Spirited Fightback by Holwell comes too late!

Radford FC 4 – 2 Holwell Sports FC

As seems the norm, regular and experienced players had become unavailable for selection with an added headache this week of regular keeper Cragg deciding to stop playing all together. At short notice preparation was diverted to finding a replacement keeper with Jordan Lawrance a promising youngster from Leicester being pitched in for his debut.

The first twenty minutes of this match were pretty even with the much stronger and quicker Radford not able to break down the Holwell defence. However on 22mins Gino Kelleher was allowed to move along the eighteen yard box then rifle a shot low past keeper Lawrance.

Holwell tried to get back into the game but seemed lightweight up front with the Radford defence easily fending off Tinsley and Reek as they tried to break into the danger areas. Andrew Wood made a strong break down the left for Holwell on 26mins but again the threat was easily handled by Radford.

On 38mins Radford went two nil up as Holwell failed to clear from a corner on the left. Tthe ball went over all in the box to Garton who whipped the ball back over for centre back Simon Hore who rose to head home.

Holwell’s heads were down with Foster nursing a painful throat injury. It looked as though the day was going to be a long one as on the stroke of half time, Holwell’s skipper Ridout was very harshly adjudged to have brought down Cooper Richard as he moved into the box. The referee some way off and on the defenders side felt that the tackle was foul but closer eyes felt the penalty extremely harsh. Three nil to Radford at the break as Liam Motson scored from the spot with Lawrance just getting his fingers to it.

Foster could not continue after the break being replaced by Dean Randall leading to another wholesale shuffle with Bitmead up front, Randall at right back Wood moving to centre back and Hazeldine to left back.

This seemed to give some sparkle and mettle into Holwell’s play, certainly making the home side uncomfortable at the back now, with a huge shout for a penalty for Holwell as soon as 49th minute as Hore played the ball with his upper arm as Bitmead tried to go past him.

Jordan Lawrance had shown no real nerves in his debut as Holwell’s keeper with some good saves and intelligent distribution but all that was to be put to the test again as referee Wingate awarded the home side another penalty as Randall brought down a forward in the box. This time the keeper brought off a great save from Motson and the tide was turning!

Holwell were more up for it now Wood at the back was growing in confidence playing very well, with better passing and some presence up front putting pressure on the home back four. Tinsley now out wide right was seeing more of the ball and with Reek and Fontoura replaced by Murray and Shaun Smith the away side started to get the upper hand.

But against the run of play Radford went further in front as danger man Ryan Smith turned in a cross from the right to put Radford four nil up on the hour mark.

Holwell’s first real chance of the second half fell to Tinsley who tested keeper Dunn on 66mins with a deft touch which the keeper did well to turn over the bar.

Murray was beginning to make effect in midfield with powerful running, and on 67mins brushed aside the attention of two defenders to lay the ball off to Shaun Smith who shot past Dunn to get Holwell into the game.

Five minutes later Holwell cut the deficit to two as again Smith sent in a ball which came out to him from a corner and, as he tackled on the ground Skipper Ridout reacted quickest to lift the ball high into the net. It truly was game on now with Radford rattled and moments later Hazeldine just failed to connect in front of goal which looked a good chance.

Radford were holding out now looking for the whistle but in stoppage time Motson was all over Bitmead in the box. The referee pointed to the spot. Michael Stevenson converted to give the score line some credit for the second half fightback by Holwell.

However the fight back was just too late in coming but given the chance to field a strong settled side some team somewhere along the line is going to be on the end of real beating by Holwell.

Holwell:- Jordan Lawrance, Foster(Randall), Ridout, Bitmead, Wood, Reek(Murray), B Smith, Stevenson, Fontoura(S Smith), Tinsley, Hazeldine. Sub Not Used Allen.