Holwell through to League Cup Semi Final!

Barrow Town 2 – 5 Holwell Sports FC

Holwell cope best in atrocious conditions to book Semi-Final Spot!

Holwell Sports were the first team to book a spot in this year’s League Cup Semi-Finals with a very well deserved win at Barrow on Wednesday night on a heavy pitch and in very windy/rainy conditions.

Having strengthened their squad since the 8-0 defeat away to Holwell early on in the season Barrow must have felt they had a chance on their own pitch with the weather so bad but it all fell to bits so early on for them.

Starting brightly enough Holwell found themselves one nil up in three minutes when Merryweather failed to control the ball and Keast was allowed to go one on one with keeper Brightwell which Keast won to put Holwell in front.

Just after this keeper Brightwell dislocated his left shoulder and had to leave the pitch injured – forward Scott MacLennon taking over in goal Jake Leader on as sub.

Holwell were two up on 19mins as Michael Stevenson fed Keast and he sends Scott Mooney away to extend Holwell’s lead.

Barrow were not fully out of it but the two or three shots they had in the first half with wind advantage found themselves going straight at Richard Cragg’s frame. Even their best chance was beat away by Cragg when he saved a point blank save from Packwood on 35mins.
Holwell nearly went three up just before half time when Mooney rounded the keeper but his shot from a tight angle was just cleared at the front post by Tature.

Barrow did get the ball in the net just on half time but assistant Allen ruled it out for offside. HT 0-2

Holwell put the tie beyond Barrow just after the break on 49mins when Mooney latched onto a pass from Bettinson he needed time to get the ball under control but finished to put Holwell three up.

Barrow seemed to have gone to pieces now and with the wind at their backs Holwell controlled the next half hour. Mark Tinsley made a defender make an error on 55mins, the ball breaking to Graham Keast who shot but the keeper MacLennon saved it, however as it rebounded Keast managed to turn the ball in for number four.

Assistant Mgr Hatton in charge whilst Simon Daws recovers from illness sent on subs Williams, Randall and McKay for Keast Tinsley and Bettinson which freshened Holwell up for the last twenty minutes.
Holwell went five nil up on 70mins when a good ball from Tom Williams cross field found Scott Mooney who bagged his hat trick on the night.

The match won Holwell seemed to take their foot off the pedal on the heavy pitch and late on Barrow managed to pull one back when John Grady bundled the ball in on 84mins and the officials seemed to conspire to give Barrow a second consolation goal when Bitmead was dubiously adjudged to have fouled a Barrow forward right on the edge of the box and referee Gardiner awarded the softest of penalties which Ben Law dispatched well past Richard Cragg.