League leaders Erith & Belvedere broke their club record for a winning start to the season with the eighth league victory in a row, despite a spirited performance from Holmesdale who could have nicked a point late on. 

The game started with The Deres pressing, Ryan Palmer and Danny Lear going close early on, before Dale keeper Nathan Edwards made a great save from an in swinging George Monger free kick.

As the visitors continued to press, Lear fired wide when latching on to a long ball, before Fraser Walker crossed for Nathan Palmer who headed over.

The Deres’ pressure finally paid off on 25 minutes when Walker sent in another great ball from the right and Tyrell Richardson-Brown turned the ball home at the far post.

With the leaders pressing on again Lear forced a good save by Edwards at his near post after a great passing move and Richardson-Brown then crossed for Walker who was just off target.

On a break up field James Shield headed over for Holmesdale, before The Deres finished the half strongly with Reece Barrett running into the box before unleashing a shot that was well saved by Edwards. 

The second half saw Holmesdale change their shape and introduce the lively Lester Lawrence up front, which proved to be more of a challenge for the visitors, but they still created more chances.

Tunde Aderonmu headed a chance against the bar and Edwards made a good save to deny Monger from the rebound. Edwards made another good save from Ryan and the Dale keeper was injured making a brave stop at his near post from Purcell.

In the final twenty minutes Holmesdale started to come back into things with Siji Akinlusi heading over from a Shield free kick.

Shield then had a shot from the edge of the area saved by Adam Molloy and Darnado Lawrence curled a shot wide from wide of the area as they pressed to grab a point, but in the end Erith & Belvedere saw the game out held on to their lead to keep their winning start to the campaign going.

Dale: Edwards, McCarthy, Harsini, Skelly, Ntumba, Akinlusi, King, Sata, Obasa, Shield, Duylie.

Subs: Reynolds, L Lawrence, D Lawrence, Delaney, Campbell. 

E&B: Molloy, Walker, Barrett, Johnson, Miles, Strachan, R Palmer, Monger, Lear, N Palmer, Richardson-Brown.

Subs: Aderonmu, Purcell, Ryan, Ward, Wilson.

HT 0-1 FT 0-1

Goal: Richardson-Brown 25mins. 

Att: 56

Ref: Mr Tom Nicholls