Deal Town 1-1 Holmesdale

Attendance: 121

Scorers:

Deal Town: Godden (46)

Holmesdale: Broome (35)

Holmesdale made the long trip down to Deal knowing that a good performance was the only way that they would be able to come away with anything resembling a result, against a physically strong and well organised side.

The pitch was in good condition and the weather was set fair to encourage players to keep the ball on the floor and try to play football as it was intended.

During the warm up Holmesdale lost their Captain Ray Tolfrey to a persistent groin problem and had to re-shuffle the side to accommodate the loss.

Deal started the match strongly as you would expect as Holmesdale took a while to get to grips with the organisational change due to the withdrawal of their Captain. Deal were hitting their two strikers as early as possible with direct balls and putting the Holmesdale defence under pressure.

Although on the back foot Holmesdale were defending resolutely and limited Deal to no more than a couple of half chances early on. As the game got into its stride Holmesdale started to look more comfortable and began to gain and retain possession, looking to get the ball out to the flanks at every opportunity.

The front two of Creasey and Broome were also doing an excellent job of keeping the ball in the last third enabling Holmesdale to put a bit of pressure on the strong Deal defence. Scoring opportunities were at a premium but both sides created one or two decent opportunities which neither was able to convert into goals.

The best chance for Holmesdale fell to Creasey from a set piece but he was unable to keep his header down and the chance went begging. Deal lost two players in the first half due to injuries but their game plan never changed and they continued to apply pressure with the long ball. The first half ended goalless with neither side really able to dominate the other.

Holmesdale were forced into a change of their own at half time when the unfortunate Danny ‘Gordon’ Bennett was replaced by Dave Crofts, after coming off second best in a wholehearted challenge.

After only 1 minute of the re-start Deal took the lead after Holmesdale failed to clear their lines, the ball eventually slicing of a defender’s foot straight to Deal Town’s Godden, who calmly slotted the ball into the opposite bottom corner of the goal.

At this point you feared for Holmesdale, this fear however was unfounded as they did not let the goal affect them and continued to compete and look for an equaliser. Deal were struggling to cope with the pace of Dadson and O’Rourke which was putting them under pressure as well as the midfield battling for every ball.

Holmesdale drew level on the hour after conceding a throw in the last third just by their penalty area. Bushell despatched a long throw which was met by Broome’s head and the ball found its way into the bottom corner, 1-1 and thoroughly deserved.

The game was now an even contest and both sides went for the win but without being able to find that elusive 2^nd goal.

Dadson was replaced by Payne in a last throw of the dice by Holmesdale and he worked tirelessly for the cause.

Creasey so nearly won the game in the 90^th minute when presented with an opportunity with the goalkeeper to beat but it took a good save to deny him. The game finished with the scores level and Holmesdale had earned themselves a hard fought point which was thoroughly deserved.

There was a determination amongst the players on Saturday that has been missing at times this season, but if they carry on competing like this then an improvement in fortune will surely come.

HOLMESDALE: Gibbs, Nicoli, Bushell, O’Rourke, Dadson (Payne), Bennett (Crofts), Simon, White, Reade, Creasey, Broome (1). Unused: Tolfrey, Prime