Holwell show spirit but some work needed to improve!

After a five one defeat on Saturday at Ashby Ivanhoe the hope at home to Anstey Nomads Tuesday was that this was just a bad day at the office and things would come right in this home fixture.

With players still missing due to holidays, manager Webster is finding it tough to send out a settled side.
However Holwell got off to a flyer as Foster fashioned a goal out of nothing on five mins as his looping cross deceived keeper Hanley who let it drop over him and in under the bar.

What followed was a frenetic fifteen minutes as Nomads tried to get back on an even footing but it was Holwell who had another good chance to extend their lead as Lochlan Murray brought the ball down to give Luke Phillips a chance at goal but he missed the target.

It was Phillips last contribution as he retired injured on 16mins with an Achilles injury replaced by Holwell stalwart Ian Bitmead.

Anstey were beginning to click now and full back Sam Marshall breezed past Foster on 17mins to equalise running on to send the ball wide of Cragg in the home goal.

Another good chance for Nomads as Thurland was allowed to run in on goal free to shoot but the effort goes wide of the left hand post with Cragg beaten.

Holwell were struggling up front now with no recognised centre forward it was hard to see where more goals would come from.
Nomads were on top for the rest of the half with two or three half chances but Holwell were holding on. Foster lost Marshall again on 32mins but this time his effort was off target.

The home side won a free kick twenty yards out centre of the pitch 36 mins – the home fans sensed something was on as full back Brett Sharp stepped up to take the kick, which suited a left footer, but his attempt was poor hitting the wall.

But against the run of play it was Holwell who went into the break one up as Foster sent in a high free kick cross from the right on 40mins, Bitmead bustled the centre halves and the ball dropped to Ryan Page who had an easy chance at the back post. 2-1 to Holwell
The second half started with hope that Holwell could get on top of this match as it was there for the taking Page given a good opportunity with time to settle and shoot on 49mins but it goes straight down keeper’s throat.

Holwell swap Murray for Fontoura to see if he can work some magic, just before a terrible error by Foster allows Nomads Captain Jack Lane clean through on goal but misses.

Fontoura does well on right of eighteen yard box to wriggle free sending a mid-height cross in which Hazeldine just fails to connect with.
Nomads clear up the park and Tom Mangan is sent free through the middle this time slotting the ball past Cragg to bring the match level again on 61mins.

Holwell’s Page fouled on 67mins free kick wasted again. Ryan Page seeing some good opportunities but fails to get better of the Nomads defenders.

Holwell were punished for missed opportunities on 80mins as Nomads finally break down the spirited Holwell defending as James Ireland does well to convert an incoming cross from the right 3-2 to Nomads.

Holwell pile on the pressure trying to save something out of the game but Nomads hold on to win their second match in three despite a last ditch cross from Foster headed down by Bitmead into the path of Hazeldine who shoots over the bar.

Holwell will hope to get something out of their next home match on Saturday at home to Graham St Prims KO 3pm.

Holwell: Cragg, Foster, Ridout, Sharp, Woodcock, Murray (Fontoura), Underwood (Bloxham), Stevenson, Hazeldine, Phillips(Bitmead) Page. Subs not Used Maden, Smith