Holmesdale 1-5 Beckenham Town

Attendance 68

Scorers:

Holmesdale: Broome (18)

Beckenham Town: Piper (47, 63, 77) Thompson (51) Cable (61)

Holmesdale (The Dalers) faced another tuff encounter against Beckenham Town in this seasons Kent League Cup (Group D). The fixtures, played home and away, meant the second of at least four meetings the sides will have during the 2007/08 campaign.

The first was quite a tight cagey affair (away) 2-1 to Beckenham was seen as a disappointing result for the debutants, given how close they came to claiming some points. This game certainly differed from that as The Dalers looked to try and go one better and take something from the contest.

The start of the game saw promising openings from both sides and Dale just edging the first quarter of the game. Dale had their second corner of the match and a deep curling delivery from Chris Hatt met the forehead of returning Centre Half Gareth Broome and the home side took the lead.

Beckenham continued to try and pass they way through The Dalers and were limited to shots from outside the box. When pressing forward they did edge the half over all and look the more likely to score. The home team looked quite sharp on the break with James Dadson having a couple of half chances played in by Dave Joyes and Chris Hatt. Not taking one of these was always likely to be costly however further injuries where to affect the start of second half for Holmesdale. Both sides left the field with plenty to ponder, Dale with the slender lead and Beckenham with nothing to show for their procession.

The second half saw the visitors start much the brighter and they quickly took complete control of the match. Dave Joyes was forced to withdraw with an injury and although The Dalers where able to create another chance, Hatt snatching at a shot when he had more time than he realised, that was as good as the second half would get. The following events made the old adage of ‘A game of two halves’ so true. The side were adjusting to the half time change when Beckenham’s bright passing play started to bare fruit. The home side still in the dressing room themselves before they new they had conceded a free kick on the edge of their own 18 yard line.

Piper, Beckenham’s no. 7 stepped up and calmly dispatched the free kick, just like another famous no. 7, into the corner of the net leaving a static wall and keeper just watching.

Consolidation was needed and unfortunately it was absent on literally the next attack regular goal scorer Ross cable tucked away Beckenham’s second goal making his edge of the box finish look easy. He was set up by Joe Healey and drove the ball into the bottom corner from an angle. 51minutes the reds had come back and were now on fire. Before the home side could get to grips with the turn around they were struggling to get any possession off the visitors.

The third, on 61 minutes was a terrific passing move. The visitors had almost total control of the ball. It was double figures in passes and speaking of total football did those red shirts turn orange? A move of over 10 passes finished with an overlapping run wide down their right flank. The driven low cross was stepped over by one of the front two and left midfielder, Thompson arrived late and finished off a gem of a goal.

An appreciation for such play was difficult for the home side to take but would have been pleasing on the eye to travelling supporters and neutrals. The devastating blow was still to follow as the pick of Holmesdale’s players so far this season was to be hit with one of the most serious injuries a player can face.

After a strong challenge James Dadson (aka Whippet) struggled of the pitch trying to stay on his feet and complaining of a sharp pain. As he collapsed at the side of the field concern grew as even the opposing physio noticed his leg was not right!

The players later were to discover that he had broken his Fibula bone! No one wishes that on a player and all concerned passed on their best to James as he recovers. He was taken to a local hospital by ambulance during the match.

All other matters now seen almost academic however the heavy defeat was fortunately in a competition that the debutants have another chance in.

Piper had possibly the game of his life and finished of a rare hat trick with two further strikes on 63 & 76 minutes.

Holmesdale:

Mitchell, Tolfrey (c), Nicoli, Broome, Hill, O’Rourke, Joyes (White), Dadson (Irvine), Hatt (Steadman), MacDiarmid, Hughes :Unused: Prime.