Spirited Performance versus Heanor

Playing into a stiff wind on a chilly day in front of a crowd of 90 Holwell came of the blocks with strong intent and pressured the League leaders from the start. The early pressure certainly caught Heanor cold and a hopeful ball into the middle of the visitors box had them at sixes and sevens trying to deal with the loose ball but it was Jay Kirkby that was more alert and he coolly steered a left foot shot passed the stranded keeper Mark Frost.

A great start but early in the game so as not to worry Heanor too much and this wake up certainly focussed the visitors that they were in a game. Heanor upped their early pace and pounded the Holwell back four who did well with Josh Royce finding space easy on the left feeding Nathan Benger with good chances to get the visitors back level and it didn’t take too long. Heanor’s Phil Austin sent Royce down the left channel again and his cross was cleared away for a corner by Snelgrove. Holwell failed to clear the in swinging cross and Ryan Cancellara fired in a shot from the edge of the eighteen yard box through a ruck of players and with Cragg routed to the spot equalised for Heanor on 7 mins.

Undetterred Holwell set about their job to get themselves back in front and they certainly were not overawed by the high flying visitors and Michael Stevenson was finding opportunities to get Kirkby and Smedley in on goal. On 13mins it was Stevenson who came close to restoring the lead with a shot on goal that just shaved the right hand post. Whilst at the other end Cancellara, Royce and Benger were giving the Holwell back four a torrid time with Royce having the ball in the net with a great finish on 21mins but it was ruled out for offside to the delight of the home crowd.

Holwell were giving a good account of themselves and handling the pressure well though still opening up some good chances for themselves with Stevenson trying an outrageous 40 yard shot at goal when the visitors keeper found himself stranded out of goal. The resultant shot unfortunately not matching the idea!

Heanor were showing their class and the reason why they are top of the league with quicker, tighter play getting to the ball first and at this point were well in charge of the game it didn’t seem as though a second goal would take a long time to come and on 33mins Ryan Cancellara bagged his second to the relief of the visiting supporters.

Holwell set about the task of getting back into the game and came closest to restoring parity on 40mins when a good move involving Teare, Stevenson and Smedley saw Ben Smedley’s shot hit the left hand post with keeper frost struggling to get to the ball. HT 1 -2

The second half saw Holwell start strongly again trying to break down the Heanor attack. Just after the restart Howell were awarded a free kick on the left which Hallows took. Snelgrove rose to meet the ball in the centre but Kirkby was adjudged to be offside as he took the header from Snelgrove down. However the constant pressure from Heanor was beginning to take its toll and errors were beginning to creep into the Holwell play allowing Heanor to play to their strengths. Cragg was alive to some good interplay by Heanor and saved well from Nathan Benger on 52mins which would have finished the game.

Andy Teare made a great saving tackle on 55mins taking the ball off Royce’s toe as he looked sure to score for Heanor. Ben Smedley again found himself in with a clear shot on goal which Foster did well to turn round the post for corner.

Holwell were holding on and trying to get at Heanor as much as they could but it was taking some drastic saves from Cragg and a goal line clearance by Bitmead to keep the score close. Gary Drake was withdrawn for Stan Wallis mid way through the half and this seemed to get Holwell going again on the left with Wallis and Hallows sending in some decent balls for Stevenson and Kirkby to get on to. Heanor themselves looked to substitutions in an effort to get through the Holwell defence with Royce and Benger who had both put in strong performances replaced by Claridge and Vernon. Smedley also cleared off the line from Cancellara on 78mins.

The changes for Heanor paid off and on 81mins the home defence was split open by Webster with Vernon played in sending an unstoppable shot passed Richard Cragg.

Holwell did their best against this strong Heanor side and with Oadby Town away their next fixture it is hoped that they can build on the good things taken from this match the fact that they coped well against a pretty rampant Heanor attack!

Full Time Holwell 1 Heanor Town 3