Holmesdale 0-0 Whitstable Town - I think we're at least another win away from safety being mathematically done, says Holmesdale boss Lee Roots

Holmesdale 0 – 0 Whitstable Town
Location	68 Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8HQ
Kickoff	05/04/2023 19:45

HOLMESDALE  0-0  WHITSTABLE TOWN
Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Wednesday 5 April 2023
Stephen McCartney reports from Oakley Road

HOLMESDALE manager Lee Roots believes one more win from their last seven games will retain the club’s place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division next season.

The Bromley based side ended a run of eight straight defeats but tonight’s goal-less draw on a wet night means that they have failed to score in their last seven games, going 660 minutes since their last goal in a 2-1 defeat at Glebe on 11 February.

Holmesdale remain in the bottom four with 31 points from 31 games and are a point clear of Welling Town and seven clear of Canterbury City and nine clear of K Sports, who have all played 34 games.

Marcel Nimani’s Whitstable Town, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run to eight games and remain in fifth-place in the table with 56 points with four games remaining.

“I think we’re very happy, it was quite a good performance on the whole,” said Roots.

“We literally played Whitstable in our last game (losing 2-0 on 25 March). We had a game here last Wednesday against Phoenix that got abandoned at half-time so our last fixture was Whitstable, so we’re quite fresh with the ideas and we’re playing against a side that’s in the top five.

“I think with the chances created we feel like we could’ve taken more from the game but of course you have to be happy with a point.

“If you look at the league position and the team we’re playing it’s one point gained but I think on the reflection of play, we feel a little disappointed with the chances we’ve made.  Other than some wayward finishing we would take our three points. It’s a point gained but we feel we could’ve taken all three.”

Whitstable Town assistant manager Craig Coles said: “Very frustrating, bang the door down but couldn’t get through, probably sums it up.

“First half was relatively even, changed a few things at half-time, changed a few players, gave a few people different instructions and it worked.

“We created probably three or four clear chances to score but couldn’t put them away. It’s happened to us a lot where we should be winning games by more or we could’ve turned draws into wins to give us extra points.

“It’s a point gained at the end of the day. We’re still unbeaten in eight now so in that sense it’s positive. A clean sheet as well, that’s a positive, considering the state of the pitch, I thought we played really, really good football, especially in the second half.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing that we didn’t get the three points because we deserved it especially based on the second half performance.”

Whitstable Town created the first chance of the game inside the opening nine minutes when left-back George Sheminant played the ball down the line into seven-goal left-winger Jefferson Aibangbee, who cut into the box and his deflected drive bounced off the outstretch leg of Sisi Akinlusi and was comfortably saved by James Boughtflower.

Holmesdale were not playing like a side that are on a bad run and were the better side during an impressive first half performance.

Playing with three centre-halves in James Shield (left), Akinlusi (centre) and Ryan Styles (right), it was a fine long ball from left-wing-back Abdul Muiz Alaka that played in central striker Harry Main, whose right-footed angled drive was pushed around the post by Daniel Eason, diving low to his right, to prevent the ball nestling inside the bottom near corner in the 15^th minute.

Roots said: “Whitstable looked quite flat. I think it’s probably hard for them to motivate their players every week when they can’t really improve their situation but we played them at their ground and we were 2-0 down in six minutes and we really took it to them and battered them in the second half.

“Harry Main had two or three exceptional chances, apart from their goalie, we should’ve come in ahead.

“I’m really impressed with Harry. It’s his second game for us, he made his debut at Whitstable. He’s a really intelligent player.  He was unlucky not to score. It’s a great ball from Mo. We’ve actually worked our pattern really well there and the ball’s come in from the left-wing-back.

“Listen, other than scoring, he’s done everything right. He’s hit the target. I can’t grumble, I think he’s play has been tremendous tonight.”

Coles added: “Holmesdale were bang up for it first half, they were fantastic and with the exception of Dan making a couple of decent saves, they could’ve been maybe one or two up but credit to them, considering the form that they’ve had recently.

“The gaffer (Roots) has been here for quite some time, the boys definitely showed something tonight but we’re disappointed that we didn’t get the three points.”

Whitstable Town, a side that play out from the back, were a threat from set-pieces and almost grabbed a lead following their first of eight corners.

Joshua Oliver swung the ball in from the left, Holmesdale defended well but failed to clear their lines from within a crowded goal-mouth and Whitstable centre-half Tom Mills slid in to poke his shot straight into Boughtflower’s gloves from the edge of the six-yard box.

“We had a lot of set-pieces tonight and it’s frustrating because we do work on set-pieces,” revealed Coles.

“Charlie Himbury (goalkeeper coach) does a lot of work on set-pieces and the boys know what to do but I thought we created several chances from free-kicks of corners tonight.  I don’t know whether it was falling to the wrong player or what, we could’ve potentially put them away.”

Roots added: “It was exactly our plan, you want to limit teams that have got that quality, who are spending a lot more money or come with a lot of fans.

“They had a melee from a corner but I actually thought we made one or two clearances and we’ve learnt from those situations before.”

Eason was called into action by making a double save as Holmesdale shot from distance towards the halfway point of the half.

Fred Obasa, who plays on the left of a three-man attack, played the ball into holding midfielder Cian McCarthy, who unleashed a stinging drive towards goal from 35-yards, which was beaten away by Eason, who then comfortably caught Jamie Rawsthorne’s chipped attempt from similar distance seconds later.

“Cian is such a tremendous player, he can play anywhere in the back line, he can also play holding midfield.  We wanted him to be a little bit more adventurous tonight, be a little bit more box to box,” said Roots.

“He’s got his dad Paddy here tonight watching, who was only the manager of (Premier League) Crystal Palace recently and Cian always seems to raise his game when dad is here.

“Cian was given a sheet of instructions and we asked him to make more long-range shots and he’s taken that into effect.

“Jamie Rawsthorne has got such great quality. His deliveries were great all night and we’re talking margins there of us going ahead.”

Coles added: “I thought first half they had chances to get ahead and Dan’s probably kept us in it first half and it changed a little bit second half. Credit to Dan first half, he was very, very good.”

McCarthy’s holding midfield partner, Luke Adams drilled a right-footed curling and dipping free-kick towards goal from 35-yards, which was comfortably caught by Eason as he stepped to his right.

Roots said: “Luke’s a very versatile player. We signed him as a striker, he’s got great goals stats.  Last year he actually played most of the time at Rusthall in midfield. It came to a point where we were a little bit short in midfield. Luke plays there on a Sunday so we just dropped him into the 10 but he’s been doing better work for us playing a little bit deeper.  His range of passing is quite good and he’s got the long throw. He organises quite well and gives us a little bit more experience in front of the back three.”

Adams sent over a deep cross towards the far post which was controlled by striker Herve Mbongue, who cut the ball onto his right-foot and drilled a shot towards the bottom near corner, which forced Eason to dive to his right to push around his near post.

All that was missing from Holmesdale’s impressive first half performance was that elusive goal.

Roots said: “We were relatively happy.  We’ve created numerous chances compared to them. We knew that they’d be more frustrated than us.

“Listen, we’ve been going through a really, really tough run and we’re hunting down goals, wins and points.

“There were a couple of little tweaks that we needed to make and we only made one change (with striker Riley Asaam coming on for Mgongue).”

Coles added: ”We just said we need to try to stop their nine (Main) trying to run in between the two centre-halves (Thomas and Mills). It happened quite often in the first half.

“Harry Gamble did that exceptionally second half. They didn’t really have anything. It was to try to play our game and relax on the ball a little bit. We know the pitch wasn’t great but we showed second half you can play football on any pitch because we were really, really good.”

Whitstable Town put in a vastly improved performance in the second half – with three men up front - and went close to grabbing the lead following their second corner inside the opening five minutes.

Sheminant’s deliveries from the right with his left-foot were on the money and Harry Gamble met the ball at the near post and steered his header over the crossbar.

Holmesdale rode their luck just 100 seconds later when Sheminant hung over a cross from within the left-channel for half-time substitute striker Dean Grant to head down and against the base of the far post before Boughtflower grabbed hold of the ball.

“It was a bit frustrating that nobody else followed it in after he’s had the header to potentially get a tap in,” added Coles.

Roots added: “Dean Grant offers a different dynamic.  It’s a good header, low into the post and it bounced off and you definitely need your luck.  You need to ride your luck against these teams to get a point.

“One thing we did say at half-time, even though we’ve been so dominant, there will be moments of adversity and there will be moments where we have to stand up strong.  At that point it was heart in mouth. I felt even at that point the luck was going our way. Our goalie was excellent that we were going to get something from the game.”

Adams played a 30-yard through ball along the wet turf straight down the heart of the pitch but Main swiftly tried to score with a speculative effort from 30-yards, which flashed harmlessly wide of the goal, before captain James Shield cracked a half-volley from 35-yards, which suffered similar fate.

“It would’ve been great if he had scored. James is our club captain, he’s been here for many years, just completed 125 appearances for the club.  I think he had a terrific game tonight. He’s a leader.  When it drops down on his chest you never know what might happen. Is it going to hit the scaffolding (behind the goal) or is it going to hit the net. I mean, he’s inches away,” agonised Roots.

Boughtflower produced a fine reaction save to prevent Whitstable Town scoring following their fourth corner of the game in the 64^th minute.

Sheminant’s excellent delivery from the right was punched away by the Holmesdale goalkeeper from within a crowd of players and Gamble hooked a volley towards goal from eight-yards, which was pushed over the bar by the agile goalkeeper.

Coles said: “Sheminant’s delivery at set-pieces is fantastic, not just corners but free-kicks as well, so the quality was there today from him. Unfortunately, we just couldn’t put any of the chances we created in the back of the net.”

Roots added: “We know that George has got great quality.  You have to deal with the corners correctly.  Gamble was one of my old players, he’s a fox in the box.  I thought the lads defended as a group really, really well.”

Akinlusi fed Main, who swept a diagonal pass in behind Sheminant to release debutant striker Riley Asaam down the right. He waited for support before cutting the ball back to Rawsthorne, who played the ball into McCarthy, who dug the ball out of his feet and hit a right-footed angled drive from 22-yards, which was comfortably saved by Eason.

When asked about his side’s goalscoring drought, Roots replied: “It’s just our luck to get a 0-0 draw to get a point.  As you’ve seen tonight we can’t do no more but you’ve got to keep doing more.

“I think our problem has been we’ve played 12 games, we’ve trained twice so we’re unable to make corrections and we’ve brought in a lot of new players.

“We’ve lost tight games 1-0 or 2-0.  The attackers are just finding their feet again.  We’ve got good quality here but for some reason the goals have dried up.

“We have played teams that are better than us but we should be scoring goals so as a manager it’s totally unacceptable. I’ve never been through that period before in my life.  I think if we continue to play the way we are and taking it into Saturday, it will come.”

Whitstable winger, Aibangbee, who had a quiet second half, switched the play by playing a 30-yard diagonal along the deck to release substitute right-winger Gus Barnes, who drove a right-footed drive towards goal from 25-yards out, which was comfortably saved in Boughtflower’s midriff as the game entered the final 20 minutes.

Whitstable Town dominated the final exchanges and created and missed a couple of late chances.

Holmesdale cleared Sheminant’s right-wing corner and centre-half William Thomas recycled the ball back into the danger area for Grant to head straight at the Holmesdale goalkeeper.

Good link-up play down the left involving Sheminant and Aibangbee saw Sheminant cut the ball back to Barnes, who dug the ball out from under his feet but all he could do was poke his shot straight at Boughtflower from eight-yards, as both sides had to settle for a point.

“We created loads of chances so to not get anything from any of them is frustrating but at the end of the day we kept a clean sheet so that’s the important thing,” added Coles.

Roots added: “I think at that point they were starting to have their best period of the game. I think our lads’ energy was starting to zap.  Your goalie needs to stand up and full credit to JB tonight. I thought James was tremendous when he did have to make his saves.  I thought his decision making was really good and at the end there you’re in the management phase. You need to manage up the point.”

Whitstable Town welcome thirteenth-placed side Fisher (42 points, five games left) to Belmont Road on Saturday, before travelling to Gillingham on Easter Monday to play Hollands & Blair.

The Oystermen then welcome promotion chasing side Phoenix Sports on 15 April before completing their campaign a week later away to bottom three side Welling Town.

The top six sides contain Erith & Belvedere (75 points, five games remaining), Phoenix Sports (71, five), Erith Town (71, four), Deal Town (68, four), Whitstable Town and Glebe (52, four).

“It will be a very, very tough game. Fisher are very, very physical, a quick side and they’ve had really, really good cup runs.  They’ll be a decent side. They’ve had some good results so I’m looking forward to seeing them down at our place,” said Coles.

“The target is to finish fifth. I know there are no play-offs this year but considering where the club was when we came in, to technically finish in the play-offs, as what will be next season, is what we want to aim for because if we can have the season that we’ve had and still finish fifth and technically in the play-offs as of next season, then we know we’re only going to progress.”

Roots, meanwhile, welcome Glebe here on Saturday, before travelling to Phoenix Sports on Easter Monday.  Holmesdale then play Rusthall (home, 15 April), Phoenix Sports (away, 19 April) and K Sports (away, 22 April).

The League have allowed Holmesdale to play two league games after the scheduled finish date, with a home game against Lordswood (26 April), before travelling to Bearsted (29 April).

“I think 35 points in that magic number. We have seven games to play, which is just crazy.  There’s other teams around us that have got a harder run.  We’ve still got some very, very tough games but I think a point tonight, I think at the weekend we will secure our status,” said Roots.

“I think we’re at least another win away from it being completely mathematically but if the opposition in the bottom two lose at the weekend and we win, it’s mathematically done as well.  I don’t think there will be any problem with that.

“It was going to be seven games in 14 days at one point.  The League gave us a fixture list and we were going to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday in the last week of the season. It could’ve been the difference with our status. 

“How you deal with it is by having an extra week, thank you very much FA.  We’ve probably got a healthy squad of around 20-22 because we’ve added a few players, a few bodies have gone out through the right reasons so you need to get numbers in at this point. 

“It’s a very, very tough run.  Unfortunately you always see young players get injuries, you always see there’s a lot of fatigue to deal with so recovery is really important.

“We’ve got nice easy games for us with Whitstable, Glebe and Phoenix in a week. It’s a local game. When we played Glebe at their ground we played really well. It was one-all until Cian McCarthy got sent off and we lost the game 2-1 with Jamie Philpot scoring at the end.

“I think it always comes with a little bit of substance between the two clubs. Listen, we’ll take a lot of confidence from tonight. We’ve played really well, it’s a good point. It could’ve been more and we’ll look to adopt a similar performance, if not the same, on Saturday.”

Holmesdale: James Boughtflower, Jamie Rawsthorne, Abdul Muiz Alaka (Emmanuel Dasho 73), Sisi Akinlusi, Ryan Styles, James Shield, Fred Obasa, Cian McCarthy, Harry Main (Chimaechi Eze 79), Luke Adams, Herve Mbongue (Riley Asaam 46).
Subs: Kameiko Pope-Campbell, Can Yilmaz

Booked: Abdul Muiz Alaka 37, Luke Adams 38, Ryan Styles 45, Cian McCarthy 80

Whitstable Town: Daniel Eason, Jake McKenzie, George Sheminant, Caolite Deakin (Dean Grant 46), William Thomas, Tom Mills, Jefferson Aibangbee, Harry Gamble, James Jeffrey (Alfie Giles 79), Joshua Oliver, Neil Spencer (Gus Barnes 46).
Subs: Harry O’Donnell, Zak Jennings

Booked: Caolite Deakin 25, James Jeffrey 74

Attendance: 62
Referee: Mr Jack Owen
Assistants: Mr Matthew Sell & Mr Paul Agyei-Tabi