Hollands & Blair made their debut in the Southern Counties East league at Greatness Park and what a debut equalising, missing a penalty and grabbing the winner in the 2nd minute of added on time.
The game itself was a good contest between two teams who wanted to play football and for the fans there it was back and forth as both sides tried to take command.
The first half chance of the game came in the 7th minute when Bryan Greenfield passed out to Justin Acheri who went past Alfie Kitt and delivered a low cross that evaded everyone three minutes later Acheri saw his cross deflect into the grateful arms of Richard Stroud.
Sevenoaks started to get into the game and in the 20th minute Chan Quan on the left cut inside and saw his shot easily saved by Dan Ellis.
A minute later and Town were in front when Adrian Stone picked the ball up on halfway and his superb pass saw Damian Ramsamy running into the area where he let it run before shooting past Ellis from an acute angle.
This could have broken Blair but their confidence is still good from last season’s performances and in the 24th minute they equalised when Greenfield’s free kick curled into the box, found Captain Stuart West whose powerful header beat Stroud ( HISTORY AS THEIR FIRST GOALSCORER ).
A minute later Greenfield tried his luck from 30 yards as his free kick beat the wall but was easily saved by Stroud.
In this Topsy Turvey game it was Sevenoaks who had the next chance when in the 27th minute a Gary Stock free kick into the area was met by John Lord but his header went wide of the post.
In the 38th minute Sevenoaks could or should have taken the lead when Ramsamy was put clear and he went into the area but his shot was blocked by Ellis and in the very next minute Acheri received the ball from James McDonald and saw his shot from 20 yards deflected out for a corner.
Half time arrived and both Managers would be happy but a little perturbed that better finishing and either side would have been in front.
The second half was only seconds old when Luke Fewsdale was brought down in the penalty area and a penalty was given, up stepped Greenfield who smashed his shot onto the post with Stroud beaten.
In the 48th minute Ramsamy on the left cut inside and tried his luck but Ellis saved it, in the very next minute McDonald found himself free in the area but his shot was saved by Stroud.
In the 50th minute a long ball downfield saw Stone flick on for Ramsamy but from 12 yards he shot wide.
Eight minutes later it was Blair’s turn and Fewsdale passed out to McDonald who cut in from the left and saw his curling effort from 20 yards go just past the post.
Four minutes later on a counter attack, Sevenoaks played the ball out quickly and with some slick passing the ball ended up at Quan’s feet but his effort from 12 yards flew over the bar.
In the 68th minute Lewis Taylor passed out to Acheri whose near post cross found McDonald whose quick feet saw his shot saved by Stroud at the second attempt.
Sevenoaks came back and in the 73rd minute Quan’s free kick from 20 yards was saved by Ellis and in the very next minute Ramsamy on the left saw his cross go to Stone who laid it back into the path of Quan who from 20 yards set fair to score but Greenfield had other ideas as he blocked the shot at the expense of a corner.
In the 80th minute Sevenoaks should have made more of this chance when Tom O’Connor ran forward from inside his own half and then passed to Stone in the area but his curling effort went wide.
As time ticked on Sevenoaks had two more chances to win the game when in the 84th minute a throw in to Ramsamy who turned the defender and went forward but his weak shot went wide and the in the 89th minute Kitt running forward passed to Ramsamy who saw his shot parried up into the air by Ellis before he collected it at the second attempt.
As time was running out Blair got the winner as Tom Mickelson passed forward into the area for McDonald who let it run before shooting past Stroud, cue the Blair team and Management going wild.
The result was probably lucky for Blair and for Sevenoaks they would wonder how that got away but that is football.
SEVENOAKS TOWN:
- STROUD 2. F.GRIFFIN 3. A KITT 4. A.SESAY (60) 5. J.LORD 6. T.RIPLEY 7. C.QUAN 8. G.STOCK (67) 9. A.STONE 10. D.RAMSAMY 11. M.DEBRAH
SUBS USED: 16. T.O’CONNER (60) 15. S.CAMACHO (67)
SUBS NOT USED: 12. M.FAHM 14. J.MILES 17. R.POWELL
NO BOOKINGS
HOLLANDS & BLAIR:
- ELLIS 2. S.WELCH 3. B.GREENFIELD 4. S.PRESCOTT 5. S.DAMPIER (56) 6. S.WEST 7. J.ACHERI (77) 8. T.MICHELSON 9. J.McDONALD 10. E.ABE (70) 11. L.FEWSDALE
SUBS USED: 14. L.TAYLOR (56) 17. L.VALENCIA (70) 12. S.HAFNER (77)
SUBS NOT USED: 15. J.GALLAGHER 16. A.CARLTON
NO BOOKINGS
REFEREE: Mr P.ZACHWIEJA
ASSISTANTS: Mr D.GEARY & Mr G.CLARKE
ATTENDANCE: 87