Holmesdale Reserves Match Reports

Holmesdale Res 3 – 2 Sittingbourne Res

Ryan West had a 1 v 1 saved as early as the 2^nd minute and a flicked header go just wide on 7 mins. Chris Hatt’s inswinging corner was flapped by the visiting keeper into his own net to put us 1 – 0 in front after 9 mins and on 24 mins Hatt’s 25 yard shot was deflected in for a 2 – 0 lead. On 33 mins Sittingbourne pulled one back when Perry Holland’s attempt to clear sliced into his own net, and from that point the youngsters from Sittingbourne found the confidence they needed to pour into attack. On 40 mins Hatt’s far post corner was headed wide by debutant Mat Duran and on 42 mins the visitors hit the post following a poor goal kick from keeper Danny Murley. The second half was fairly even but we squandered a number of good chances with poor final balls into the box or bad shooting skills. At the other end Murley made 2 excellent saves before being beaten by a 35 yard wonder strike by the Sittingbourne right back to score the equaliser. A series of substitutions over the next 10 mins saw Danny Major, Dave Joyes, and Dave Lee replace Mat Duran, Frankie Cole and Perry Holland and saw us assert more control in midfield, which resulted in a Chris Hatt shot into the side netting and Joel Hughes shooting wide when well placed. The winner came on 89 mins when Lee Roots’ cross from the right was crashed home with a 15 yard volley into the top corner by man of the match Chris Hatt.

“We played well in patches but I was very disappointed that our very experienced side didn’t do better against a very young side that had been thrashed in their previous outings. We probably should have won this game by 4 clear goals and should most definitely have had the game killed off by half time”

Team : Murley, Roots, Matthews, Holland (Lee), Elliott, Duran (Major), Perks, Cole (Joyes), Hughes, West, Hatt

Clive Edwards

Folkstone Invicta Res 0-4 Holmesdale Res

League Cup Round 1

Our first cup match of the season was literally a “game of two halves”.

The first half saw end-to-end play with us creating good chances but also giving Invicta too much space to run at our defence.

Sean Brown attacked from midfield and had shots blocked or blazed over, when perhaps composure would have found the net. Jon Stocks had a left foot shot well saved and following a threaded pass from Jamie Baker saw his strike finger-tipped around the post. Ross Mitchell’s long clearance evaded the home defence but Jamie Baker was at full-stretch to get a shot in and the ball went high and wide.

At the other end Martin Perks cleared off the line, Perry Holland made one excellent last ditch tackle after defensive confusion and Ross Mitchell excelled with a near post save.

The second half was altogether different with the Dale in control for long periods. We went into the lead on 47 mins when Skeets put Luke Greenslade through and his half-cleared cross was converted by Jamie Baker from 10 yards. Invicta came back briefly and forced Mitchell into 3 fine saves in the space of 3 or 4 mins but on 60 mins the unexpected happened – from a 30 yard free kick Holland passed to Baker who squared the ball for Jon Stocks to strike home from 10 yards for his first competitive goal for the Dale. Yes, we scored from a rehearsed free kick !!

3 mins later Jamie Baker scored his second following a free flowing movement involving Perks, Greenslade, Brown, West and Stocks to put us 3 – 0 up and bring about a triple substitution. Baker, Brown and Roots were replaced by Warren, Chick and Major with 25 mins remaining.

Danny Major made a good impression in midfield, as did Ben Chick who scored the 4^th goal in 89^th minute with a far post tap in following a mazy run and cross from West.

“We got off to a bit of a slow start but I was very happy with the second half performance. The lads deserve a good pat on the back for the improvement from the week before and I hope we can keep it going in the same direction.

Team : Mitchell, Roots (Warren), Perks, Holland, Elliott, Joyes, West, Baker (Major), Stocks, Brown (Chick), Greenslade. McPherson and Lee not used

Clive Edwards

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