Holmesdale 1-1 Slade Green

Attendance:68

Scorers:

Holmesdale: Creasy (19)

Slade Green: Johnson (60)

The Dalers played host to a much changed Slade Green side from their last meeting, on what was a bright February afternoon. The players started brightly too and appeared up for it in what was another crucial fixture. The start disrupted immediately by a setback though with Daniel Lloyd-Bennett, making his debut having to be substituted after only five minutes.

A quick midfield reshuffle and the home side again tried to get the ball down and play. The visitors found themselves on the back foot with Hughes, down the left and O’Rourke on the right looking threatening. The two ‘Greens’ full backs were being asked questions and the only answer was eventually to start doubling up on Hughes in particular. On 17mins Broome came deep to win the ball and turned to play in O’Rourke. Had his first touch not been so heavy he might have taken a goal scoring chance. He could only force a corner.

After another attack the old Hughes Creasy combination left the centre forward with his back to goal inside the box. Tom spun his marker and fired a low shot early across the keeper. 1-0 19 minutes.

The home side deserved their lead and had in truth miss a few half chances to go two ahead. The visitors dug in and started to have some more influence in the game without really testing Gibbs. 1-0 at Half time.

In the second half The Greens had more possession the fought their way back into the game. It became a scrappy tense match with neither side being able to sustain any quality and keep the ball. The Dalers were still trying to break down the flanks and had committed to many players forward. Greens skipper Johnson was to have a real impact in this half. When his team won possession on the right a delivery in to the box saw a three on one situation. He was free towards the far post and he struck the ball low and Gibbs got a hand to it only to see the ball trickle over the line. 1-1 60mins.

They had their tails up and had battled well in midfield. The Dalers now just could not protect the ball at all and after another cross from the right Johnson arrived in the box to head the cross onto the cross bar. The next major incident saw a harsh red card for the Greens Captain. He attacked the ball in the middle of the park and supporters and the bench were up in protest as his high foot only connected with Whites chest. The ref deeming is dangerous play and a straight red was produced.

With just over ten minutes to play The Dalers pressed and tried to get all three points. They could not quite get back the form of the first half with the exception of Macca (MacDiarmid) on the right. He had broken through and put in a couple of crosses. With less than two minutes left get beat his man enough to fire in a terrific low cross. Creasy failed to connect by inches and another agonising moment for the fans. With a much better performance than recent home matches it was two points lost for the home side.

1-1 90mins.

Holmesdale: Gibbs, Read, Bushell, Nicoli, Tolfrey, Hughes, Lloyd-Bennett (White), Simon (MacDiarmid), Creasy, Broome, O’Rourke. – Not used: Dadson, Prime