Holmesdale are back in SCEFL Premier Division action on Saturday afternoon when they entertain Canterbury City at Oakley Road.

Dale go in to the game on a good run for form only losing once in their last seven games, which has seen them move up to eleventh in the table with 25 points from 19 league matches.

Last time out Lee Roots’ side defeated Fisher 4-0 at home on Bank Holiday Monday, courtesy of two goals from Fred Obasa, plus one from Cian McCarthy & Joe Nwoko, having drawn 1-1 away at Stansfeld on Boxing Day. 

Canterbury City are currently bottom of the table with 13 points from 20 league games, but having changed manager at the end of December, City picked up a creditable 0-0 draw at home to Lordswood in new boss Dan Lawrence’s first game in charge, making a number of changes to the side.

The draw was their first point gained since mid-October and City will be hoping to take their ‘new manager bounce’ on into this one as they look to move out of the bottom two relegation places, the safety of eighteenth is currently six points away.

Canterbury also had some positive news about a move back to the city after years in exile, with a new development planned that would include a home ground for them. The Citizens are currently ground sharing with Sittingbourne.

When the sides met at Woodstock Park back in August Canterbury won 3-2 with a late goal, Tyrell Mitford, Seb Rowland and Joe Nwoko scoring for the home side, with Ben Delaney & Darmando Lawrence netting for The Dalers in a game that saw the lead change three times.    

This looks set to be an interesting and entertaining encounter between two sides looking to build on positive starts to 2023.  

Entry for the game is £8 for adults and £5 for concessions, with a printed programme available for £2. Kick off is at 2pm.