Holmesdale 0A3 Phoenix Sports - We've got to this stage of the season where we're now considering playing three times a week, the only people I can blame is the League - furious Phoenix Sports boss Steve O'Boyle

Holmesdale 0 – 3 Phoenix Sports
Location	68 Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HQ
Kickoff	29/03/2023 19:45

HOLMESDALE  0A3  PHOENIX SPORTS
(Match abandoned at half-time – waterlogged pitch)
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Wednesday 29 March 2023
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakley Road

PHOENIX SPORTS manager Steve O’Boyle was furious that their game at Holmesdale was abandoned at half-time with his side comfortably leading by three goals.

O’Boyle’s men were on course of closing the gap on leaders Erith & Belvedere to four points going into the break at Oakley Road but referee Richard Myers deemed the pitch to be waterlogged.

Phoenix Sports’ right-winger Ryan Hayes had an early penalty saved by Holmesdale goalkeeper James Boughflower, who was beaten by two strikes from striker Francis Babalola, before Alfie Evans buried a free header but the first meeting between the two sides this season was not completed.

Erith & Belvedere were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Stansfeld last night in Matt Longhurst’s third game back in charge at Park View Road, picking up four points in the process.

Longhurst has confirmed that he remains Erith & Belvedere's manager, ahead of their trip to Rusthall on Saturday, despite speculation that he had stepped down from the role.

The Deres have picked up 72 points from their 32 games and Phoenix Sports arrived in Bromley seven points behind them and that would have been cut to four had this fixture was completed.

O’Boyle said: “Fuming mate, absolutely fuming!  The game’s over, the game’s over.  I think the referee’s being talked into it. I’m absolutely fuming!

“We’ve been chasing all the way through this season. They’ve left us no room for any postponements. We’ve had a numerous amount of games called off away from home. People are trying to get games off rather than getting games on and I’ve got to say, I’m not happy with the League at all.

“We are now facing playing three times a week. We’ve been playing midweek’s all the way for a long time. We’ve done ok in The FA Vase, ok in The FA Cup. There’s no reason why we should have a back-log of fixtures and we’re trying to get promoted.

“I’ll tell you what, our Achilles heel is the League. How the hell have we got a situation where we are now maybe playing on a Tuesday and Thursday night. I’m sorry. I’m absolutely fuming!

“The game’s gone soft! We’re 3-0 up at half-time, the game’s won. Sorry, that is ridiculous today, ridiculous. I’m fuming!”

Holmesdale boss Lee Roots sent out his assistant manager John Coleman for post-match media duties.

“Listen, the weather conditions were really bad.  Obviously the pitch, there was a lot of standing water on it but taking that away from that the first half got played, we didn’t start the greatest,” said Coleman.

“They came out, we knew what they were going to do. We knew they wanted to put us under a lot of pressure early doors and they played a lot of long balls and put us under a lot of pressure, especially with the weather conditions and the pitch the way it was.

“It’s a tough one to take really. We’ll look at what we probably done right and what we done wrong in that first half and hopefully we can work on that and rectify that in the next game.”

Coleman revealed that the referee didn’t consult with the two management teams during the course of the half.

“Before the game nothing and as the game sort of went on, I think the referee just tried to manage it and give it as long as he possibly could and gave it until half-time,” said Coleman.

“The conditions didn’t actually get any better, they just kept getting worse and worse.  You could see the ball wasn’t running in certain areas of the pitch.  We said it on the sideline after about 10 minutes that ‘this game isn’t going to get finished’.

“The referee, he didn’t talk to us during the game. I just think he tried to keep the game going for as long as he possibly could.”

Phoenix Sports set the tone, almost scoring after five seconds when right-winger Ryan Hayes drilled a left-footed shot from the centre spot which sailed past the right-hand post.

However, a through ball from right-back Henry Douglas released Babalola in behind the Holmesdale back four and the striker cut inside goalkeeper Boughtflower, before being tripped by the Holmesdale stopper.

Hayes stepped up and his left-footed penalty was destined to nestle inside the bottom right-hand corner to give Phoenix Sports the lead with six minutes and 41 seconds on the clock, only for Boughtflower to dive to his left and get a strong hand to the ball and push it around for the second of six corners.

When asked whether he wanted to reflect on the 45 minutes where his side acted like they were going to overtake Erith & Belvedere and claim promotion back into the Isthmian League at the first attempt, O’Boyle replied: “The game don’t exist does it?  The game doesn’t exist now, don’t exist. It’s chalked off.”

O’Boyle, meanwhile, was pleased with his side’s performance in difficult conditions.

“The boys done really well, yes the boys done really well. We were comfortable at 3-0 and to be honest with you, we would’ve gone on and won by more goals!”

Coleman added: “It was a great penalty save. He went early, he went the right way.  I thought it was a fantastic save.

“It was a great recovery from giving the penalty away. From where I was it looked quite a bit of soft penalty. I don’t think the referee gave it. I think the linesman actually gave it in the end.

“Had they scored, I would’ve felt hard done by with the fact that I didn’t think it was a penalty but I thought James was great, he pulled off a fantastic save.”

Phoenix Sports failed to let that set-back deter them and they deservedly opened the floodgates with 11 minutes and 22 seconds on the clock.

Hayes’ fourth corner was hung in from the right and centre-half Matthew Bourne knocked the ball down for Babalola to sweep his shot on the turn inside the bottom right-hand corner from a couple of yards out.

“We knew where their threats were. We knew they were going to be very good at set-pieces, so we wanted to try to nullify that and we actually done the opposite tonight to be honest,” admitted Coleman.

“We gave away six corners, their deliveries were spot on pretty much of the time and we knew it was going to be pretty tough to deal with because of the pressure they can put you under and how good they are in these situations.

“It was a disappointing goal because I think we could’ve eradicated it. We could’ve defended a little bit better. We could’ve cleared our lines and competed for the first or second ball.  Yes, it was a disappointing goal to concede.”

The heavens continued to open and you could see puddles emerging on the Oakley Road pitch after 16 minutes.

Phoenix Sports continued to dominant and a short pass inside by Douglas went to Hayes, who cut onto his left-wand and unleashed a low angled drive from 30-yards, which forced the Holmesdale goalkeeper to get down low to his right to smother the ball to prevent it nestling inside the bottom far corner.

“On this surface you’re always going to shoot low and hard and let the ball skid off the surface,” said Coleman.

“I thought the guy done well, he done everything right and Jamie pulled off a good save. Jamie’s been brilliant for us this season. It’s one of those saves that I’d like to think he’ll be expected to make and he held onto it well.”

Holmesdale weathered the storm and created a couple of half-chances from set-pieces after 20 minutes.

Luke Adams, who played as holding midfielder, hung in a free-kick from the left and right-back Siji Akinlusi found space at the near post but a rather weak downward header was comfortably gathered by the vocal Andy Walker.

Five minutes later, Adams floated in another free-kick from the left, the ball was headed away and fell to central midfielder Chimaechi Eze, who snatched at his right-footed half-volley, which cleared the Phoenix Sports crossbar from 15-yards.

Holmesdale went into this game on an eight-game losing streak and without a goal in their last 570 minutes, while Phoenix Sports arrived here on a 13 match unbeaten run, coming away from Deal Town with a 1-1 draw at the weekend, having also dominated the first half down on the Kent coast.

“We wanted to put them under a bit of pressure. We played a lot of forward-thinking players tonight and we knew there would be some half-chances or chances that will come our way. It’s just unfortunate that one of them didn’t fall into the right place,” said Coleman, who was then asked about the goal drought.

“I think if you’re not creating chances then I think you’ve got an issue and when you’re at the bottom and on these runs, it just seems to be so much harder.

“When we played Whitstable at the weekend (losing 2-0), we created 14 chances. We actually created more chances than Whitstable. We just couldn’t find that edge.  We just need a lucky bounce or just need the ball to trickle into the net.

“I firmly believe that we’ve got the quality to go on and score a lot more goals than what we have.”

Phoenix Sports doubled their lead with 27 minutes and 15 seconds on the clock.

Boughtflower’s big kick upfield was smashed back up field by Bourne on the volley, before Mikey Dalton fed the ball into Hayes down the right and he teed up Babalola, who clinically placed his left-footed drive past the diving goalkeeper and into the bottom right-hand corner from 25-yards.

“A very good goal. It was a good move and he took it on the turn on his left-foot and he’s hit it hard, he’s hit it low and early and he used the surface as well into the bottom corner. JB’s got no chance and it was a good goal from their part,” added Coleman.

Babalola laid the ball off to Hayes, who spun his man outside the box before cracking a left-footed shot on the turn from 25-yards, which brought a comfortable save from Boughtflower in his midriff.

Phoenix Sports produced a moment of quality to increase their lead further with 36 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock.

Central midfielder Lee Bird threw the ball short to left-back Tom Hanfrey, who swept a quality left-footed cross from the left touchline towards the unmarked Evans, who guided his downward header past Boughtflower and bouncing into the bottom far corner from eight-yards.

“I mean, what a delivery that was! He’s put it right on the money,” said Coleman.

“I feel that we could’ve put some pressure on the cross and stop him and not allow him to hit the ball in the way that he did.  I mean the quality he possesses on his left foot was unreal. It was a good ball in and was a free header eight yards out and he’s guided it well and he’s found the bottom corner.

“But like the first goal, it’s a goal we could’ve rectified and defended a little bit better and not allow the runners to run on to the cross.”

Holmesdale certainly got away with one here tonight.

Coleman admitted: “You could say that with the scoreline 3-0 at half-time.  I think players’ safety has to be paramount and I feel their frustration.  They’re going for the title or they’re trying to chase down Erith & Belvedere and they want to get their games and being 3-0 up, they’re looking at three points.

“It gives us another week where we can look at our errors that we’ve made that lead to their goals and look to rectify that and look to push on going forward.”

With both sets of teams walking off the pitch, referee Richard Myers joined his colleagues and threw the ball into a puddle within the waterlogged centre of the pitch and deemed that the game could not continue.

Isthmian League fixtures are swiftly re-arranged within six weeks if they are postponed, while the Southern Counties East Football League do not follow that method and usually let games build up for the final couple of months of each and every season.

For these two sides to meet each other for the first time this season on 29 March gives you an idea that fixture arrangement has to improve - and this fixture is now expected to take place on a Thursday night in April.

Holmesdale play Lordswood at home on Saturday, Whitstable Town (Wednesday 5 April), Glebe (Saturday 8 April), Phoenix Sports (Monday 10 April), Rusthall (Saturday 15 April), Bearsted (Tuesday 18 April) and K Sports (Saturday 22 April).

“It’s going to be tough. We’re playing back-to-back games as it is and we possibly have to play three games in a week and Phoenix will probably be in the same boat,” said Coleman.

“We’ve got a squad and that’s what the squad is there for. We can keep fresh legs in and a run of games give the players a lot of momentum. They can get their match fitness right. They’re not training so it’s just game after game after game so it’s plenty of rotation and a lot of recovery for the lads.”

Phoenix Sports, meanwhile, play Punjab United, Tunbridge Wells (Tuesday 4 April), Stansfeld (Saturday 8 April), Holmesdale (Monday 10 April), Whitstable Town (Saturday 15 April) and Kennington (Saturday 22 April). 

There could also be a potential away play-off clash seven days later should they finish runners-up.

“I really don’t know where we’re going to fit this game in, I really don’t know where,” added O’Boyle.

“Do you think that (playing on a Thursday night) is fair? A team going for promotion? I don’t think it’s right.

“I think the League have to look at themselves. We shouldn’t have a backlog of fixtures when we as a team that were so far behind.  There will be no room for a game if a couple of games get called off. What are we going to be doing? Sorry. I’m really critical of the league. I think it’s a disgrace!

“I want the League to improve.  Why have we got to this stage of the season, in a position we’re in where we’re now considering playing three games a week and the only people I can blame is the League.  It can’t happen!  There shouldn’t be a problem fitting our games in. 

“The League should’ve assessed the situation when they saw we had seven games in hand on teams and they should’ve made sure we got the games in and they haven’t.”

Erith Town, meanwhile, beat Punjab United 3-2 at home tonight.

Erith & Belvedere (72 points with six games remaining), Phoenix Sports (65 points, with a game in hand), Erith Town (65) and Deal Town (62) are making the final four weeks of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division title race exciting.

Phoenix Sports welcome Chipie Sian’s men to Mayplace Road East on Saturday.

“I can’t really think about Punjab at the moment.  It’s going to be a very tough game. They’ve got some good, experienced players and I’d imagine it’s going to be a tough game.

“I’m disappointed with tonight. We’ve wasted everybody’s time here. The game’s over at 3-0. He should have called it off after 15 minutes, shouldn’t he? I’m not happy, I’m not happy at all!”

Reflecting on the title race tonight, O’Boyle said: “We would’ve been four points behind Erith & Belvedere tonight. We’re 3-0 up, that’s an easy win for us tonight.

“All this has done tonight has hurt us because I don’t know when we’re going to play.  But what I will say is we’re getting to a point where players are getting tired, players are playing non-stop football and we get to a scenario where we’re playing Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Do you think that’s fair for a team that’s looking for promotion?

“I’ve got one player coming in tomorrow, a good signing.  Dan Birch (right-back) has come in from Sheppey, so the squad is strong.”

For Holmesdale, they welcome the side immediately above them in the league table, Lordswood, here on Saturday.

Sixteenth-placed Lordswood have picked up 32 points from 33 games, Holmesdale follow with 30 points from as many games, then it’s Welling Town on 30 points from 33 games.

K Sports (22 points from 32 games) and Canterbury City (21 points from 33 games) remain in relegation trouble.
 
“There’s eight points between us and K Sports and we’ve got two games in hand over them so if you can pick up four points from those two games, I think safety is pretty much there,” said Coleman.

“We are in a little battle.  We’re just taking game-by-game. We don’t fear anybody. We’re going to go out and still produce the stuff that we want the boys to produce.  We still want them to play free-flowing football and attack this next run of games.

“We’ve got Lordswood at home on Saturday. They’re one place above us and we are two points behind them so it’s a big game. It’s a big three points up for grabs and we’ll definitely be going into the game thinking we want three points.

“If we can create the chances that we created at Whitstable on Saturday and we can keep the levels high and the energy high, I see the boys doing really well.”

Coleman issued an apology on behalf of the home club for wasted journey’s from the 81 people that visited Oakley Road tonight.

“It’s great to see that Phoenix brought a great little following and they were pretty loud for 45 minutes and just thank everybody for coming out. It’s a horrible night, the weather’s awful but they got to see 45 minutes of football.

“We would like to apologise for the game didn’t get finished.  The referee has to take the scoreline out of the equation and think of the safety of the players and the supporters around the ground.  Apologies for the game for not getting finished but I definitely think safety is number one paramount.”

Holmesdale: James Boughtflower, Siji Akinlusi, James Shield, Luke Adams, Ryan Styles, Cian McCarthy, Clyde Semazzi, Chimaechi Eze, Harry Main, Herve Mbongue, Kameiko Pope-Campbell.
Subs: Jamie Rawsthorne, Fred Obasa, Edward Sata, Abdul Muiz Alaka, Emmanuel Oduguwa

Phoenix Sports: Andy Walker, Henry Douglas, Tom Hanfrey, Mikey Dalton, Ryan Sawyer, Matthew Bourne, Francis Babalola, Lee Bird, Tashi-Jay Kwayie, Ryan Hayes, Alfie Evans.
Subs: Lewis Clark, Daniel Birch, Andy Pugh, Kieran King, Isaac Long

Goals: Francis Babalola 12, 28, Alfie Evans 37

Attendance: 81
Referee: Mr Richard Myers
Assistants: Mr Thomas Amber & Mr Mitchell Bush