Two wonderful free-kicks from Lydd’s Matt Collins were not enough for the former leaders, as a brace from Justin Ascheri was added to by Stuart West’s volley to take Hollands & Blair (in all red) two points clear at the top of the Kent Invicta League.

Collins’ delicate 20 yard free-kick over the Blair wall opened the scoring on 15, but the home side dominated the first half and Ascheri’s double on 29 and 43, both assisted by Jordan Gallacher, gave Hollands & Blair a deserved lead. Collins struck home another free-kick on 53, deceiving James Smith by placing his shot in the opposite corner, but Stuart West sealed the three points four minutes later.

Both sides had tried to play down the importance of this clash between the sides in first and second places in the Kent Invicta League, especially with a third of the season still remaining. But, the way the match was played out demonstrated how much the result meant to each team, as in a feisty encounter, which frequently boiled over, there were ten cautions; a figure that could have been higher.

Playing down the substantial slope in the first half, Hollands & Blair were a constant threat to the Lydd goal, and Blair’s leading scorer (with 31 league goals in 18 games), James McDonald, will be wondering how he didn’t add to his tally.

The home side presented the first chance of the game to Lydd, as Bryan Greenfield’s backpass was too short for James Smith, gifting Carlum McLeod a sight of goal. Smith did enough to block the striker’s effort allowing his defence to clear. Play switched straight to the other end, where McDonald broke between the two centre-backs, but Lydd’s Craig Smith was able to deny the prolific striker with his legs.

Lydd were trying to hold a high backline, which was twice breached within a couple of minutes. McDonald lifted one shot wide left, and then Ascheri fired high over the bar. But this morning’s league leaders took the lead on 15 against the run of play. Gary Lockyer was brought down just outside the area, and Matt Collins stepped up to curl his free-kick over the Blair wall into the top left corner, with James Smith rooted to the spot.

McDonald put a header into Craig Smith’s arms as the home side recovered from the opening goal, and the keeper excelled on 22 with a double save of equal quality to Collins’ strike. Greenfield’s free-kick from halfway was flicked on by Stuart West. McDonald was left free to fire goalward with Smith saving low to his right, then recovering to smother West’s follow-up.

The Lydd defence was struggling to cope with wave after wave of Blair attacks, and the equaliser arrived on 29. The Lydd defenders didn’t deal with Jordan Gallacher’s low cross from the left, and Harry Yates’ eventual attempt at the clearance cannoned off Gallacher onto the head of Justin Ascheri. Craig Smith tried in vain to stop the header from crossing the line, but was too late.

McDonald had three good chances inside the Lydd area within minutes of the equaliser; curling a delicate chip over Smith, but past the right post, then placing two headers into the goalkeeper’s arms. The striker’s runs in behind the Lydd defence eventually led to Ascheri’s second goal, two minutes before the interval. McDonald released Gallacher, breaking into the area, and the winger’s square ball found Ascheri unmarked to steer a shot into the Lydd net.

Early in the second half Ascheri fired a shot from distance at Smith, but the half was just 8 minutes old when Collins produced a second moment of genius. From an almost identical position to the first half free-kick, James Smith tried to anticipate Collins’ set piece, but the Lydd winger curled his shot round the right side of the wall into the right corner of the net, with Smith unable to recover the ground.

On 57, Hollands & Blair retook the lead, with the goal coming, once again, from a long ball over the defence. James Smith’s long clearance found McDonald central in the Lydd half. McDonald fed the ball into the path of the overlapping Gallacher. His low cross into the area was cleared by Owen Kessack straight to Stuart West, 12 yards out, who hit a composed left foot volley past Craig Smith.

Just past the hour mark, McLeod brought a good save from James Smith, low to his right, and as Lydd searched for a way back into the game, players from both sides allowed tempers to become increasing frayed. McLeod benefited from a mistake by Steve Dampier, although he was looking suspiciously offside as the ball was played forward, to set up a chance for Collins that James Smith parried to safety.

In the final 10 minutes, the Lydd players earned a series of free-kicks around the area hoping that Collins could repeat his earlier heroics. The winger had three efforts on target, with Smith guessing right on the first, which was clipped over the wall into the keeper’s arms. The second was curled to the right, but this time past the right hand upright, then the third glanced off the wall over the bar.

The closest that Lydd came to an equaliser came in stoppage time through substitute Richard Quigley. His in-swinging free-kick from the right wing was left by everyone in the area, striking the inside of the left post, and the rebound was headed over by Mark Wallis, who barely had time to react.

So it’s Hollands & Blair who top the table by two points tonight with a game in hand on Lydd, but with at least 10 games remaining, it could be too early to call this a title decider.

HOLLANDS & BLAIR: James Smith, Lewis Taylor, Bryan Greenfield, Sam Prescott, Steve Dampier, Tom Staff, Justin Ascheri (Luke Fewsdale 76), Tom Michelson, James McDonald, Stuart West, Jordan Gallacher.

Subs not used: Ashley Doe, Joe Clark, Clint Gooding, Lee Challis.

Goals: Justin Ascheri 29 & 43, Stuart West 57.
Bookings: Bryan Greenfield 24, Sam Prescott 53, Justin Ascheri 66, Steve Dampier 90.

LYDD TOWN: Craig Smith, Matt Hadlum (Barrington Beaney 54), Owen Kessack (Richard Quigley 64), Ryan Smith, Harry Yates, Guy Connolly, Steve Ward (Chris Wyles 64), Mark Wallis, Carlum McLeod, Gary Lockyer, Matt Collins.

Subs not used: Joe Sullivan, Chris Clements.

Goals: Matt Collins 15 & 53.
Bookings: Matt Collins 53, Mark Wallis 66, Gary Lockyer 75, Barrington Beaney 87, Richard Quigley 88, Harry Yates 90.

Referee: Mr Stuart Marriott
Assistants: Mr Mark Cheeseman and Mr Jack Fagg