Beckenham Town 2-1 Holmesdale

Attendance 145

Scorers:

Beckenham Town: Cable (20) Curran (45)

Holmesdale: Dadson (32)

Holmesdale played away against Beckenham Town, another of the hotly tipped sides the rookies were facing in their opening fixtures for season 2007/08. The local derby being played on surely one of the finest playing surfaces you could wish to see in football. That said neither side managed to settle quickly and both seemed to concede procession far more than either bench would have been comfortable with.

Dale had a enforced change in midfield due to the with drawl of usual centre back Terry Bushell, who had not fully recovered from an injury. This meant Cristos Nicoli was force to drop in to defence as cover.

Early on in the game Beckenham started to play their game, trying to find their front two and they managed to hold up the ball well, enabling their midfield to join in and this started putting Dale under some pressure. Dale looked most likely to score with some counter attacking play. Classic breakaway attempts failed as the front two could not quit open up Beckenham’s defence on their own. Dales central midfield struggled to find it’s feet but both wingbacks did look lively. The best clear cut opening came when Steven O’Rourke played a defence splitting pass and from the other flank James Dadson, was on to it quick, bursting through he looked certain to score. All followers of Dale reacted as supporters would with gasps of frustration when the chance wasn’t taken.

Opportunities missed at this level rarely go unpunished and Beckenham, now persistent with the same tactics were able to keep the ball. Before Dale had another chance to stretch their defence pass and move play had regular goal scorer Ross Cable just in side the 18 yard line. Not surprisingly he hit the back of the net after a quick snap shot. Beckenham were now playing with some confidence and anyone not convinced may have been after another attack saw the goal scorer chip the ball towards goal almost out of nothing. Fortunately for the visitors the ball came back off the cross bar.

Dale had no reason to panic as the pace in the side looked threatening. Sure enough after both wings back swapped over and good work from Charlie Hope and O’Rourke another chance was created for Dadson. This time he was up against right back Danny Lawson. It was no contest in a foot race, which is no insult as the pacey no. 7 beat his opponent and rounded the keeper to slot the equalizer home. 1-1

One all was about right however in terms of procession the home side looked more assured. Their continued pressure led to a corner with only a minute or two before the break. Dale conceded a goal right on half time and will probably kick themselves as this turned out to be the winner. As the official time was 45 mins Nick Curran scored after Dale failed to clear their lines.

This late first half goal must have changed both team talks however it was the home side who look most likely to get a goal in the early part of the second half. Dale had to defend several corners and were effective and even solid looking at times. The irony of the second goal becoming more clear as time passed. The half seemed to pass without a great deal of chances made as both side seem to cancel each other out. It became a rather scrappy second half with both benches trying to influence the result with changes.

Beckenham Town will feel vindicated with the result although there were real cracks exposed at times. Holmesdale would leave with nothing except a rather weighty amount to ponder, having yet again come so very close yet not quite having that little bit extra.

Holmesdale:

Murley, Nicoli, Broome, Tolfrey (C), Coles, Hope (White), Irvine, O’Rourke, Dadson, Beckett (Hughes), Thomas. Unused Strotten, Dance & Prime.