Holwell up against it as Dunkirk take all three points.

Holwell Sports 1 – 4 Dunkirk FC

Holwell were always going to struggle in this match against one of the strongest teams in the league and it showed as early as the seventh minute when a free kick by Dunkirk’s Harrison was met by the head of Burton. His effort hit the post but as the ball bounces just out along the goal line Darryll Thomas is well placed to tap in to open the scoring for Dunkirk.

For the rest of the half the play was mainly one way as Dunkirk with two strong centre backs sent long ball after long ball into the home sides half.

To be fair Holwell actually coped pretty well with this tactic as Bitmead and Woodcock dealt well with the aerial onslaught, helped by some good saves by Witham and profligate finishing by the Dunkirk forwards.

Holwell’s midfield of O’Grady, Stevenson, Hazeldine and Chapman were in effect bypassed not able to get into any rhythm as they watched ball after ball head over them towards the back four.
The kick and run tactics of Dunkirk were not for the purists but Holwell did well to get to the break only one down. However the home side had not had one attempt on goal for the whole of the first half.

Keen to press higher up the pitch to stop the long ball play Holwell came out with a determination in the second half to press the visitors back four when they got the ball.

Dunkirk were rocked back for a period and it was clear that they would need to get another goal to see this game off but Holwell were now getting in their faces asking some tough questions.

Twice Holwell had half chances as first a great strike by Mark Tinsley from the edge of the box was curling in at the back post only for keeper Want to get finger tips to it and turn it over the bar. Then a header by Cowling was also tipped behind as it went very close.

But it was against this early run of play that Dunkirk went further ahead on 53mins as a ball sent over by Hickey eluded all but Darryll Thomas who scored his second again at the far post.

But Holwell dug in getting back into the game on the hour as Mark Cowling powered in a header at the near post on 60mins to lift the home side.

However, against a team with one aim to send long balls forward for runners to chase onto, pushing up to chase the game left the home side susceptible to the counter attack and on 71mins after a long ball forward Harrison flicked a header on to the speedy Tim Berridge who was able to run on past advancing defenders and slot the ball easily beyond Witham to make it three one.

There followed a period of time wasting by the visitors and frustrated tackling by Holwell where referee Bullen was busy with yellow cards before Dunkirk rounded off a good night on 84mins when Berridge flicked the ball over the defence for substitute Adrian Lang who then delightfully lobbed Holwell’s keeper to score.

A score which in the end flattered Dunkirk as Holwell had again put in a decent enough shift where had it been many other sides they might have taken something from this.

For Dunkirk though a profitable night which saw them move up to third in the table three points behind the leaders and with a game in hand.

Holwell:- Witham, B Smith, Bitmead, Woodcock, Betteridge, Hazeldine, O’Grady, Stevenson, Chapman(Reek), Tinsley(S Smith), Cowling(Cragg) Not Used:- Wright, Andrews,