Holmesdale and Stansfeld battled out a hard fought goalless draw at Oakley Road on Wednesday night, with the home side playing with ten men for the last half an hour and the visitors dominating the play.

The game got off to a open start with play flowing from end to end, as things went on the visitors had the more of the play, but the home side created the first real chance with Sata firing over for Holmesdale from close range.

With Stansfeld pressing Hughes had a shot saved by Edwards and then the Dale Keeper made a superb save when Parkinson’s shot deflected towards goal and he managed to tip it over the bar.

From the corner Edwards gathered the ball again to keep the visitors at bay.

As Stansfeld continued to press The Dalers defence dug in making some superb blocks in the area. Parkinson went close again as the half drew to a close, while on a rare break up field Obasa had a shot saved by Cotterell in the Stansfeld goal.

Then in first half injury time Parkinson and Milton combined to set up Malyon who fired over from the edge of the area after some great build up play. 

The second half started with the visitors pressing again, Milton’s powerful run into the box saw the ball scrambled out for a corner and from there Malyon headed over.

Milton then crossed for Parkinson whose shot cannoned off the underside of the bar and bounced out for the Dale defence to clear to safety.

Tempers began to fray as the game went past the hour mark with some heavy challenges going in and several players were booked after heated exchanges.

Holmesdale were then reduced to ten men when Obasa received a second yellow for a heavy tackle on 65 minutes and was sent off.

Stansfeld pressed on from there, but on the break Lawrence twisted and turned in the area before shooting over the bar for Dale.

The visitors still pushed on for a winner, Milton latched on to a defensive error, but was denied by Edwards when one on one and then shortly after he had a goal ruled out for offside.

Late on Stansfeld created more chances, a cross frim the right found Fowler who fired wide across goal and then Skinner shot over from the edge of the area as Holmesdale were pressed once more.

In the six minutes of stoppage time, a scramble from a corner was eventually cleared after more latch ditch blocks and tackles from the home side and right at the death Milton played in Morley, but he put his chance wide of the goal and Holmesdale held on for a hard earned point, with Stansfeld feeling like they had dropped two points. 

Holmesdale now prepare for the visit of leader Erith & Belvedere on Saturday, while Stansfeld entertain Lordswood.  

Dale: Edwards, Ntumba, Akinlusi, George, McCarthy, Delaney, Shields, Sata, King, Obasa, Reynolds. 

Subs: Duyile, Boughtflower, C Lawrence, D Lawrence, Skelly.

Stansfeld: Cotterell, Smith, Borland, Summersby, B Parkinson, Hayes, Mallyon, D Parkinson, Milton, Whitnell, Hughes.

Subs: Beale, Skinner, Fowler, Morley, Day. 

Ref: Nick Monkman

Att: 45