In form Holmesdale recorded another good win at Oakley Road on Tuesday night, but it was far from plain sailing as Sporting Club Thamesmead pushed them all the way in an eight goal thriller.
Sporting started the brighter missing two early chances before eventually taking the lead on 5 minutes when Parish brought down a great long pass before turning and shooting home from the edge of the box.
Holmesdale responded with a strong spell of pressure, which eventually brought them level on 14 minutes when Jordan Clark found Anthony French to nodded the ball down to Danny Gannon who fired home from just inside the area.
Five minutes later Dale went in front when Ismail Ismail surged into the box with a powerful run before sending a sublime chip past the keeper for 2-1.
Gannon went close again soon after, Charlie Weedon had an effort saved and French fired over when well placed. Dale were then awarded a penalty after Weedon was brought down in the box, but French hit the top of bar with his spot kick.
Gannon fired over soon after before the home side did make it 3-1 on 33 minutes when a quick passing break move up field found Ismail who finished smartly from ten yards out.
Going into the break Acre rallied with Parish firing two great chances over as the visitors started to play some good stuff.
The second half started in open fashion with both sides pushing forward, but it was Holmesdale who extended their lead on 54 minutes when Gannon found French on the edge of the box who this time nodded the ball into the path of Jamie Williams to volley home from twenty yards out.
Sporting still created chances, but went 5-1 down on the hour when Ismail latched on to a loose pass and once again outpaced the defence before clipping the ball home to complete his hatrick.
Two minutes later the visitors pulled one back when Parish notched his second of the match completing a well constructed move with a cool finish to make it 5-2.
The game then flew from end to end, Gannon had two efforts saved and volleyed another chance wide, while Josh Patrick fired narrowly wide at the other end.
For the final ten minutes or so it was Acre who had the best of things, Dale keeper Alfie George was lucky to stay on the pitch after fouling Patrick outside the box as he ran in on goal, with the resulting free kick being blocked by the wall, but on 84 minutes the visitors did pull it back to 5-3 from another Patrick free kick from twenty yards which found the corner of the net.
Holmesdale steadied the ship from there and had the final chance to score, but Gannon was unable to find the net after taking the ball round the keeper following a fine run into the box, instead placing his shot wide of the far post.
Fresh from this latest home win, Dale are now in FA Vase action on Saturday when they entertain Bexhill United at Oakley Road.
Dale – George, Clark, Palfrey, Hooper, Rawsthorne, Nuttall, Ismail, Weedon, French, Gannon, Williams.
Subs: Theodorescu, Rosenfield, Charlton, Lawson, Adeosun.
Goals: Dale – Gannon 14, Williams 54, Ismail 19, 33, 59mins. Acre – Parish 10&62, Patrick 84mins.
Ref: D Wyatt
HT 3-1 FT 5-3
Att: 46