Saturday 23rd February 2008
Kent League Premier Division
VCD Athletic 1-1 Holmesdale
Attendance: 128
Scorers:
VCD: Sinden (95)
Holmesdale: Williams (16)
After successive draws against Slade Green and Deal Town
respectively we travelled to the home of VCD with spirits high. As good a result as it was away to Deal the week before, this
was sure to be an altogether different test against probably the favourites for the league title.
This was our first visit to VCD and upon arrival the ground didn’t disappoint. The pitch was in
excellent condition and the surroundings would not be out of place at the level above, VCD are obviously hoping that this
is where they will be next season.
With the team depleted through the sad loss of Whippet due to bereavement, Capt Junior still struggling
with his groin, Danny Bennett injured the previous week and Readie in the warm up, due to illness; we knew that only an effort
not seen all season would be required to get any sort of result.
On a brighter note we were able to field three new signings, Michael Williams, AJ Morrison and Paul
Gribbadans as well as welcoming back Macca from his travels via Merstham and the USA.
We noticed on the VCD team sheet that the prolific Huggins was not in the starting line up and wondered
if we might have been taken a little lightly by the opposition, probably not surprising looking at our league position. This
however gave us a little lift prior to kick off, and with the feelings running high in relation to Whippet, the lads took
to the field with a steely determination to prove everyone wrong.
It was obvious from the start that Holmesdale had not read the script and were competing for every ball,
winning most of them. Creasey and Williams were causing problems to the VCD back line and it was VCD who appeared to be on
the back foot in the early exchanges. After 16 minutes Holmesdale were awarded a corner after more good play in the VCD last
third.
A good delivery was supplied by Mr reliable Jon White, with the ball falling to the feet of new signing
Williams about 6 yards out. He set the ball up beautifully with his first touch and gleefully smashed it into the net with
his second. 1-0 Holmesdale, surely not. The lead was thoroughly deserved but would we now feel the full force of a VCD backlash?
The answer to that was no. Holmesdale continued to take the game to VCD who were struggling to contain
the competitive midfield and free running forwards, when they did put us under pressure they found their way blocked by the
imperious Bushell, Broome and Nicoli. Holmesdale held their lead to half time without ever being unduly troubled but knowing
that a 2nd half onslaught was almost inevitable.
Half time brought the normal rallying cries from both dressing rooms, but we knew that if we showed
the same concentration and discipline, along with 100% effort and commitment, a shock could well be on the cards.
The second half started with VCD applying plenty of pressure but the Holmesdale defence were manfully
holding firm. There were a few scares but no clear cut chances. We were counter attacking well but one or two of the Holmesdale
players were now finding it a little hard going after working so hard to close down the opposition. After about 60 minutes VCD made a double substitution in an effort to get back into the game, Huggins being
one of the changes.
The game was now a fairly even affair and after soaking up the initial pressure Holmesdale started to
get back into the game. O’rourke and Macca were making inroads down each flank and the midfield were finding more space
and moving the ball well. It was from a flowing move down the right flank that Creasey had the chance to win the game for
Holmesdale. Macca went past his man with ease and cut the ball back and across the 6 yard box to Creasey who couldn’t
quite manage to put the ball beyond the giant VCD Keeper.
This was a chance we were going to regret not taking. After 70 minutes Williams was replaced by AJ after
running himself into the ground. Shortly after that Hope came on for the injured White. VCD were throwing the proverbial kitchen
sink and their Player Manager/centre half, Paul Foley became a centre forward in an attempt to rescue something from the game.
Try as they might and in no small part due to the defensive heroics of the back four it seemed that Holmesdale would come
away with a famous victory. That was until the 95th minute, when VCD were awarded a corner.
A great delivery was met at the back post by Sinden who headed the ball in for the VCD equaliser. The
referee added a further 3 minutes and in that time both teams had a chance each to win the game outright.
One all it stayed and if that had been offered to Holmesdale before the game we would have happily taken
it. It is perhaps a measure of the performance that in the end we were extremely disappointed to only come away with a draw.
In hindsight and after the emotions had died down it was a truly great effort from the Holmesdale players,
and one that they can all be proud of.
As all the lads said after the game “That one was for Whippet” His Mum would surely have
enjoyed watching that from upstairs.
Holmesdale: Gibbs, Broome, Bushell, Nicoli, Gribbadens, White (Hope), Simon, MacDiarmid, Creasy, Williams
(Morrison), O’Rourke. – Not used: Bedford, Prime
