Phoenix Sports 3-0 Holmesdale - Club's hard work has been paid off, says Steve O'Boyle

PHOENIX SPORTS  3-0  HOLMESDALE
Southern Counties East Football League
Saturday 21^st December 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Mayplace Road East

PHOENIX SPORTS’ joint-manager Steve O’Boyle says his team repaid the club after they pulled out all the stops to ensure this game went ahead in atrocious conditions.

The game had passed an eleven o’clock pitch inspection and was passed fit by match referee Chris Myatt 70 minutes before kick-off.

Phoenix Sports leapfrogged over Whyteleafe in to third-place in the table with 34 points from 18 games due to the fact that this was the only game in the Southern Counties East Football League and even the entire Kent Invicta League was wiped out through waterlogging.

Kent’s leading goalscorer, Ricky Freeman, who arrived at the club from Kent Invicta League side Hollands & Blair at the start of the season, took his tally to 23 goals for the season when he touched home from close range inside the opening five minutes.

Right-winger, Chris Edwards’ wind-assisted 35-yard free-kick doubled Phoenix Sports’ lead before former Bearsted striker Miles Cornwell headed home his fifth goal during the second half to leave Holmesdale in tenth-place in the table with 19 points from 15 games.

With groundsman Fred Carter away, it was down to Dave Driver, club chairman Andy Mortlock and 63-year-old club president Lenny Carnell to perform heroics to ensure the 73 people that came through the turnstiles could watch some football instead of doing their Christmas shopping.

O’Boyle was quick to pay tribute to the trio, who used an £800 sponger to soak up the water from inside the centre circle before the game got underway.

“Committee, chairman and people around the club have got the game on today and they do take massive credit,” said O’Boyle, who manages the club alongside former Holmesdale boss Tony Beckingham.

“They love their football down here and they didn’t want to have a Saturday without football, so we’ve done everything we can to get it on and it just shows with a little bit of hard work what you can do.

“I told them (my players) in the team talk before the game, I said there’s going to be a lot of jealous footballers out there today probably walking around Bluewater, wrapping Christmas presents up and I know where I’d rather be! I’d rather be out there playing football so what I didn’t want them doing was walking in the bar and not giving a response for the hard work that’s gone on here this morning.

“I said make sure we go in the bar and all that hard work’s been paid off and that’s what happened today.”

O’Boyle added: “When the groundsman does turn up on Monday, if he thinks he’s got an easy day, well he hasn’t. The pitch needs a little TLC on Monday.”

Naturally, Holmesdale manager Paul Proctor wanted a day away from football instead of getting soaked to the skin alongside coach Ross Mitchell inside his technical area.

He said: “It’s questionable really whether the game should have been played. They’ve put a lot of effort in so fair play to them. They got the game on. It was a farce really.”

With O’Boyle’s motivational words still in their ears, Phoenix Sports stamped their authority on Holmesdale straight from the first whistle, forcing four corners all within the opening five minutes.

O’Boyle said: “I thought they were quite weak at corners, but I thought we should have scored a couple before the first one went in.  We looked dangerous and it was only a matter of time before we put one in and that was it.”

Freeman was initially released down the right and he cracked a right-footed angled half-volley, which was tipped over the crossbar by Holmesdale’s keeper Alex Hyde, high to his left.

Edwards, who took all of Phoenix Sports’ thirteen corners (eleven of them coming in the first 35 minutes), whipped in some excellent deliveries and Holmesdale failed to deal with them as they regularly lost the aerial battle inside their own box.

Central defender Chris Hill and winger Chris Nelson both had headers headed off the line, before the home side netted following their fourth corner on the bounce.

Edwards swung the ball in from the right with his right foot and Hill powered his header towards goal and Freeman glanced a poacher’s goal into the net from two yards, claiming he touched the ball by sticking both of his arms in the air to celebrate.

O’Boyle insisted: “You won’t get it off Ricky Freeman – that’s Ricky Freeman’s goal!

“We knew he’d score goals at this level. We played against him last year at Hollands & Blair and he was a pain in the bum really. He scores goals, he works hard and he’s been a good signing for us.”

O’Boyle added: “It was a good start. I’ll be honest with you, we had the wind and it was a major factor in today’s game.  It was horrible out there!”

Proctor was disappointed that work on the training ground to defend corners didn’t come to fruition on match-day.

He said: “We talked about it. In the last few weeks we’ve trained for it but no we didn’t deal with the corners at all well.  It’s a weakness and it’s a strength of theirs.

“One of the things we talked about beforehand was not giving them set-pieces or corners and we couldn’t clear our lines for the first one.   They had four on the bounce and we weren’t happy with that. 

“Yes, they did (have thirteen corners) and only scored from one.”

Proctor, meanwhile, claimed his side should have been awarded a fourteenth-minute penalty when Phoenix Sports’ left-back Ryan Andrews appeared to be inside the penalty area when he handled the ball.

Assistant referee Ollie Woodrow noticed the offence but a free-kick was awarded  and John-Paul Collier stroked the resulting free-kick across the face of goal and left-back Darren Wheeler blasted his first-time right-footed shot harmlessly wide of the post.

When asked whether his side should have been awarded a penalty, Proctor replied: “I think so but the ref didn’t give it. He didn’t give us anything all day to be fair. Yes, it’s a penalty.”

Holmesdale played a 3-5-2 formation and were clearly missing former central defender Marc Cumberbatch – who was watching from the stand after Greenwich Borough’s game at Beckenham Town was one of the victims to the weather.

Dominant Phoenix sliced through Holmesdale’s three-man defence of Wheeler, Mark Banks and Mark Axel on a number of occasions during the first half.

Nelson swept the ball to Cornwell, who played the ball across to Freeman, who cut past Axel but was denied a goalscoring opportunity by a clinical tackle from Zak Henry, who got back to make a fine sliding tackle inside the box.

A kick from goalkeeper Dean Nash was flicked on by Cornwell and Freeman’s first time drive deflected wide of the far post.

And from Phoenix Sports’ sixth-corner of the game, Cornwell headed down at the far post and visiting keeper Alex Hyde gathered the loose ball at his near post.

Holmesdale received a huge slice of luck not to fall behind further when Billy Bennett’s flicked pass found Anthony Collins, who released Freeman down the left channel and his cross was sliced towards his goal by Wheeler but the ball landed straight into Hyde’s gloves.

But Hyde was at fault for Phoenix Sports’ second goal in the 25^th minute.

Dead-ball specialist Edwards whipped in a right-footed free-kick from 35-yards down the left, which curled around a flat-footed Hyde and a gust of wind helped the ball sail into the top far corner of the net, after caressing the top of the far post.

O’Boyle said: “All we said to him was just try to aim for the back post, not a shot, but if we can get in there, the ideal thing would be to skid in.

“No goalkeeper in the world would save that because it had too much force behind it – wind assisted.”

Proctor admitted: “The goalkeeper didn’t get anywhere near it! In all fairness it’s come blind side across him.  He’s disappointed with himself. To be honest it’s a goal that’s scored in these conditions. Any other game, in normal conditions, it gets dealt with!

“They’ve scored two scrappy goals in the first half. I know they probably had 60-70% possession, they didn’t really create chances where they could have or should have scored.”

The home side were to be denied a third goal when Bennett released Cornwell, who was denied by Hyde and Freeman lashed the rebound over the bar.

Nelson then cut in from the right and his right-footed angled drive was spilt by Hyde at his near post and the ball fell at Cornwell’s feet but he didn’t capitalise on the chance and an alert Hyde pounced on the ball at the striker’s feet.

Proctor admitted his side squandered an excellent chance to bring themselves back into the game in the 29^th minute.

Striker Luke Coleman unleashed a right-footed drive from 35-yards, which zipped off the turf and Dean Nash was forced to dive to his left to push the ball away to safety.

“We’ve had a few chances,” said Proctor.  “We’ve got to be a bit more clinical when we do get these chances, especially when you’re behind in a game and you do get the opportunity to get yourselves back in it. It’s disappointing because in training he’s been smashing them in.

“Again, the conditions don’t help forward players today.”

Cornwell easily cut past Wheeler, rounded keeper Hyde but was denied a certain goal by Banks.

Phoenix Sports tried their luck from 35-yards when Nelson played the ball to Edwards, who cracked a right-footed drive which zipped off the turf and Hyde dived to his right to parry towards safety.

O’Boyle admitted Bennett should have killed the game off five minutes before the break.

Freeman did well to win the ball in midfield and his through ball saw Hyde charge out of his penalty area but Bennett skipped past the goalkeeper and swept his right-footed shot wide of an empty goal.

O’Boyle said: “He didn’t think he had as much time he could have had. He’s got it and put it wide of an open goal basically.”

Holmesdale hit their hosts on the break with a burst forward from Henry before he released Coleman, who cut in from the left and curled his right-footed shot agonisingly wide of the far post.

Both managers were asked their thoughts at half-time.

O’Boyle said: “We was happy but what we did say was it’s going to be a hard second half with the windy conditions. I was quite happy to have a boring second half.

“The main thing after last week (losing 3-1 at home to Greenwich Borough) was to keep a clean sheet and that’s what we done.”

Proctor, who saw his side beat Sevenoaks Town 2-0 at home last weekend, added: “Basically we were playing into the wind. We just had to do what they did and try to do it better, try to keep possession, try to get in behind them and when a chance did come, make sure we were clinical.  Chances came and we weren’t clinical.”

Holmesdale performed much better during the second half and should have pulled a goal back after 63 seconds.

Collier played the ball out to Coleman on the left-hand side of the penalty area, who looped a shot over Nash but the ball dropped on to the roof of the net and behind for a goal-kick.

Holmesdale twice went close when Mert Varli swept a left-footed drive narrowly past the foot of the right-hand post from 25-yards, before Collier curled a 35-yard shot around the far post.

Proctor added: “It was a game of two halves. The conditions dictated the game really. It was just horrible out there. You couldn’t play in to the wind and you couldn’t get out, simple as that. They defended stoutly, they’ve got two good, experienced centre halves (James Brown and Hill).”

A sweeping three-man move in the 57^th minute almost gave Phoenix Sports a three-goal lead.

Freeman played the ball in from the left, Cornwell, in the middle swept the ball out to Edwards in space on the right and the former Thamesmead Town winger
curled his shot towards the far corner, which forced Hyde to dive to his right to parry the ball away to safety.

Bennett scuffed an angled shot across Hyde but the shot didn’t have enough power on it and Wheeler cleared the ball away from inside the six-yard box.

Holmesdale substitute Tyrone Guthrie looked lively when he came on for Mert Varli and after cutting in from the left he played the ball to Collier, whose driven shot from 25-yards deflected off substitute Jack Hope and sailed over the crossbar for a corner.

Andrews released Cornwell, who cut in from the left and Hyde came rushing off his line to make a fine block to his right.

But Phoenix Sports killed the game off with a third goal with eighteen minutes left.

Freeman swept the ball out to Edwards on the right flank, who whipped in a cross with his talented right-foot and no one in a yellow shirt tracked Cornwell at the near post, who guided his header down and past Hyde for the ball to nestle inside the bottom near corner from eight-yards.

O’Boyle said: “I thought that was an excellent goal – goal of the game?

“Ricky pushed it out wide, great cross on the run by Chrissy Edwards and a good header by Miles – good goal.”

A disappointed Proctor added: “I thought it summed it up! That was the difference. They had a chance in the second half and they took it. We had more chances in the first half playing against the wind and we didn’t take any of them.  They had one and they took it and that put the game a long way out of reach for us.

“I’m pleased with the effort of the boys’ put in. We kept playing, we kept trying to pass it. We tried to get in behind them. At 3-0 down you’re chasing a lost cause really.”

Collier twice tried to replicate Edwards’ goal when he whipped in two long-range free-kicks, but Nash kept his eye on the ball to make comfortable saves on both occasions.

The impressive Guthrie worked hard down the left channel and played the ball into fellow substitute Daniel Hughes, who slipped the ball through to Coleman, whose left-footed angled drive sailed agonisingly over the top of the near post from inside the penalty box.

Coleman, who was Holmesdale’s main threat, was released down the right and clipped the ball across goal towards the unmarked Guthrie, but Nash dived full-length to his right to claw the ball away.

Bennett burst forward towards the edge of the Holmesdale box before playing the ball out to Edwards, who lost his footing before regaining control before lashing his shot into the rain-soaked crowd.

Guthrie blasted a speculative right-footed drive wide of the right-hand post from 35-yards before the referee’s whistle gave the players a chance to return to the warmth of the dressing rooms.  The home side now have a television inside theirs, which was installed by today’s hero Mr Carnell.

Phoenix Sports, meanwhile, have closed the gap on leaders Ashford United to two points, but Paul Chambers’ side have four games in hand.

“Listen, we’re not looking at league tables and winning leagues or anything like that,” said O’Boyle.

“What we will say to you is all we want to do is can we finish as high up as we can? If we can get to a cup final it will be lovely.

“We’ve got two hard draws in that.  In our first season (at this level after winning the Kent Invicta League title last season), if I turn round to you and said we’d be up to third at Christmas I would have snatched your hand off.

“If we can get 50 points this season it would be a massive achievement for the club and we ain’t doing too bad at this moment in time.”

When asked whether his side can go on and clinch the title this season, O’Boyle said: “Not this season! We’ve lost too many games, silly games, so not this season, no.  Long-term ambition, of course, but not this season.”

Meanwhile, Bromley-based Holmesdale are eight points adrift of sixth-placed Lordswood and when asked whether he’s happy with a top ten placing at Christmas, Proctor replied: “Not really no.  I think we’ve probably given away seven or eight points this season.

“We’ve lost a few players but we’ve signed a few players. I am looking but I’m really happy with the squad. I think we need one more defender to come in. Hopefully John Wilfort will be fit in the New Year and available which we’re lacking in that experience after losing Marc Cumberbatch.

“Attacking wise, we’ve been looking strong and positive. The midfielders’ attitude is excellent.

“We just want to keep moving forward. I want to finish in the top six this year.”

The Southern Counties East Football League shuts down for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, but both clubs are in action next Saturday.

O’Boyle takes his side to Eltham to tackle fifth-placed Erith Town, who are five points behind.

He said: “My old club.  It will be a tough game. We played them down here. I thought we was really unlucky to come away with a loss. I thought we played some good stuff that day, missed a lot of chances. It’s a local derby. Hopefully we go there and turn them over.

“We’ve got a busy January with cup games and league games but that’s what it’s all about though.

“We’ve got a tough (two-legged League Cup Quarter-Final) tie against Corinthian but we drew Whyteleafe in the first round and not many people would have put us down going through that tie. We’ve beaten them home and away. On our day I think we’re capable of beating anyone in this league but if we ain’t on it anyone in the league can beat us.  On a one-off I fancy us against anyone.”

Proctor, meanwhile, takes his side to Whyteleafe next Saturday, a side in fourth-place with 31 points from 12 games – five points adrift of in-form Ashford United.

Proctor said: “It will be another tough game. We’ve got a little bit of a point to prove because they gave us a drubbing at our place.

“We’ve got three difficult fixtures next and then we’ve got a nice run of home fixtures to come so there’s no reason why we can’t push on.”

Phoenix Sports: Dean Nash, Nytran Dixon-Baker, Ryan Andrews, Billy Bennett, James Brown, Chris Hill, Alex Nelson (Jack Hope 50), Chris Edwards, Ricky Freeman, Miles Cornwell (Richie Hamill 75), Anthony Collins (Kane Rice 70).
Sub: Andrew Dalhouse

Goals: Ricky Freeman 5, Chris Edwards 25, Miles Cornwell 72

Booked: Richie Hamill 82

Holmesdale: Alex Hyde, Mert Varli (Tyrone Guthrie 61), Darren Wheeler, Ciro Donadio (Sean Brown 55), Mark Banks, John-Paul Collier, Daniel Stewart, Mark Axel, Luke Coleman, Nick Whybrow (Daniel Hughes 68), Zak Henry.
Sub: Tirean Sgoden

Booked: Daniel Stewart 29

Attendance: 73
Referee: Mr Chris Myatt (Dartford)
Assistants: Mr Ollie Woodrow (Ramsgate) & Mr Dan Proctor (Dartford)