Holmesdale 3-3 Beckenham Town

Attendance: 88

Scorers:

Holmesdale: MacDiarmid (49) Broome (86) Strotten (90)

Beckenham Town: Fairweather-Jones 57, Healey (63), Piper (73)

Holmesdale (The Dalers) had a local derby against arguably the best footballing side in the Kent League Premier, Beckenham Town. The visitors had their sights set firmly on 3 points and going top of the league, where as the rookies would have been looking to give a better account of themselves than the last encounter between the teams. A now familiar early start saw the game commence in very cold conditions.

The game from the off could have taken the crowd’s mind off the temperate as a very open contest saw the teams try and pass their way through midfield and defence. Beckenham wasted no time in showing their intention of pass and move play and forced a couple of earlier saves from Mitchell.

They were limited to shots from outside the box though and failed to penetrate all the way in the final third. The Dalers had fewer opportunities but from them look almost as likely to score, not testing Lewington (Becks keeper) as much but more than holding their own. As the half progress Beckenham started to dominate the game, most of their play was through striker Healy, who was a little fortunate to be on the pitch after a forwards challenge on Nicoli. He left the ground, did not get the ball and was shown a yellow card. He was dropping deep and most of the play was through him. A goal looked likely however they hit the cross bar twice in the space of a few minutes, again both efforts were outside the box. The Dalers the more relieved at the half time break.

Holmesdale started the second half the brighter and had the audacity to take the game to The Reds. Beckenham might have still been in the dressing room as a swift attack saw a low cross tapped in a close range by Danny MacDiarmid. 49minutes

The game was frantic now and the visitors were rallying and probably wondering how they were behind. They committed even more bodies forward and young midfielder Fair-weather Johnson struck a low shot passed Mitchell after two or three attempts to clear failed. In truth the goal was coming and the home side were camped in there half for a spell.

The best chance for the Dalers in this period came from a set piece. The header from Broome was cleared off the line and the game would swing again but in favour of the visitors. They were still trying to pass the ball through and a ball delivered from the right was again only half cleared.

In the first half he made a questionable challenge however in a flash he showed his class. As the ball looped up with his back to goal Healy hit an over head kick which left Mitchell and the defence static as it found the top corner. 2-1 63minutes

The home side were shell shocked and now chasing the game. Beckenham kept their grip on the play and another ball from the right hand side saw Piper arrive unchallenged at the far post. He had a free header and at 3-1 the home supporters feared the worse. The following events certainly told a story of why we all love the game so much.

The reds had brought some supporters and they had sat in the corner of the stand and they were almost cheering every pass Beckenham made. As two substitutions were made they stood up and applauded their players off the field. All following the yellow and greens were not to be heard.

The players and bench of the Dalers decided they were not finished, and was it inspired play or did the challengers for the title take their eye off the ball.

After continuing to chase the game The Dalers forced a corner, the deep delivery saw Broome rise highest and this time he hit the back of the net. A well worked goal and at 3-2 this probably reflected the game more that a two goal lead for Beckenham Town.

Holmesdale themselves had made a sub and young Steve Strotten came on in a final throw of the dice. The bench had also given Broome instructions to play as a third striker for the final few minutes of the match.

Beckenham had their result surely and all three points. With just seconds to go a long clearance from Mitchell was flicked on by Broome. In a flash it fell to the feet of Strotten.

Without looking, he struck the ball home from thirty yards, lobbing the keeper with a magnificent finish. A cheer went up for the home supporters on a staggering come back.

A superb game with a thrilling ending and a point that felt like a win.

Holmesdale: Mitchell, Read, White, Nicoli, Tolfrey Jnr (C), Broome, Greenslade (Baker), Hughes (O’Rourke), MacDiarmid, Creasy (Strotten), Hatt. Unused (Prime)