Holwell come from behind to do the double over Kimberley!

Kimberley Miners Welfare 1 – 2 Holwell Sports

On point from the start Holwell were keen to pressure the home side and a great move early into the match saw a good cross ball from Foster to Harris who laid the ball off to Williams. He controlled the ball and sent Chapman down the left where his pinpoint cross was deftly nicked on by Mark Cowling his effort just skimming the bottom of the right hand post.

In the first seven minutes Holwell had won three corners the first saw a fierce shot from Foster cleared off the line as Kimberley were all at sea shortly to be followed by an Ian Bitmead shot desperately cleared.

Foster was seeing a fair bit of the ball, his first time volleyed shot unluckily just over the bar, finishing off a good move involving Stevenson and Chapman.

But Kimberley were trying to get things going and were unlucky on 24mins as Hassal tried to get on the end of a smart ball in behind the Holwell defence.

Holwell had strong shout for a penalty on 34mins as Bitmead collected a ball from a corner at the edge of the eighteen yard box he was brought down by a defenders trailing leg but referee Davis gave a goal kick.

Holwell continued to boss the game with chances falling to Cowling and Foster on 34 and 42mins.

But totally against the run of play and with a shovel full of luck Kimberley went into the break one up after Bitmead slipped in the box allowing Andy Hassal in on goal, where he took his one and only real chance of the half.

Holwell had to take advantage of the fact they were more dominant and started the second half well pressing Kimberley back on their heels. Within minutes the pattern of the first half was repeating Holwell on top Kimberley defending Chapman sent in another good cross on 51mins which went across goal no Holwell forwards took advantage.

Tom Harris was now beginning to get under the skin of the home defenders breaking in from the left and on 54mins let fly just wide of the upright.

On 61mins a Chapman free kick was collected by Brad Smith his pass into Foster saw the forward turn and shoot just tipped over by the Kimberley keeper – the goal was coming!

Chapman was unlucky on 62mins as his goal bound shot was also well turned away for a corner. It proved to be a corner too far for Kimberley as Tom Harris stole in to get a glancing header on Chapman’s in-swinger to level the score. No more than Holwell had deserved for all their pressure.

For a few minutes after Kimberley tried to get back into the game but Holwell’s midfield and back three were making sure nothing troubled Witham in the visitors goal who didn’t have too much to do in this match.

Holwell made a change taking off Joe Williams who had done well in midfield, to be replaced by the bustling David Hazeldine, and having been on for less than five minutes it proved one of those inspiring manager’s changes when Hazeldine scored Holwell’s second of the match on 68mins as he got his head onto a Foster cross.

Though Kimberley tried to rally it was not to be their day and though there was some work still to be done to protect the lead, Holwell saw out the game well to secure the three points.

The win will give the whole squad some confidence as they go into Tuesday night’s cup tie with locals Melton Town FC.

Holwell: Witham, Ridout, Bitmead, Woodcock, Foster, Smith, Stevenson, Williams(Hazeldine), Chapman, Harris, Cowling. Sub Not Used: Chiavetta.