Deal Town 0 Holmesdale 4

Holmesdale showed Deal why they are challenging so strongly for the Bulmers Cider Kent League title with an impressive four-goal victory at the Charles Ground.

Deal had beaten the Dalers twice at home in cup ties earlier in the season, but they were a different proposition on Saturday.

The visitors were, however, sent on their way by an outrageous piece of good fortune with just 12 minutes gone. Town centre half Josh Davidson tried to clear from inside his area, but the ball bounced off the shins of skipper Dave Bathgate and flew into the Deal net from fully 20 yards.

Well-taken goals from Paul Semakula (58) and AJ Morrison (69) put the game out of reach and Joel Hughes got the fourth 13 minutes from time.

On the plus side for Hares, two of his most experienced strikers, Mark Pollard and Stuart Vahid, both made their comebacks after lengthy absences as second-half substitutes.

Hares said: “We didn’t play well and I thought they played very well, and the combination of the two explains why we lost 4-0.”

Deal: Rogers, Beeden, Davidson, Govey, Ingram, Bathgate, J Collins, Cassar, Robinson (H Collins 75), Godden (Pollard 75), Smith (Vahid 70). Att: 80.