Gravesham & Wellcome started the match on the front foot, piling early pressure onto Holcombe. Their dominance led to three short corners in quick succession, all testing the opposition keeper. The breakthrough came – but it was to come for Holcombe!

From their very first counter attack and first short corner, awarded after a cheap foot at the back. The opportunity was clinically dispatched, putting GWHC on the back foot.

The pressure remained with the home side despite the goal against. A mistake at the Holcombe end saw them leave a Nav Tung cross thinking it was going safe only for Captain Aaron Elliott to pop up from nowhere and send it into the goal.

Momentum carried on with Andy Simpson finding himself in prime positions after receiving two exceptional aerial passes from Steve Caulfield. On one occasion, Simpson managed to beat the keeper but, veering wide, could only send his shot past the far post.

The second half saw more attacking intent from Gravesham & Wellcome. A rocket of a cross flashed across the face of the goal but was just beyond Jesse Bradley’s reach. A short corner back-post deflection from Elliott went narrowly wide. Nav Tung then unleashed a screamer destined for the top corner, only to be denied by an outstanding save.

Controversy struck when a deflected effort looped into the air and dropped into the net, seemingly providing the all-important lead. However, the whistle had gone a snippet of a moment before the ball crossed the line, ruling out what could have been the decisive goal.

Gravesham & Wellcome continued to push, with Steve Caulfield attempting a short-corner drag flick that sailed over the bar. The drama intensified when a goal-bound effort was illegally blocked on the line by a defender’s leg, resulting in a penalty flick. However, the hosts failed to capitalise with Andy Simpsons effort perfectly placed with power but the goalkeeper seeming to ready exactly what he was going to do.
The final twist saw Si Bradley strike a fierce effort from the top of the D, only to see it crash against the base of the post. It was a frustrating end to a match where luck was not on GWHC’s side.

Despite the disappointment, the team can take heart from their performance. While the win eluded them, securing a point ensures they remain firmly in the hunt for promotion.

Man of the match: Aaron Elliott
Author: Aaron with a little help from ChatGPT.