A resilient display from Holmesdale saw them hold promotion chasing Faversham Town to a scoreless draw at Oakley Road on Tuesday night in a thoroughly entertaining match. 

Tommy Warrilow’s Faversham made a bright start to the game with Hasler having a free kick saved by Cameron Hall in the home goal.

Stefan Payne was next to go close with an audacious back heel flick from a long throw that hit the top of the bar, before Billy Bennett then shot wide as Dale came under constant pressure.

With Town pressing still Payne had a shot deflected wide and Bennett shot over from long range, Billy Bingham who started the season at National League Bromley pulling the strings in midfield.

Kieron Campbell was next to go close for the visitors, closely followed by a shot on the turn from Payne that skidded across goal and narrowly wide.

Vincent headed over from a corner, before one final effort in the half saw Gorham’s powerful volley from 25 yards brilliantly palmed away for a corner by Hall to keep it 0-0 at the break.           

The second half saw Holmesdale look to be more positive and come back into things, but the first chance fell to Faversham when Jake McIntyre played in Payne whose shot was saved by Hall.

Gorham had a header from a corner cleared off the line before there was a break in play when Connor Essam caught Theo McKenzie late and Dale’s right back had to go off injured after treatment.

Payne headed wide from a deep cross soon after before Dale started to create a few half chances, Wale Odedoyin going close after a strong run and forcing a save from Russell soon after.

Both managers made changes going into the last twenty minutes with the match becoming a real midfield battle. Hall made a brave save at the feet of Campbell, who also shot over from distance on the next attack.

Late on Holmesdale went close a few times when a Callum Keeble long throw was headed across goal by Ali Mansaray, then Albie Omara-Knapp had a shot saved by Russell.

At the other end Payne fired wide, but Dale finished the stronger with a break upfield seeing Kelvin Hernandez surge into the box, but his cross come shot evaded everyone in the box. 

The point sees Andy Constable’s Dale side remain in fourteenth, while Faversham stay fourth nine points off leaders Glebe. 

Dale: Hall, McKenzie, Harris, Musoke, Akabuogu, Mansaray, Hernandez, King, Odedoyin, Dafallah, Ajao.

Subs: Baffour, Macauley, Omara-Knapp, Kebble, Lugboso. 

Faversham: Russell, Gorham, Vincent, Essam, McIntyre, Campbell, Bingham, Bennett, Hasler, Payne, Mfula.

Subs: Newman, Wood, O’Mara, Bailey-King, Hatcher.                  

HT 0-0 FT 0-0

Att: 57