There is a long way to go in the season, there is a lot of hard work and challenges to come and the players have been excellent right from the first day of the season, says Holmesdale boss Lee Roots

HOLMESDALE manager Lee Roots says his side must not underestimate struggling Meridian VP on Wednesday night.

The Bromley based outfit are presently sitting in fourth-place in the Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League First Division table with 42 points from their 19 league games.

Roots’ men came away from Kennington with a 1-1 draw at Homelands Stadium at the weekend, despite playing with 10 men for 44 minutes after goalscorer Nathan Palmer was sent-off.

Rusthall leapfrogged over Kennington to reach the summit after Jimmy Anderson’s men came away from Lewisham Borough with a 3-0 win at the weekend.

Rusthall are a point clear of Kennington, who slipped up against Holmesdale, while Rochester United are in third-place in the table with 44 points, while Holmesdale have three points in hand on all of the three sides above them.

“Saturday was a truly excellent team collective performance against Kennington, where not many sides would have held them as robustly as we did throughout the game, especially with 10 men and we were unlucky at the end to not nick all of the points,” said Roots.

“We showed fantastic character needed at this stage in the season and banked a very important point.”

Holmesdale welcome bottom-four side Meridian VP to Oakley Road on Wednesday night.

The Charlton-based side have banked 17 points from their 21 league outings but have been thrashed in their last two home games.

They lost 8-0 to Greenways at the weekend and suffered a 7-0 defeat to Kennington seven days earlier.

“As we move into the business end stage of a season, league tables do not lie and the players and staff all deserve full credit for the work and the return they have delivered so far,” said Roots.

“What’s very pleasing is our defensive record, conceding just 11 league goals in 19 games, collecting 10 clean sheets along the way, which has taken to the third-best Step-Six defence in the whole of the country, something we have worked very hard on.

“We have lost just one league game so far this season and remain unbeaten away from home in all competitions.

“There is a long way to go in the season, there is a lot of hard work and challenges to come and the players have been excellent right from the first day of the season.

“They are fully prepared and aware of the tasks ahead.  Consistency and application and adaptability takes the forefront as we move into the final stages of a season.

“Meridian have struggled, again, in the league this season but are on track to finish higher than their bottom place finish of last season.

“They have picked up some really good results in their cup runs along the way this season and have also recently announced some new signings, which will always bring a new energy into their ranks.

“You must underestimate no one, we respect and prepare fully for every single opposition we face and we have prepared well for our opponents and we now focus on us and ourselves only.

“The players, staff and everyone at the club are working extremely hard this season and I would also like to thank the great selection of fans we have had this season that have followed us to home and away games.  Their support has been fantastic and we hope it continues as we move into the last quarter of the season.”

Holmesdale  v  Meridian VP
Sea Pioneer Southern Counties East Football League First Division
Wednesday 12 February 2020
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HG