Holwell fail to make first half dominance count!

Holwell Sports FC 0 – 2 Irchester United FC

Going into this match it was fair to say there was some trepidation of what the outcome of this match would be. Irchester came with quite a reputation looking a very professional set up with strong looking players some of whom had played at fairly high levels in their early career.

However once the match started you would have though Holwell were the more experienced as it was the home side that took a grip of the game from the start.

Set up with a diamond midfield Holwell were certainly more in control of the play than Irchester with early pressure from Baker on the right as he seemed to have the measure of the left full back Brown who conceded a free kick after fouling Baker within the first few minutes.

Tinsley, in for the suspended Ambrose was looking lively as he fought to retrieve the ball finding space to send in a close shot on 8mins.

Within the first twenty minutes Holwell were well on top with Baker sending in McGarry who may have done better squaring the ball as Tinsley and Thompson backed him up.

Betteridge sent in one of his probing free kicks from the right on 17mins and as the visitors tried to clear Thompson tried to get the ball back into the box with an overhead hook.

McGarry was causing the defence problems as again he was sent through but this time he hesitated when maybe a shot across the keeper was on?

It was fully twenty minutes before Irchester mounted any real attack winning a free kick on the left but the cross was wasted leading to a goal kick.

The home fans thought Holwell were about to go in front as Matt Hendey was presented with a great chance on 24mins after a defensive error but his shot went agonisingly past the keeper’s left hand post.

Mc Garry was a thorn in the side of the visitors defence as first he gets a shot away that keeper Hamilton saved then on 32mins he came close to opening the scoring again as the keeper just manages to hold on to after a volley by the forward.

Holwell’s domination continued as they moved the ball well with keeper Witham sending a pin point pass to Baker on the right who set McGarry away again but he could not finish.

The game was held up for several minutes after an injury to Irchester’s Jared Harewood the forward unable to continue was replaced by Tom Gordon.

Of the two teams Holwell did not want the half time break as they were so dominant but as had been the case in the last two matches the dominance was not being turned into goal advantage.

As expected the visitors came out with a mission in the second half as they went at Holwell from the off and Holwell’s failure to gain an advantage in the first half was undone on the hour mark as the ball was lost in midfield. The ball was moved out to winger Josh Burge on the right who found himself one on one with keeper Witham. Burge getting the better of the challenge to go on and score.

Holwell were under the cosh now as Irchester started to send balls over the defence in an effort to turn the back four.

Ryan Lovell got on the end of one such move soon after the first goal but this time Witham saved with his legs.

However Holwell pushing on as they chased the game succumbed to another ball over the top which Lovell did manage to control on 70mins as he controlled the ball and lobbed the advancing Witham to put the game beyond Holwell.

Thompson was unlucky not to get the home side back in the game a minute later though as Chapman on for Hendey set him up, he then beat two defenders to get a shot away which summed up Holwell’s day by Hamilton diving to touch it onto the keeper’s right post, the ball bouncing back across the goal and cleared by a defender.

It is hoped that the team take their first half positive display into the League Cup match on Tuesday at home to UCL Premier side Sleaford Town FC KO 7:45pm.

Holwell: Witham, Surridge, Betteridge, Bitmead, Ridout, Stevenson, Baker(Fjodorovs), Hendey(Chapman), Thompson, McGarry(Calver), Tinsley.