In a seven-goal thriller at Oakley Road in the rain on Saturday afternoon it was visitors Hollands & Blair who came out on top in the SCEFL Premier Division.
After an early goal was chalked off Holland s & Blair did take the lead on 4minutes when Kane Rowland finished smartly in the box giving Charlie Wealands no chance in the home goal. After Callum Keeble had gone close for Dale, Blair went 2-0 up when from a set piece George Goodwin hit a sweet volley from just inside the area.
Holmesdale rallied from there though and they pulled one back on the half hour when Malachi Hudson turned a Kayden Turner-Bernard cross into the roof of the net for 1-2. Three minutes later the scores were all square when Hudson sent in a fierce free kick from out wide which beat Dan Ellis at his near post.
The final incident of the first half saw Duane Ofori-Acheampong sin binned for swearing at the Linesman leaving the visitors down to ten men for 10 minutes.
The second half started with the visitors going back in front on 47 minutes when Dieko Falade crossed from the right for Ofori-Acheampong to convert at the near post with a deft flick.
The Linesman initially flagging for offside, before he was overruled by the Referee following a lengthy discussion. Rowland then had a shot saved by Wealands before the game opened up again, played at a frenetic pace in driving rain.
After a good spell of pressure, Holmesdale drew level again on 64 minutes, when Keeble hit an unstoppable volley from 25 yards out that crashed in just under the bar to make it 3-3. Dale almost took the lead when a run and cross from the right by Jude Jefferey was headed just wide by Nathan Palmer.
With both teams looking to win the game, Blair took the lead once more with two minutes left, when a corner from Callum Flynn was bundled home by Ofori-Acheampong in a crowded area to make it 3-4. In injury time Holmesdale pressed for another equaliser, but Ellis did well to deny Lewis Heywood-Oriogun when one on one and from the resulting corner in chaotic scenes The Dalers hit the post before the ball was scrambled away to safety and Hollands & Blair took all three points in a thoroughly entertaining match.
The result sees Holmesdale stay in fifth place, while Holland & Blair remain fourteenth having won their last four matches.
Dale: Wealands, Lugboso, Morrison (Elliott 91), Goodchild (McGovern 72), Bell (Jefferey 76), Mansaray, Hudson (Muwonge 85), Dance (Palmer 58), Turner-Bernard, Heywood-Oriogun, Keeble.
H&B: Ellis, Kabamba, Flynn, Gething, Weston, Exall, Gillies, Goodwin, Rowland (Batula 73), Ofori-Acheampong, Falade (Dawodu 81). Subs Not Used: Draycott, Cham, Brifitt.
Goals – HFC – Hudson 30 & 34mins, Keeble 68mins. HBFC – Rowland 5, Goodwin 22, Ofori-Acheampong 47 & 88mins.
HT 2-2 FT 3-4