Holmesdale 4-0 Faversham Town

Attendance: 63

Scorers:

Holmesdale: Creasey (31, 59 & 70) Broome (40)

Faversham Town:

The Dalers played hosts to Faversham with a bit of a score to settle after two matches earlier in the season with nothing going for the rookies. The now infamous flood light fiasco and a two nil defeat after having most of the game. The Lilywhites have been having an excellent run themselves with the Easter Monday game giving them the chance of 4 wins in a row. The Dalers were coming off the back off a superb win away to Greenwich Borough and so something had to give. The visitors started much the brighter and in fact they have a chance after just two minutes, hesitation at the back saw an opening for Hodges and Harwood made a save with his feet. The Dalers were not quick out of the blocks and the confidence of the opposition showed although they could not quite play their way through Holmesdale. Slowly The Dalers started to get into the game and certainly on the break they looked most likely to create something, especially with a right hand side with pace to spare. Dadson and O’Rourke would give any defence trouble.

In truth the two goals before half time were against the run of play however the home side certainly made the best of the few chances in the first half. On 30mins Skipper Creasy had a chance saved by Faversham keeper Hudson. The next attack lead to the visitors failing to clear and Hudson’s second save of the game, which he could not hold saw Creasy pounce, to put the Dalers one up. Only a few moments later the bitter sweet theme to the season seemed to be continuing with Dadson laid out with a suspected torn hamstring. Hughes was introduced and the team pushed on and forced a corner. The delivery was excellent and Broome got there first to head home, with a little assist from Read. A secure lead at the break all be it slightly flattering.

In the second half the Dalers raised their game and were clearly the better side. A double substitution by the Lilywhites gave them a little burst but they could not keep the ball on what was becoming a tricky pitch. The Dalers were now really in control and this was reflected in the chances being created. MacDiarmid (Macca) was breaking down the right and had a determination to succeed. After a sequence of passes a chance to cross was missed by Macca although to be fair the ball hit a divot which affected the final ball. Moments later he took on the full back again and whipped in a sensational ball on the run. He made it just before the bye line and there were several yellow and green shirts breaking, the skipper was the first into the box and he got across his man to head home from the edge of the six yard box, a quality finish.

The points were already secured when the onslaught continued down the left. A couple of half chances were missed a Creasy was on the prowl for a hatrick. He broke through the defensive line to be in on goal. There was support coming down the right and he failed to pick out Hughes’ run and the keeper made a smart stop. In the final half hour there were chances for Morrision, from the edge of the box, Hughes and Creasy from the six yard line and even Read from a corner. You could say another goal was coming. And sure enough it did. Morrision opened his legs down the left and had the picked out Creasy, who made the finish look easy, a sign of a player on form and a well deserved hatrick.

This finished off a well earned win and a fantastic 6 point weekend for Holmesdale. The run in typically throwing a very difficult fixture up next as joint favs and title contenders Hythe are the next visitors to Oakley road. With a season record 318 watching their last match there could be a terrific atmosphere on Sat 29^th March. Both managers are relishing the challenge after producing an excellent Easter and restoring more than some pride after a local rag described the Dalers as, “The whipping boys of the Kent Premier”, 9^th in the form table 2 wins, 2 draws and two narrow defeats, 1-0 & 2-1 in the last 6 says otherwise.

Here’s to an exciting end to the 2007/08 campaign.

Managers quotes 24^th March 2008.

K. Thurgood. “I wish every weekend was Easter”

T. Beckingham. “It’s a shame the league didn’t start this week”

Holmesdale: Harwood, O’Rourke, Hardie (Matthews), Nicoli, Broome, Reade, Dadson (Hughes), Hart, Creasey, MacDiarmid, Morrison (Lloyd-Bennett) Unused: Prime