Powerful win at Dunkirk for Holwell!

Match Result 10/12/16
Dunkirk FC 1 – 3 Holwell Sports FC

With both teams below where they wanted to be in the table at this point in the season it was important in this fixture to get the upper hand early and dictate the play.

Early showing from Holwell was positive as Foster shot just over after three minutes. The visitors took the game to Dunkirk pressing the home defence winning early free kicks.

This early pressure paid off as Holwell took the lead on 10mins from their first corner as Chapman sent in another peach of a cross Kieran Foster rose highest to power in an unstoppable header.

Dunkirk tried to get right back in the game, their tactic to get right winger Adrian Lang away down the channel forcing Chapman back to defend and it was Lang, who came closest to equalising two minutes later but for a good save from Jamie Witham.

However it was Holwell that were the strongest in this period of play, rewarded with a second goal on 15mins as Aaron Ridout took a throw on the right, receiving the ball back from Foster he crossed in, Laithan Hammond held the ball up before laying off smartly to Brad Smith who smashed the ball into the net just inside the keeper’s left hand post.

Holwell were dominant now and Dunkirk had no answer to Hammond, Foster and Harris whilst Stevenson, Smith and Williams bossed the midfield.

At the back Witham dealt with anything that managed to get through but Woodcock was outstanding supported by Bitmead and Ridout.

Dunkirk had half chances on 25 and 26mins as Stephen Chaplin tried to make a breakthrough but Holwell stood up to any pressure.

The second half mirrored the first as Holwell took control of the match again with the home side now reduced to individual effort rather than concerted team work as Tony Law was brought down by Bitmead the resultant free kick was again easily dealt with without danger.

Hammond was unlucky not to stretch the lead on 54mins as he did well to control the ball bring it down and shoot on the turn but keeper Sam Andrew did well to get down to his left and save.

After his tireless running and excellent forward play Hammond was replaced on 65mins by fit again Mark Tinsley to bring fresh legs up front.

The game was beginning to get stretched now with end to end play as Dunkirk tried desperately to get anything out of the game and the visitors were having to dig deep and defence look lively as Dunkirk pressed.

However the Holwell forwards were doing their bit with Foster causing havoc wide on the right sending in good crosses to keep the home side from gaining the upper hand.

Holwell manager Webster, stiffened up the midfield to protect the lead by sending on Chris Hibbitt for the tiring Brad Smith who had put in a great shift and David Hazeldine for Joe Williams to see out the match.

And it was that man Hazeldine who sealed the win for Holwell on 81mins who for the second time in three games got the winner for Holwell only minutes after coming onto the field of play as he prodded home a ball in from the left to all but kill the game.

It was now a measure of keeping the ball and protecting the clean sheet but unfortunately substitute Ben Gowing scored five minutes from the end as he was allowed to move the ball along the eighteen yard box before unleashing a shot which Witham was unsighted from.

A really assured and committed performance by Holwell who can take pride in this win away from home giving them confidence for their midweek Cup match at Melton Town.

Holwell:- Witham, Ridout, Bitmead, Woodcock, Chapman, Foster, Smith(Hibbitt), Stevenson, Williams(Hazeldine), Harris, Hammond(Tinsley).