Despite playing with ten men for over an hour Holmesdale picked up a hard fought three points in a backs to the wall display against Welling Town on Wednesday night. 

The game got off to a lively start with Welling having the better of things, Dale keeper James Boughtflower making a superb double save to deny Josh Biddlecombe and Sam Bailey, before making another good stop to deny Biddlecombe again.

Holmesdale’s first chance came on twenty minutes when Dan Vaughan’s shot was deflected wide for a corner, which sparked a period of pressure from The Dalers.

Ric Campbell fired over from the edge of the area after a free kick was only half cleared and Sam Couliabaly then crossed for Nathaniel Olawole who fired just wide.

Welling then went close when Femi Orenuga clipped the ball just wide under pressure from three home defenders.

Holmesdale were then reduced to ten men on 28 minutes when Vaughan clashed with Biddlecombe and the Dale defender was shown a straight red card.

Boughtflower then made a superb save to deny Bailey from long range as Town looked to make their man advantage count, but only four minutes later it was the home side who went in front.

A long ball up field from Jacob Skelly found Olawole on the edge of the box and he showed a great touch to control the ball and strike it on the half volley past Christian North to make it 1-0.

The visitors then pressed again, Ollie Andrews going close from distance, but the half ended with the home side in front. 

The second half saw Town press from the kick off, Dale dug in despite keeper Boughtflower carrying an injury and they even went close to doubling their lead when Bronum Reynolds hit the bar from 30 yards out and Campbell put the rebound just wide.

Olwawole then had a header saved from a free kick and Campbell missed a good chance when heading wide from close range.

As the hour mark came Welling Town pressed again, Orenuga causing the home side lots of problems down the right.

With Dale sitting deeper and deeper the equaliser eventually came on 67 minutes when Orenuga and Kweku Ansah combined down the right to set up Abi Davies who converted from close range in a crowded six yard box to make it 1-1.

As the visitors looked to take the lead Orenuga set up Davies whose header was saved by Boughtflower and he made another save to deny Reggie Yembra from a corner soon after.

Dale dug in again with the defence putting their bodies on the line to make vital blocks in the area and their resolute resistance paid off in full on 84 minutes when a long clearance up field found Darmando Lawrence who twisted and turned on the edge of the area before slipping the ball past North into the corner of the net to make it 2-1 to the home team.

Late on George Whitelock had a free kick saved with the ball cleared after a scramble in the box and he then put in another set piece which Andrews turned just wide of the post.

Despite a series of set pieces in injury time Holmesdale held on to secure an unlikely three points with a superb display of hard work and character against a good Welling Town side who will wonder how they ended up empty handed.  

Holmesdale: Boughtflower, Couliabaly, Skelly, Shield, Vaughan, Reid-Newth, Reynolds, Lawrence, Campbell, Sata, Olawole.

Subs: Delaney, Lawrence, Friend, Atkins, McGrath. 

Welling Town: North, Hope, Lee, Andrews, Bancroft, Yembra, Orenuga, Whitelock, Biddlecombe, Ansah, Bailey.

Subs: Procter, Styles, Davies, Spellward, Alaua.    

Goals: Dale – Olawole 32, Lawrence 84mins. Town – Davies 67mins. 

Att: 52

HT 1-0

FT 2-1