Hollands & Blair 2-2 Snodland Town - If you would've said that a few months ago would we take third now? I think everyone would be biting your arm off, says Snodland Town joint-manager Luke Jessup

Hollands & Blair 2 – 2 Snodland Town
Location	Star Meadow, Darland Avenue, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3AN
Kickoff	05/10/2025 15:00

HOLLANDS & BLAIR  2-2  SNODLAND TOWN
Presence & Co Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Sunday 5 October 2025
Stephen McCartney reports from Darland Avenue

SNODLAND TOWN joint-manager Luke Jessup says his side have got to be more ruthless in front of goal after dropping a couple of points in a Medway scrap at Darland Avenue.

Snodland Town climbed up four places into third n the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 21 points (six wins, three draws and four defeats) and have extended their unbeaten run to seven in all competitions.

Hollands & Blair remain in the bottom four, having picked up 10 points (three wins and a draw) from as many games and creativity is still lacking for Darren Blackman’s side, as Blair have only scored 11 League goals this season and have now extended their winless run to seven games (in all competitions) but ended a miserable run of six straight defeats.

Hollands & Blair scored twice from only four shots on target, while Snodland had six on target on a windy day in Gillingham.

Kane Rowland took out all of his frustration on a controversial penalty decision to give Hollands & Blair the lead with their first shot on target.

However, Snodland Town winger Emmanuel Shoderu scored the goal of the season, curling in a sublime 30-yarder to restore parity just 205 seconds later.

Hollands & Blair grabbed the lead – against the run of play – through centre-half Ollie Gray before Snodland Town equalised through substitute centre-half Paul Lee volleying in with his first touch of the game at the death.

“Not hard done by but I’d like to think the neutral saw that as we made a lot of the running, we made a lot of chances, had the better chances,” said Jussup.

“I thought we played a bit of better football, I would say, conceded two set-pieces really, a penalty and a corner or whatever it come from but in generally, I suppose a point if fair.

“But I think the neutral says we’re probably the better team there. I certainly felt that we had more of the running, more of the positivity, I think we were the brighter side.

“I thought first half we were a little bit flat, not quite at it, not where we wanted to be. We still had chances. I don’t think Blair had too much in it. We had plenty of chances to win that game and comfortably.”

With Hollands & Blair manager Darren Blackburn away through family commitments, coach Ian Draycott was in charge of team affairs, while Mark Lane (who formed part of Scott Porter’s management team at Lordswood) came in on Thursday night and undertook post-match press conference duties.

“At the end of the day, we thought it was a positive result for us,” said Lane.

“We were very disappointed and a bit frustrated to let a goal in towards the end. I think that’s been the story of their last five or six games, for whatever reason, the team’s not been playing well but I thought today they put in a performance today and we did relatively well as there at the top end of the table and we’re at the bottom, so I thought we did well as a team today.

“You take a positive out of this but you’ve got a point out of it. I’m disappointed that we didn’t win but that’s football.

“I had a meeting with Darren on Thursday, he outlined his plans of what he wants to do and I think you’ve got to start somewhere. Like I say, a point’s a point, you take that and you move on.”

Snodland Town will come under criticism from family, The Football Association and medical professionals after failing to adhere to The Football Association’s Concussion Guidelines.

James Tedorescu went down and suffered concussion literally between the first 10-20 seconds of the game kicking-off (received treatment on the pitch for less than two minutes) and carried on playing until 20 minutes and 7 seconds before he was replaced by Tyler Jackson-Hunt.

These guidelines state that “at all levels of football, if a player is suspected of having concussion, they must be immediately removed from the pitch, whether in training or match play.”

When asked about the condition of the left-back, Jessup said: “Impossible to say without being a brain surgeon but the early indications are it could be a bit of concussion but he’s not in the greatest of shakes. A bit of double vision, feels a bit sick. All the usual issues associated with a bit of concussion.”

“James will probably be out for a while, I’d say a week or so, a week or two. He’ll be assessed in the week.”

This website hopes the player was taken to hospital and assessed by medical professionals, as per FA guidelines and will be left on the sidelines until he has fully recovered before reporting back to training, let alone playing. 

The guidance bans Tedorescu from playing in games for 21 days but can only report back to training after 14 days but only if all the concussion symptoms have cleared up and he is checked out by a medical professional.

Hollands & Blair winger, Muhammed Cham, squandered a glorious chance to score just 171 seconds into his debut.

James Jeffrey hit a long left-footed ball from inside his own half over the top of last defender Liam Parle to put Cham through on goal but he lacked composure and lashed his right-footed shot over the crossbar when he only had Justin Lee to beat.

“That’s another chance. Normally, it’s us getting down in the first four or five minutes and that’s what’s been happening in the past,” said Lane.

“He’s got in and he’s got himself in a good position Mo and as you said, lacked composure and blazed it over the bar from sort of 10-15 yards.”

Snodland Town full-back Kaylam Burgess (who started at right-back before switching to left-back once Tedorescu was finally substituted), put in numerous crosses into the Hollands & Blair box.

Zak Loveridge rolled the ball back to Burgess in the seventh minute and his deep cross was knocked down by four-goal striker Charlie Sheringham and central midfielder Harry Hudson hooked his left-footed volley over the crossbar.

Lane said: “I think that was their game plan. They were trying to get the ball out wide and get deliveries in for Charlie Sheringham, which you would do and Burgess did put some decent balls in but I thought most of the time we defended well.

“I don’t think Dan Ellis has been called in to many times today to make saves. He made a great save with his feet and I don’t think their goalkeeper had a lot to do neither.”

Visiting goalkeeper Paul Lee launched a deep free-kick in behind Hollands & Blair high defensive line and Sheringham got in round the back but steered his header past the near-post.

Hollands & Blair’s attacking midfielder Reece Gillies (who later dropped in a holding midfielder role) hit a long diagonal over to Cham, who brought the ball down but he took too many touches inside the box and Blair’s right-back Harry Linch closed the door shut.

Cham cut the ball back to Joshua Brooker, who lashed his first-time drive over the crossbar from 25-yards, as Hollands & Blair lacked creativity during the entire game.

Hollands & Blair goalkeeper Daniel Ellis made a comfortable low save in the 19^th minute, however.

Tedorescu played the ball along the deck and down the line to winger Nathaniel Olawole, who played a square pass along the floor to Sheringham, who took a touch and stroked a low right-footed drive towards the bottom right-hand corner, which was comfortably saved.

“If we’re to stand here and count the chances, I felt that we’ve had maybe 15 chances in the game, give or take,” said Jessup, whose side created six on target, and five off.

“It felt like there was a good plenty of opportunities there to score and not just half-chances, there’s real good chances there.

“What does Charlie Sheringham give us? He gives us everything. He gives us absolute everything week-in-week-out. I think if you’re going to look player-to-player across the pitch, I think he’s got the most quality, a cool head.

“I don’t think he had too many chances himself but I felt that he’s a very good focal point and the lads are just starting to learn how to play off him and I think if anything we do isolate him a little bit but the early signs are good.”

Linch was Hollands & Blair’s weak link in their back four as he often failed to close down an often high Burgess, who put in numerous crosses into the penalty area.

Olawole and Loveridge linked up well down the left and Burgess put over a cross and there was a controversial penalty decision (33:48) by referee Darren Stock, who ignored the fact that the ball hit the body of Snodland centre-half Parle before striking his left hand just a coupe of yards inside the penalty area.

A clearly frustrated Rowland stepped up and drilled an emphatic right-footed penalty high into the top right-hand corner (Ellis dived low to his left) to give Hollands & Blair the lead, with 34 minutes and 28 seconds on the clock, with his second goal for the club.

Jessup said: “That’s exactly what I say, I completely agree, that’s exactly what we said in the huddle (after the game). I think we all saw it.

“Look, I think nowadays referees and their assistants are very keen to be involved in the game. I felt there, yes it has hit his hand but everything that you described, happened.

“It sort of flicked up off his shin, hit his chest or shoulder and then it’s hit his arm that’s above his head. The letter of the Law, it’s not a penalty and we know that.

“No one stops that (penalty), that was well put away, well put away.”

Lane admitted: “At the end of the day, I’ll take what I’m given. If the ref gives a penalty, who am I to argue?  I mean they give some decisions that I look at sometimes and I don’t agree with but obviously he’s made his decision.

“I don’t think they made too much argument over it at the end so I take what’s given to me.”

Reflecting on Rowland’s finish, Lane said: “Great penalty, finished well. I feel a bit sorry for Kane because I’ve seen Blair play a few times this year and he’s been struggling for service. 

“They (Snodland) got the ball out wide and knocked crosses in as soon as they could. We did that a little bit in the first half and second half but still not as much as I would’ve liked.”

Linch hit a long ball over the top of Snodland centre-half Alfie Powell to play in Rowland down the left-side of the box but his left-footed half-volley went over (36:07).

Snodland Town restored parity with 37 minutes and 53 seconds on the clock with a finish more suitable being the winner in the World Cup Final than the ninth-tier of English football.

The away side counter-attacked and Sheringham was close to the centre circle before he rolled the ball out to Shoderu on the right.

He ran down the line before cutting inside towards the corner of the penalty area before cutting onto his left foot and curling a sublime, outstanding, high-quality, brilliant curler into the top far corner (via the inside of the top of the far post) to score his fourth goal of the season.

“He’s whipped it in. It was excellent. You know what they say, worth the entrance fee alone,” hailed Jessup.

“I think he’s beat two or three people to get there as well and that’s what Manny can do and does do, regularly but fair play to Manny, great goal, well taken.”

Lane’s response was inevitable, adding, “At the end of the day, all you can do is hold your hands up, it was a fantastic strike, right in the top corner.

“If I’m being super-critical, once he started coming across the box on his left foot, I would’ve expected somebody else to come out and try to force the block to stop him shooting but it didn’t happen. 

“You could’ve had three goalkeepers in there and they wouldn’t have saved it!

“I thought our first half (performance) was half-decent today. I’ve only come here this week so I didn’t really know what to expect but I think there’s obviously things to work on and we know that and we’ll have a look at the Veo on Tuesday and do some work on training but overall it was a decent performance.”

The rest of the first half wasn’t very good, however and apart from two excellent finishes, these two local rivals went into the interval on level terms.

Lane said: “Half time was very positive. It was a case of carrying on doing what we’re doing.  We felt the midfield was like a blanket was thrown over four of five players in there.  I felt if we could try and get the ball out wide a little bit more, we’ll get a bit of joy.

“But I think we didn’t really start well in the second half and they did what we wanted to do but we got better as the game went on.

Jessup added: “More of the same but just with an added ingredient of just a little bit more quality and composure at the right time.

“There’s a difference between playing with tempo and playing with quality and I think at times today we just played like half-ar*ed both.

“The quality was just off and the tempo was just a little bit lacking, especially on the first half and we sort of said to the lads, ‘look, just be a little bit sharper, a little bit brighter, carry on what you’re doing and when we do get those opportunities, we’ve got to be a bit more clinical.”

Snodland Town came out with all guns blazing, playing on the front foot and they created their first opening after only 215 seconds.

Shoderu fed Burgess and there was no surprise when the Camberwell resident put over a quality delivery with his left-foot towards the near post and Sheringham (closely marked by Gray) steered his header past the near-post.

Jessup said of the former Fisher and Chatham Town full-back.

“Kaylam’s played out of his skin today. I thought initially when he had Mo Cham up against him, who’s a very lively, bright young lad, I thought he dealt with him well but then his delivery on the outside, it’s not always about delivery against their players. I thought he’s done very well going forward, Kaylam.”

Only Rowland will know if he has made a bad choice in leaving Isthmian League South East Division side Herne Bay to play for a side that leave him isolated up front on his own and no service from wingers Cham or Joe Thomas and even attacking midfielder James Jeffrey went missing for most of this game as Hollands & Blair put in a lacklustre performance.

Lane was asked why Thomas failed to give his side any width on the right, often operating in a right central position and he also failed to help out Linch in defensive duties, which allowed Burgess time and space to put in cross after cross.

“Today, we had to change it around a bit because we were short of numbers in certain areas. That’s not an excuse, that’s just a fact, so we decided to play JT (Thomas) out wide right today and let James Jeffrey play in the 10 role, both connected with Kane Rowland,” explained Lane.

“But you’re right. I mean, sometimes we were trying to say to JT to get outside and just whip balls in but as you say he was coming in sometimes and naturally in the second half we got a little bit tired and I think we had to drag him in to keep the two holding midfield players or the two pivots.”

Snodland Town threatened out wide at the half-way mark when substitute holding midfielder Femi Ogunbiyi slipped the ball in behind Blair left-back Callum Flynn to put in substitute Samuel Naiwo, who cut the ball back from within the right channel to Sheringham, who took a touch before lashing over.

Snodland Town kept knocking on the door and Ellis was called into making a superb double save (24:14).

Naiwo played another ball in from the right into a crowded penalty area and Shoderu’s left-footed shot went through bodies and was hit straight at Ellis, who made the save with his legs.  Ellis then made a brilliant reaction save, getting his big frame down low to his right to deny Hudson with a strong right hand and then Olawole placed his shot past the foot of the near-post.

“I’m not sure how much Dan knew about the one that hit him in the shin. It looked like it’s come through a couple of bodies to get to him,” said Jessup.

“I’ve just spoken to Dan. I thought he was probably their man-of-the-match, him or Kane (Rowland).

“Dan’s a quality player isn’t he, we all know that and I think the neutral would probably say he’s kept them in that game today with the few saves that he’s made.”

Lane, a former goalkeeper at Whitstable Town and others, added: “That’s what Dan’s there for. He’s a goalkeeper, isn’t he? He made a great save with his legs, reaction save and then got down for the next one and that’s all you can ask of your goalkeeper – try to keep the ball out of the net.

“I thought he did well. From there point of view, it’s probably a bad miss but hey-ho, the goalkeeper’s there for a reason and he’s saved it.”

Snodland Town goalkeeper Paul Lee made his only save of the game (26:53), comfortably as it was straight down his throat.

Rowland, Cham and Gillies linked up down the left before the ball was worked into Cham, who cut inside and drilled a right-footed drive towards the roof of the net from 25-yards but the former Glebe goalkeeper stuck up his left hand to push the ball over his crossbar while in the middle of his goal.

Hollands & Blair grabbed the lead, following the second phase of the resulting corner, their fourth of five flag kicks, timed at 27 minutes and 36 seconds on the clock.

Brooker swung the ball in from the right, which was heading towards the top near corner but Lee punched the ball away (high to his left) with a number of bodies challenging him at his near-post.

Brooker recycled the ball back into a similar spot from within the right channel and Gray rose to guide his glancing header into the top right-hand corner to score his first goal of the season.

A disappointed Jessup added: “Literally, what we spoke about at the end, when that ball first came in and we dealt with it. We’ve got to deal with the second ball. We all switched off a little bit and I think the lads’ are fairly open and honest about that, when we had a little bit of a debrief.

“Excellent to get to the first one but it’s desire to get to the second one without losing your man or switching off.  Ollie hasn’t had a lot to do there has he? But well done Ollie.”

When asked how he felt at that time in the game, the Snodland Town joint-manager replied: “Honestly, I just thought it wasn’t going to be our day at that point.  They’ve scored a penalty and a second ball in from a corner there and they haven’t really created a whole lot more.

“We’ve created most of the running and my gut feeling was at that point was we’re going to come up a little bit short today, that’s how I felt.”

Lane added: “I thought Mo did alright. He looked tired second half but he hasn’t played a lot of football recently.

“He’s come down, it’s his first game for us so he doesn’t really know a lot of people or the style of play but I thought he did reasonably well today and he is a decent player.”

Reflecting on the goal, Lane added: “It was a great cross. The first corner was decent and he’s obviously got the recycled ball. He crossed it in and you expect people like Ollie Gray or Kane Rowland to get on the end of them when it’s delivered like that, so fair play to Ollie for getting in there and scoring.

“Ollie just gives us a bit of, he’s a physical player. He gives you a bit of voice and he organises people as well.

“We were getting a little deeper. We needed to push the two midfield players up and we got that through to (centre-halves) Charlie Weston and Ollie Gray and that affected the game a little bit greater.”

Hudson put in another cross into the Blair box and Sheringham steered his free header across the keeper and past the top of the far post but Gray seemed to be winning that dual.

The unmarked Hudson hooked his shot towards goal, which was pushed over the bar by Ellis’ right-hand and Snodland Town struck the near-post from the resulting right-wing corner (33:19).

Shoderu’s deep delivery was met at the back stick by Parle, who cracked his left-footed volley crashing against the upright.

“Look, where we’re quite an attacking sort of team, we get a lot of chances. We do get a lot of set-pieces and corners and it’s something we literally worked on in training on Tuesday just gone,” revealed Jessup.

“We worked on a lot of set-pieces, how we defend them, how we attack them but I thought today there were a few balls that have gone in some really good areas that we haven’t really attacked those balls when we could’ve done better.”

Ellis’ trademark long kick was flicked on by Rowland in the middle and Cham got involved before Thomas sprung into life and swept his right-footed shot towards goal, which was gathered by Justin Lee at the second attempt (39:46).

However, Snodland Town restored parity for the second time with the clock exactly showing 45:00.

Centre-half Paul Lee came on to the pitch (43:30) and somehow found himself inside the Blair penalty area, with a strike that Sheringham and father Teddy would have been proud off.

Vincent Bowman (who came on for Jeffrey to play wide right) had his pocket picked by a hungry Hudson, before Olawole played the ball down the line to Hudson, who put in a left-footed cross into the box and Paul Lee hooked his right-footed volley across the keeper to find the far corner.

Jessup was asked what he said to Paul Lee before he entered the field but admitted fellow joint-manager Fred Dillon said some wise words instead.

“Not a lot, I’m not taking any credit for this one. Fred came up with a pearl of wisdom and said ‘look, let’s roll the dice’ and I’ll take the credit when it’s due but that one is on Fred.

“Ninety seconds? That long? The game’s could’ve been won there, I felt, at that point. We could’ve put that game to bed. I think there was a chance as well after that when we’ve had a ball across the box. I think we’ve got to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal.”

Lane said: “As an ex goalkeeper, it infuriates me at times when full-backs (Linch) don’t get close enough to shut balls down but to be fair to the guy who got around the right-back, he did put in a great cross in and to be fair to him he couldn’t really miss. He had enough power on it, just to steer it in.  You get disappointed but you have to take it on the chin.”

Hollands & Blair almost snatched the victory with the last kick of the game (51:31) but the poor Bowman put over a cross from within the right channel, which sailed over Justin Lee’s left shoulder and bounced onto the top of the crossbar.

“He’s disappointed in there, Vince, to be fair to him because he thought he could’ve done better but he’s done what he’s done in the moment. It hits the bar and the whistle goes for full-time and that’s it.  You take a point and you get on with it and move on,” added Lane.

Jessup added: “It was more of a hopeful chance, it wasn’t clear-cut or anything like that.

“I think on balance, as an overview, we’ve had the run of that game and I do see it as two points dropped.”

Sam Groombridge’s Erith & Belvedere are at the summit with 24 points from 13 games, while in the play-offs are Kevin Stevens’ Bearsted (22 points from 11 games), Snodland Town (21 points from 11 games), Tony Reid’s Larkfield & New Hythe (20 points from 11 games) and Kennington (20 points from 12 games).

Stansfeld (three points from nine games) and Chislehurst Glebe (three points from 11 games) are trapped in the relegation zone, with Corinthian (six points from 11 games) and Hollands & Blair (10 points from 10 games), Hythe Town (10 points from 12 games) and Faversham Strike Force (11 points from 10 games) currently safe.

Hollands & Blair are next in action on Saturday 18 October with a home tie against First Division side Lydd Town in the Challenge Cup Second Round.

“It’s very difficult for me to say about the League position because I don’t know what’s gone on before and I’ve only come here on Thursday but you don’t want to be in the bottom four, you don’t want to be in the bottom three,” admitted Lane.

“But all we can do now is work as a management team and get it right and see what we need to do and change things.

“We played against Lydd when we was managing Lordswood (under Porter) and they’re a young side. They get around the pitch, a lot of young kids and they’ll give us a game. It will be a tough game and they’ll enjoy coming up here and playing, I’m sure.

“I’m actually banned for that game, I have a stadium ban for two weeks starting tomorrow, so I’ll give them my points on Lydd and what I know about them but I’m sure Darren knows anyhow what he’s going to get and they won’t come here and lie down, they’ll enjoy it here, they’ll have a go, I’m sure they will.

“I think Draycs is going to ring Darren up later on. We’ve just had a chat in there and we’re very positive and I think we’ve got to be glad that we’ve got a point and I’m sure Darren will be glad.

“We’ve got training on Tuesday so we’ll work on the pitch, have a look at the veo and see where we need to improve.”

Snodland Town, meanwhile, travel to Whitstable to take on Faversham Strike Force in the Kent Senior Trophy on Saturday 11 October.

“We’ll take third. There’s things we speak about, you try to motivate players and get them to understand the situation that you’re in. Look, third. If you would’ve said that a few months ago, would we take third now? I think everyone would be biting your arm off!  We’re over the moon with that position and very deserved.

“We’ve been in a lot of games where we’ve dropped points this season. We’ve either been ahead or had comfortable leads and we’ve given them up, so the future’s bright, the future’s bright.

“Top six. We said that before we set out and that’s what we’ll continue to do but certainly top six and anything else is a bonus.

“I don’t know a lot about Faversham (Strike Force), I’ll be completely honest but what we do know is we’ve got a big squad, we’re going to use it and get minutes into some players.

“We’ve got a Vase game after that against Cove, which will be a nice little away day but as a big overview, we are very, very happy with what this group’s doing and what it’s done and what it will continue to do, so we’re super excited.”

When asked about his return to Blair, Jessup replied: “Not a bigger deal as a few people have messaged or made out.  Look, I’ve been here God knows how many years. I generally love it here. There’s some good people around the place. It’s a great facility but yes, I think we’ve left a bit of meat on the bone today. I think we certainly should’ve had two more points.”

Hollands & Blair: Daniel Ellis, Harry Linch, Callum Flynn, Joshua Brooker, Charlie Weston, Ollie Gray, Muhammed Cham, Joe Thomas, Kane Rowland, Reece Gillies, James Jeffrey (Vincent Bowman 71).
Subs: George Byrne, Drew Briffitt, Ian Draycott, Logan Blackburn

Goals: Kane Rowland 35 (penalty), Ollie Gray 73

Booked: Reece Gillies 12, Joshua Brooker 78, Ollie Gray 84, Kane Rowland 90

Snodland Town: Justin Lee, Kaylam Burgess, James Tedorescu (Tyler Jackson-Hunt 21), Zak Loveridge (Femi Ogunbiyi 58), Alfie Powell (Paul Lee 89), Liam Parle, Nathaniel Olawole, Harry Hudson, Charlie Sheringham, Alvin Turyatemba (Samuel Naiwo 46), Emmanuel Shoderu.
Sub: Riley Goatham

Goals: Emmanuel Shoderu 38, Paul Lee 90

Booked: Liam Parle 90

Attendance: 372
Referee: Mr Darren Stock
Assistants: Mr Aaron Saunders & Mr Matthew Faulkner