Aylestone steal Holwell’s thunder, running off with all three points!

Holwell Sports FC 0 – 1 Aylestone Park

The first half was a fairly even affair with both teams cancelling each other out, lots of effort but no real endeavour with defences on top and goal opportunities hard to come by.

It was fully 20mins to the best chance of the match as Aylestone’s Brown managed a shot at goal. Two minutes later and Holwell had their chance to open the scoring as Hazeldine was fouled mid-way in the visitor’s half. Aylestone were under pressure conceding three corners in a row before they managed to clear but only after centre half Kieran Neat was injured after taking a Hibbitt pile driver straight in the face.

Aylestone thought they had scored on 29mins when Vizzard put the ball in the net but Yusef had been offside in the approach.
Holwell’s best came at the end of the half when Hazeldine and Foster combined to make an opening for Wells but he just could not get control of the ball.

As the half, finished the heavens had opened with heavy thunder and lightning in the area. As the interval finished it was sheer folly and some would say unsafe of the referee to recommence the match both for the safety of the players and spectators as the weather deteriorated with lightning strikes around and actually over the ground.

However the second half as it progressed was totally dominated by Holwell as wave after wave of attacks down both flanks had the visitors under severe pressure. Four minutes into the half and Holwell should have been in front Chapman sent in a peach of a cross which Wells met on the full only for visiting keeper Hamill to bring off a point blank save to deny Holwell.

Aylestone had no answer to Chapman on the left as he swung in high quality crosses with new signing Hammond next to come close followed by a great effort by Foster on 56mins which unfortunately was straight at the keeper.

Aylestone were finding it difficult to get going in the pouring rain whereas Holwell seemed to be playing controlled skilful football despite the overhead light show and heavy rain.

On 72mins Foster failed to capitalise on yet another free header form a Chapman cross. Everything was coming from the Holwell left and yet another chance was sqaundered as Hibbitt headed over. Holwell just could not get the ball in the net as Aylestone sent on Potter, Joynson and Mohammad in a bid to turn the tide.

However it was still Holwell that looked the more dangerous with most of the possession with the visitors just hopeful of a break away and, that the overhead lightning and downpour would cease.

It really had become very close to unsafe for all in the ground but still referee Naji saw no reason to halt the match even when an overhead blast caused the floodlights to fail.

Sadly, Holwell were about to rue the fact that they had failed to score on so many occasions in the match as, in the very last minute Aylestone mounted one final counter attack. As all around him were trying to cope with the conditions, Aylestone’s Mason Brown kept his head and somehow managed to find the far corner of the net from midway inside the Holwell box to deny Holwell any points from a stirring performance.

Virtually the last kick of the ball giving Holwell no time to get back at Aylestone who were more than relieved to have stolen the three points from under Holwell.

Holwell:- Witham, Reeves, Kibble, Bitmead, Chapman, Harris, Hammond, Hibbitt, Wells, Hazeldine (Tindsley), Foster. Not Used Cragg, Chiavetta, Ridout, Dewick