Holwell lose out to a determined Blaby.

Match report 13/01/18 Holwell Sports FC 0 – 2 Blaby & Whetstone FC

It really is unfortunate that Holwell sink so much commitment and effort into their matches at the moment only to see yet another beatable side skip down the road having nicked all three points.

It happened again on Saturday when a decent first half performance and good second half start petered out as Blaby ground out a result relying on their superior experienced players to dig something out of a game they looked like losing.

The first half was not for the purists, Blaby looked lacklustre a shadow of previous sides bearing the name and Holwell huffed and puffed but could not make a break through. Bright spot for Holwell was the impressive debut at right back for Sam Wright who put in an assured performance and looked the part.

For Blaby Leon Doughty on the right and Adam Parry were the real threats as Doughty used his pace on the wing whilst Parry had a couple of shots which came close.

However the highlight of the first half was the self-destruct by Toby Warner sent off for two bookable offences within five minutes of each other. The first a kick out at Randall after a hard tackle, clear for all to see and in front of the referee who for some unknown reason only booked the player, who subsequently took another swipe at a defender’s legs in the box moments later after going down at a corner to earn his second yellow!

Holwell started the second half with some vigour and five minutes in had their first real effort on goal as Brad Smith broke past a defender to go one on one with keeper Greatorex but his shot was too close to the keeper.

Holwell looked the business as the game went on with Cowling and Smith combining again to go close. This was quickly followed by Smith having the ball in the net but ruled offside and Reek going close on 66mins before being replaced by Shaun Smith.

However as the game wore on you got the feeling the visitors would nick something and sure enough 73mins on the clock Blaby benefitted from some pin ball in the Holwell goalmouth where Lee Barratt managed to score as Holwell failed to clear from a corner.

To their credit Holwell tried to get back on terms and came really close as a great left foot volley from Shaun Smith was somehow turned away for a corner by Greatorex.

As sometimes happens pushing up to chase a game leaves gaps and Holwell took one chance too many as Adam Parry punished them to steal all three points.

It was tough on Holwell after early effort, missed chances early on cost them and in the end Blaby’s more experienced squad prevailed – just.

Holwell:- Binns, Wright, Bitmead, Woodcock, Hazeldine, Reek (S Smith), B Smith( D Reeves), Stevenson, Randall, Chapman, Cowling,