Sports and Dale have destiny in their own hands
Points needed still for play-offs and survival
It’s not often I do a midweek double, as much as I love football it’s harder to keep up with the blogging afterwards plus the travelling involved as well. After watching Barnet clinch a play-off spot in the National League the night before, it was down to Step 5 to see if Holmesdale could get the points needed to be safe from the drop or if Phoenix Sports could continue their quest for second place and a play-off spot themselves in the Southern Counties East Premier Division.
The Sports are looking for an instant return to the Isthmian League after relegation last season whilst the hosts have had a disappointing few months but with enough games in hand they should have enough time to avoid dropping into Division One.
Despite the warmth of the day the wind picked up for a chilly evening at Oakley Road, a larger than normal crowd buoyed by the visitors who travel well. A slightly bobbly pitch meant keeping the ball on the deck and playing some nice football was likely to be at a premium.