Deal Town v Holmesdale

Recap

Deal eventually ended their eight-match run without a win in convincing style at the Charles Ground on Saturday.

But at half-time, when the Hoops went in trailing 1-0 despite having had much the better of the first 45 minutes, another frustrating afternoon looked on the cards for Derek Hares’ side.

Holmesdale, relegated from the Southern Counties East League Premier Division last season, managed only two serious efforts on goal in the first half. The first, a 20-yard volley from Danny Gannon which bounced awkwardly just in front of Deal keeper James Tonkin, gave the Bromley outfit a 17^th-minute lead and then, five minutes before the break, Reggie Yembra’s diving header struck the crossbar.

Otherwise the half was a familiar story of the Hoops dominating possession but not being able to convert it into goals either because of their own off-target shooting, the good work of Holmesdale keeper Jordan Clark, or by a linesman’s flag for offside after Joe Reeves had followed up to score following another block by Clark.

So it meant the Hoops still had it all to do in the second half if they were to end their recent poor run – and they did so in emphatic fashion. It was Reeves who started the ball rolling with a 61^st-minute equaliser after Dan Adams’ initial effort had come back off the woodwork.

Five minutes later Deal were in front. Connor Coyne led a break from inside the Hoops’ half which ended with Andy Miller finishing in style.

With Grant Bagley and Luke Bigginton providing a solid central defensive wall in front of Tonkin, Holmesdale’s attacking threat remained slim and Deal were able to relax in the last 20 minutes after Coyne made it 3-1 with a sweet turn and volley on the edge of the box.

And Coyne was also involved in Deal’s final goal, playing a neat one-two with Miller who then added his second of the game from an acute angle.

Deal: Tonkin, Paxman, Bigginton, Bagley, Hark (Smith 75), Reeves (Alexander 77), Anderson (O’Brien 63), Scott, Miller, Coyne, Adams.

Attendance:  83