Petts Wood & Holmesdale battled through conditions on the wettest day since Noah to secure a 3-1 victory over Snodland Town at The New Inn Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Dalers made the perfect start and took the lead inside eight minutes. Armani-Jordan Martin continued his fine recent form, finding the net via the aid of a deflection, to put the hosts 1-0 ahead.
Despite the relentless rain, Snodland levelled on 37 minutes with a superb strike from Chris Alhassan, that gave Dale keeper Reece Hobbs little chance, ensuring the visitors were back on terms at 1-1.
PWHFC responded positively to this setback and almost restored their advantage moments later. The Snodland goalkeeper produced an excellent double save from Joel Wakefield to keep the scores level, while at the other end Reece Hobbs was called into action, making a crucial one on one stop to deny the visitors.

With little to separate the two sides, the teams headed into the halftime sheds with the score at 1-1.

The Dalers started the second half brightly and nearly regained the lead when Ryan Mahal's header from a corner was well saved by the plunging visiting goalkeeper three minutes after the restart.
Dale pressure eventually told on 59 minutes though, Tunmise Akanni finishing confidently from range to give Petts Wood & Holmesdale a deserved 2-1 advantage.
Lewis Heywood was replaced by debutant Ollie Milton shortly after the hour mark, as the hosts looked to build on their lead. The returning Enoch Muwonge was then introduced in place of Armani-Jordan Martin on 74 minutes.
Snodland remained a threat and almost found an equaliser in the 83rd minute, when a looping header drifted narrowly wide of the target. As the rain continued to pour, keeper Hobbs showed his handling ability in the wet, with an excellent save on 86 minutes to preserve the lead.
Dale came within inches of wrapping up the points two minutes later, when another Tunmise Akanni effort was brilliantly tipped onto the post by the Snodland goalkeeper.
After replacing Muwonge on 82 minutes, Jesse Rowe would have the decisive impact from the bench. Deep into stoppage time, the attacker found the net to make it 3-1 and put the contest beyond doubt.
There was still time for Hobbs to make another important save in the 94th minute, capping an impressive afternoon for the Petts Wood & Holmesdale goalkeeper, as the Dalers saw out the closing stages.

In conditions more suited to ship building than football, Petts Wood & Holmesdale showed real resilience and quality to record a well-earned 3-1 home victory and claim all three points at The New Inn Stadium.

Nik Pye
PWHFC Media Manager