Holwell struggle to get season underway!

This was a chance to get the league campaign underway but again Manager Webster was not able to field his strongest squad and with second string Development squad also in action could not raid that squad to supplement numbers.

As it was youngsters Kyle Reek, Shaun Smith and James Rushton were brought into the squad. Hardly fair on these players to be thrown in at this level however, they do offer a good future for Holwell as they more than held their own when called upon.

Rushton impressed the whole match, not phased and more than a match for the speedy winger he competed against at right back.

Kicking up a big slope in the first half Holwell did well to combat the long high ball into the forwards. Tinsley had a great chance two minutes in as Selstons centre back sold his keeper short with a bad back pass but seemed to have too much time to think with a tame finish which the keeper easily dealt with.

Within minutes Andre Fontoura did well to work free in the left corner worming his way along the byeline but shot straight at the keeper with others free and the chance was lost.

Selston seemed to be having problems getting control of the ball on their own pitch struggling to control the ball on this downward slope. Several chances went a begging but the forwards were guilty of some bad finishing.

Meanwhile Holwell were under severe pressure living on the edge with last ditch defending by Bitmead and Randall who both cleared shots off the line.

Holwell tried to get the ball under control and hard work kept the home side at bay whilst up front Tinsley and Fontoura were always a threat.
The visitors took comfort from surviving the downhill onslaught of the first half to go in level at the break.

Any half time confidence booster was negated however as Cragg and Randall got themselves in a right mess on 47mins allowing Carl Moore to break the deadlock as he profited from the chaos of the Holwell players trying to clear.

Moore was causing a problem in the centre of the Holwell defence when on 54mins he easily rode a Holwell defenders tackle to get free easily slotting the ball past Cragg.

Where it was thought Holwell would be able to use the slope in the second half it wasn’t to be as Selston controlled the second half play with Renshaw nearly putting the match beyond Holwell on 66mins as he was allowed to break in from the right his shot going past the left hand post.

Holwell brought on Bloxham, Hazeldine and Shaun Smith for Kyle Reek, Andre Fontoura and Brad Smith but they were not able to change the game much though Hazeldine did get himself in about the Selston midfield with some strong challenges in an effort to get some fight back in the team.

Holwell look forward to the end of the cricket season and squad members’ holidays so they can get their strongest eleven on the pitch at the same time. Only then can we see if the squad will start to make headway.

Languishing second bottom of the league it will take some time to correct this poor start so far!

Holwell:- Cragg, Rushton, Bitmead, Randall, Chapman, Reek(Bloxham), Foster, B Smith(Hazeldine), Stevenson, Fontoura(S Smith) Tinsley.