Paul Piggott returned to Martyn Grove for the first time as Holland and Blair boss and saw his new charges comfortably maintain their lead at the Southern Counties East Football League leaders won the Medway Boxing Day Derby with quite a lot to spare.

In the end two second half goals from striker James MacDonald and third direct from a corner via a post and Lords keeper Lee I’Anson saw the Blair safely home after Jacob Mingle’s wonderful first half strike had given the home side the advantage!

Indeed the home side started much the brighter side and in the early stages Jack Dimmock in the visitors goal whilst from the resulting corner the ball somehow squirmed under Mingle’s boot when unmarked six yards out! That proved though just to be a “sighter” for Mingle as on 24 minutes he unleashed a brilliant 25 yard drive which Ellis got no where near as it screamed into the Blair net.

The home side were beginning to look much more safe and secure than their opponents until a defensive mistake allowed MacDonald in to level the score nine minutes from half time – Sam Prescott played the forward pass looking for MacDonald and as Ashley Sains failed to reach the ball for the home side, Blair’s top scorer raced through to level the scores.

Ellis kept his side level with a stunning late save in the first half to deny Enoch Adjei with the keepers strong right hand clearing the danger. The save was to prove important as just minutes into the second half, Blair were in front. Precott’s deflected shot looped high into the air forcing I’Anson to palm the ball over, and from Sam Welch’s inswinging corner bemused the Lords keeper as it smacked against the back post and ricocheted into the net.

Adjei tried to do his bit to level the scores by taking on the visitors defense single handedly reat run his shot swung just the wrong side of the post.

But sadly for the home side their defensive frailities were exposed again when as he attempted a clearance George Mitchell sliced the ball high into the air allowing MacDonald to nip in lo home his 18th goal of the season over a hopelessly exposed I’Anson and that was that!

Hollands and Blair then go into 2016 with an eight point lead at the top of the SECFL leaving the question of when Piggott will next take a team to Martyn Grove for a competitive fixture. Theres still a long way to go of course, but the Gillingham side have undoubtedly laid down a marker!

LORDSWOOD – I’Anson, Griffin, Blewbeau, Hope, Sains, Mitchell, Dimmock (Nwita), Mingle, Adjei, Deakin (Brima), Smith

Subs – Mentessi, Lodge

H&B – Ellis, Taylor, Greenfield (Ascheri), Prescott, Dampier, West, Welch, Michelson, MacDonald (Ince), Denness (Abe), Gallagher

Subs – Blake, Gutteridge