Holmesdale moved up to fourth in the SCEFL Premier Division table with a hard fought 3-2 win over Corinthian at Oakley Road on Saturday, despite being reduced to ten men on the hour mark.
The game began with Corinthian having the better of things and they took the lead on 6 minutes when a great through ball by Charlie Wright found Tom Mitcham who had a shot saved by Charlie Wealands, but Ross Obazee pounced on the rebound to put the visitors in front from the edge of the area.
Dale rallied from there and they drew level on 13 minutes, Lewis Heywood having a shot saved by Thomas Crump only for Callum Keeble to drive the rebound under the keeper for 1-1.
With the game wide open, Corinthian captain James Billings had a free kick saved by Wealands low down at his near post, while at the other end Keeble had a shot saved after a flick on from Heywood.
Holmesdale’s Vinnie Medhurst had a goal ruled out for a foul at a set piece, before Obazee saw a header saved by Wealands at the other end.
In the first half injury time Dale took the lead for the first time when Nathan Palmer latched on to a long ball and beat Crump at his near post to make it 2-1 at the break.
The second half started with Ernie Cheeseman hitting the post for the visitors, before a key incident came when Obazee had a shot saved by Wealands and as Mitcham challenged for the loose ball he was brought down by William Bell for a penalty, the Dale defender shown a straight red card for the foul.
Mitcham stepped up for the spot kick, but it was brilliantly saved by Wealands to his right, keeping Dale in front.
Despite being down to ten men, Holmesdale rallied again from there. Keeble had a shot saved, Palmer headed a Malachi Hudson cross against the post, before torrential rain started to fall and when it was then followed by lightning The Referee took the players off for safety.
After the rain cleared the game got going again, Billings has a shot tipped over by Wealands who then made a double save to deny Oluwaseyi Adegbehingbe and Kieran King.
Then with just under fifteen minutes left somewhat against the run of play The Dalers made it 3-1 when Alfie Clark conneced with a clearance and crashed a volley home from 25 yards that gave Crump no chance.
A minute later though, Corinthian pulled it back to 3-2 when Obazee latched on to a Jerome Wilson pass and side footed home from close range to set up a grandstand finish.
There were chances at both ends in the final stages, Clark had another volleyed effort saved by Crump while Wealands made a brave save at the feet of Shawn Jewett-Ricketts to keep the home team in front.
Going into injury time Dale controlled the game and ran the clock down in the corner, Kayden Turner-Bernard having the final effort on goal for Andy Constable’s team who picked up the three points from an incident packed match.
Holmesdale – Wealands, Williams, Musoke, Clark (Turner-Bernard 82), Bell, Mansaray, Murray, Medhurst, Palmer (Dance 82), Heywood (Hudson 66), Keeble (Elliott 65).
Subs Not Used: Northwood.
Corinthian – Crump, Wilson (A Billings 64), Wright, Adegbehingbe, J Billings, Travers, King, Cheeseman, Obazee (Hodasi 84), Mitcham, Jewett-Ricketts.
Subs Not Used: Benning, Ward, Carnell-Davis.
Goals: HFC – Keeble 13, Palmer 45, Clark 76mins. CFC – Obazee 6 & 77mins.
HT 2-1 FT 3-2
Att: 81