Holwell Sports bow out after dreaded penalty shoot out!

Match Report – Jelson Homes senior Cup Semi – Final
Aylestone park FC 1 – 1 Holwell Sports FC (AET)
Aylestone Pk win 5-4 on penalties

Holwell were fastest on the pace from the off pressing Aylestone high up the park and on seven minutes Liam Chapman sent Jay Kirkby clear to put the ball into the net only to see it cancelled due to offside. Such was the pressure of Holwell it was fully 16mins before Aylestone could mount an attack finishing with a shot over the bar from Lyndon Seal.

But Holwell’s pressure saw them leaving gaps on the right at the back and after Kirkby had again been caught offside Aylestone broke away down their left with Foster badly out of position. Aaron Ridout was caught by the pace of Seal who after brushing off the defender curled a well placed shot high into the left hand corner of the Holwell net to put Aylestone 1-0 up.

On 28mins Holwell came close again to levelling when Keast and Foster combined well for Foster to send in a good delivery headed down by Scot Mooney and with the goal gaping Kirkby skied his shot over the bar! A minute later Holwell had another good chance to level but this time Keast put his shot wide of the goal – these were chances that would come back to haunt Holwell.

But on 38mins Holwell were level after a period of sustained pressure paid off when a Keast corner was met on the full by Chris Hibbitt. Holwell could have gone ahead on 43mins when Mooney was given a chance but it was beaten away by Keeper Foxon. HT 1-1

Aylestone substituted right back Banton at half time with David Fisher in an attempt to give them more craft higher up the pitch and his introduction did give them more of the ball in the second half but again the better of the chances were falling to Holwell and on 63 mins Foster’s weak shot in a good position went past the post.

Aylestone were not creating much now and both teams seemed to be tiring badly with loose passes all over the park but on 78mins centre half and captain for Aylestone, Kieran Neatt was given a free header at a corner and Liam Chapman did well to clear off the line at the back post. From the resultant corner Neatt again headed towards goal but this time wide of the post.

So after ninety minutes the sides moved into 30mins of extra time and still could not be separated. Holwell had a great chance in the first half of extra time when Stevenson shot over from a direct free-kick and in the second half Aylestone substitute Mylord Kashai came close but Dom Hallows came to the rescue blocking his shot and Richard Cragg again came to Holwell's rescue saving the rebound shot to send the teams into the dreaded penalties.

Holwell were first up and Graham Keast set them off with a perfectly placed shot past Foxon. Taylor netted his for Aylestone followed by Kirkby and Peace to make the score 2-2. Substitute Jamie Simpson missed his but Luke Towers put Aylestone in front. Michael Stevenson scored then Richard Cragg saved well down to his left to level the score at 3-3. Captain Dominic Hallows restored Holwell in front before Lee Tyres levelled.

Graham Wells unfortunately put his penalty over the bar and it was left to substitute Mylord Kashai to decide the match and he did ending the night with a 5-4 win on penalties for Aylestone Park FC.

All praise to the Holwell manager Daws and his players for getting this far. The players put up a good show and hopefully will get back to winning ways again for their ninth successful league win at Holbrook Sports on Saturday.