Missed chances come back to haunt Holwell!

West Bridgford FC 3 – 1 Holwell Sports FC

With no respite the agony continues at Holwell with another defeat on the road. This time away to West Bridgford FC just one place above Holwell in the league also struggling at the basement following a wholesale squad change this season. This was the sort of match where you must beat those around you to stay away from relegation.

Again Holwell were unable to field their best side, with injury to Captain Ridout and Woodcock not available. Manager Webster paired Bitmead and Andrews at the back.

Whilst those that are available do their best it cannot be encouraging for players to have to fit in where they are not comfortable week in week out. Playing in positions where they know they are not best suited their enthusiasm diminishes as errors can be sorely punished at this level.
Both teams started with similar tactics to use the long ball and turn defenders, which unfortunately leads to a game of ping pong ball whilst forwards easily get caught offside breaking up attacks.

Holwell were soon on the back foot as a mix up and huge slice of luck saw the home side go ahead through Tizi Maninga where, in a goal mouth scramble on 9mins the ball sliced of his boot from an air shot, and slowly trundled its way across the line.

Holwell tried to get back into the game and midway through the half Sibson went close to equalising from a good header off a Chapman cross but the keeper had it covered.

Whilst Holwell continued to get the upper hand West Bridgford nearly extended their lead when their winger broke through, beat Keeper Binns and looked to have an open goal but incredibly blazed his goal attempt sky wards from six yards out.

Tinsley was again causing problems for the home side up front and missed two good chances after good passes from Sibson and Tyson. However being caught off side regularly broke any momentum the visitors built.

The first half ended with Holwell now on top with Stevenson and Tinsley combining to come close to equalising. Stevenson also came close with a trade mark 25yard effort which come down off the cross bar.

However Mark Tinsley gave the visitors something to work on in the second half as he scored on 39mins after good work from Liam Chapman - a good time to score just before half time!

The second half continued as the first with long ball tactics but it was Holwell that looked the more dangerous now.

The first twenty to twenty five minutes Holwell just could not get that breakthrough to go ahead and West Bridgford were looking to keep what they had.

However Holwell’s frailties to defend corners undid them on 75mins as Daniel Hudson rose at the near post to head home from an in swinging corner. A poor goal to concede as the visitors heads went down.

Bridgford killed off the game in the 81st minute as Jaylee Hodgson beat the offside trap rounded the keeper and tapped in.

Bridgford really did have their tails up now and but for two great saves by Holwell’s keeper Binns the final score could have been another embarrassing result for John Webster’s team.

As it was the consensus (including home fans) was that had Holwell taken their chances in the first half they could have been out of sight at half time as West Bridgford felt the final score 3-1 flattered them.

Holwell: Binns, Wood, Bitmead, Andrews, Chapman, Hazeldine, Stevenson, B Smith, Sibson, Tinsley, Hartopp. Subs Fontoura, Reek, Reeves