Holwell fail to take chances at Holbrook and live to regret it!

Match Report 28/03/18 Holbrook Sports FC 2 – 1 Holwell Sports FC

Holwell and a small band of committed followers made the arduous trip to far flung Holbrook last Wednesday evening. A clear night, cool but clubs will cope with anything at the moment to get games played in what must be one of the worst winters for sport in years.

Holwell started well kicking up the long slope at Holbrook and as quickly as the fourth minute had their first opening as the ball was quickly moved from left to right by Betteridge to Chapman then on to Reek who shot well but the keeper was equal to the shot.

This was to set the pattern for most of the first half as Holwell clearly dominated play as Reek again did well to break from midfield sending a low cross across the box but there were no takers.

The left wing was most productive as Betteridge and Chapman combined well to play in Mark Cowling on 21mins, who was then brought down. Connor O’Grady had a chance at the back post from the free kick but his effort was cleared.

There followed two big chances for Cowling and Tinsley which would have confirmed the domination in this game but both attempts were hurried and shanked well wide when well placed.

Cowling had another chance on 30mins doing well to get to another Betteridge cross but again his attempt went wide of the target. This was soon to be followed by Reek shooting straight at the keeper as again good work on the left to get the ball into the danger areas was seemingly wasted.

Finally Holbrook started to get into the game as they hadn’t been able to utilise the downward slope at all due to Holwell’s pressure as Matthew Harris was presented with a glorious chance but lobbed the ball over the bar when it looked easier to score.

Holbrook let the visitors off the hook again minutes later as the home side finished the half strongly as Isaac Minnott was guilty of poor finishing when well placed.

Had Holwell wasted their chance to get on top in this match? The second half started with the home side now facing the slope but it didn’t seem to bother them as they looked a more competent side in the second half.

But still it was Holwell that had the better of the early exchanges and again the forwards were guilty of poor finishing as first Mark Tinsley then Michael Stevenson had big chances on 50 and 52 mins to take the lead in this game.

Holbrook looked more up for it and it took a last ditch tackle by Captain Ian Bitmead to deny Harris the opener.

Holwell had started the second half poorly with scrappy play.

The game hinged on a dramatic two minute spell as Holbrook took the lead in unfortunate circumstances on 65mins. The ball was being moved across the box by Holbrook when it inadvertently hit referee Constable. As players followed the projected path of the ball Isaac Minott reacted quickest to smash the loose ball past Jamie Witham, who did well to get to it having to move quickly but couldn’t stop the ball going over the line.

What a difference a goal makes for both teams Holbrook now full of confidence, Holwell now chasing the game having had enough chances to be out of sight by this point. The game then seemed beyond Holwell as Minott scored his second two minutes later shooting past Witham from the right side of the box.

Holwell showed some character as they tried to get back on terms but losing the influential Chapman to injury disrupted their play.

Tinsley did well on the right as he sped down the slope looking up to send a pin point ball to Kyle Reek but it wasn’t to be Holwell’s night as yet another one on one with the keeper resulted in the ball being sent over the bar when it looked easier to score.

That would have got Holwell back into the game but Cowling made amends on 79mins as he headed in a cross from Betteridge to give some hope for a draw at least.

However Holbrook were not finished and it took some big defending by Holwell to keep the score to 2-1 in the last few minutes as Minott aiming for his hat trick and Sasha Marcelic let the visitors off the hook as they were presented with good opportunities late on.

Yet again Holwell had let a higher placed team off the hook in a game where the forwards needed to be more clinical in front of goal.

Holwell:- Witham, B Smith, Bitmead, Woodcock, Betteridge, Reek(S Smith), O’Grady, Stevenson, Chapman(Wright), Tinsley, Cowling.