Holmesdale 0-2 Deal Town

Attendance 78

Scorers:

Holmesdale:

Deal Town: Bathgate (24) Cory (39)

The Dalers played host to Deal Town at Oakley Rd continuing a difficult opening to their inaugural season in senior football. The opening exchanges were very much end to end with both side’s keepers being called into action..

Deal Towns football was more direct and their front twos hold up play and players joining from midfield was at times just as effective. A first half move that rather sums up the frustration of the lack of end product in the last third was when Steve O’Rourke’s committed play broke through two midfield tackles, one of which he was not favourite to win, but as he quickly reacted first, he regained his balance and played a through pass to James Dadson who delivered what would normally be a deadly ball into the box only to find there were no bodies to take advantage of the swift attack. Most of the Dalers work was in the channels, Joel Hughes catching the eye in particular, just not quite the end product, unlike the visitors who won a dubious free kick just outside the penalty area by more direct means.

The decision, which was questionable enough for the visitors to be not quite certain what had happened themselves, was said to have been given for handball. The visitor’s skipper stepped up and struck the ball goal wards. The ball deflected off a Dale leg to give Danny Murley no chance in goal.

This did seem to effect the home team with such a stroke of fortune going against them. For the visitors is clearly helped them settle after what their chairman described, “ A poor and scrappy start”. They clearly felt they could play better and the confidence appeared to be draining from the home side. Dale had to respond and missed out when a trademark skilful run from Joel Hughes lead to a corner. When the ball was delivered, stand in defender Christos Nicoli, failed to hit the target from about a close to what was a free header as you might get with bodies in the box.

Deal again punished a lapse in concentration. A little ironic when Dale had not taken chances from corners themselves to concede from one was a bitter pill to swallow. Good work down the right had lead to the chance. A ball delivered to the near post saw D.Cory, arrive before his marker and he caught out Murley to head home into the roof of the net.

The second half started with Holmesdale looking like a side on a mission and kept their opponents in their own half for quite a spell. Deal were very much having to defend there lead and were even at times happy just to clear their lines without any attacking intent.

Even more frustrating was to follow with a excellent shout for a penalty turned down and a unbelievable block on the line from Deal defender, a volley from Dadson hit some part of his body and the strike was some how kept out. After moments like these you may feel resigned to the fact that you will not be scoring. And so this was the case although credit where its due both sides showed qualities throughout the game an contributed to an entertaining spectacle.

Dale continue to win plaudits and friends when points are as much, if not even more the objective. Something to show for their efforts would have been a true reflection of the 90 minutes.

Holmesdale:

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