it five.

5-0 86 mins.

The striker, up with the leagues top scorers despite missing a few games, went on to score another a minute later as the opposition could do nothing to halt another powerful Greaves run.

6-0 87 mins.

Job done for the Dalers who, with this win, stay in touch with the leaders Hythe Town.

As we enter 2009 all Kent League followers look forward to see how the wide open title race will pan out.

6-0 90 mins.

Holmesdale

DANNY HARWOOD (7.5), CHRISTOS NICOLI (7.5), ROLAND DUO (7.0), CHARLIE CORNEILLE (7.5), MATT STARES (7.5), RAY TOLFREY JNR (C) (7.5), JAMES DADSON (7.0), JASON THOMPSON (7.0), JACK HIGHWOOD (7.5), JOEL GREAVES (7.5), CHRIS HATT (8.0)

Substitutes: L. NEEVES (6.5), C. STEADMAN (6.5), R. HARDIE (6.5)

HJ Sullivan 29/12/2008