Hythe Town 1-1 Holmesdale - Stalemate leaves door open for Vickers

Saturday 18th April 2009

HYTHE TOWN 1-1 HOLMESDALE

Bulmers Cider Kent League
Saturday 18^th April 2009
Peter Guise reports from Reachfields Stadium

A draw was not what either would have plumped for but a draw is what they got after neither could capitalise on a plethora of second half errors that led to spurned chances at either end. It was probably Hythe’s toughest challenge of the season. Third placed Holmesdale came to Reachfields still with a chance of winning the Kent League title themselves and at the end of a week in which Hythe Town had already lost to fellow title chasers VCD Athletic.

Paul Fisk made four changes to the Hythe side that lost against VCD, taking the bold step of switching Pat Kingwell from defence to attack in place of Mo Takaloo, John Walker replaced the suspended Tom Adlington at right back, whilst Gavin Ransley and Liam Whiting also made the starting eleven.

Billy Hughes made three changes to the Holmsedale side that drew at Herne Bay, bringing in Russell Bedford, Steve White and Ben Chick.

Mickelborough and Southen both went close for Hythe before Holmesdale opened the scoring with their first serious attack of the afternoon.

Thompson swung Holmesdale’s first corner of the match across the six yard area eluding everyone, eventually falling to Frank Bunani at the far post who poked home from just two yards out with 12 minutes on the clock.

The lead lasted just six minutes. Lee Winfield swivelled in the penalty area to volley home Hythe’s equaliser.

Holmesdale suffered a bitter blow on the half hour mark when keeper Danny Harwood fell awkwardly and had to be stretchered from the field of play.

With no substitute goalie on the bench, Jason Thompson donned the gloves and Daniel Westerman came on to fill the outfield gap.

Dalers' boss Hughes later confirmed that Harwood had not suffered any lasting injury.

But Hythe failed to test Thompson in the remainder of the first half and it might even have been Holmesdale who turned round in front after Steve White turned his defender in the Hythe penalty area but shot straight at Paul Hyde.

The second half saw a catalogue of missed chances and unforced errors. Skelton hoofed over for Hythe from six yards three minutes after the re-start.

Guiver headed wide on 59, his header too glancing to achieve direction.

Mickelborough chipped wide on 68 and second half substitute Mo Takaloo failed to turn in a twice deflected free kick two minutes later.

Holmesdale’s list of chances included Ben Chick’s wide effort on 56 and 18 goal Joel Greaves poking wide on 76.

In between, White took the ball round Hyde but the experienced goalkeeper managed to force the veteran wide enough not to be able to get a clean shot on goal.

Neither Hythe nor Holmesdale now have a realistic say in the destiny of the Kent League Premier Division title and all eyes now turn to Oakwood where VCD Athletic take on Deal Town on Wednesday night.

A win for the Vickers in that game will all but seal promotion to the Ryman League for Paul Foley’s side.

Hythe Town: Paul Hyde, John Walker, Mark Bond, Gavin Ransley, Roy Guiver, Dale Skelton, Craig Southen (Mo Takaloo 66), Liam Whiting (Ben Sly 57), Gary Mickelborough (Michael Smissen 83), Pat Kingwell, Lee Winfield.
Subs: Nick Shaw, Darren Walmseley.

Goal: Lee Winfield 18

Booked: Mark Bond 60, John Walker 90

Holmesdale: Danny Harwood (Daniel Westerman 30), Russell Bedford (Matt Dean 86), Christos Nicoli, John Maloney, Frank Bunani, Paul Springett, Steve White, Paul Semakula, Joel Greaves, Jason Thompson, Ben Chick.
Subs: Chris Hatt, Tom McQuade, Lonie Dean.

Goal: Frank Bunani 12

Booked: Jason Thompson 69