Holwell Sports FC
Matches
Sat 08 Sep 2018  ·  Division 1
Holwell Sports FC
Holwell Sports FC
4
2
Thrapston Town FC
Strong purposeful winning performance sends fans home happy!

Strong purposeful winning performance sends fans home happy!

Martin Rooney9 Sep 2018 - 10:50
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Powerful energetic display overpowers Thrapston to secure much needed win!


Holwell Sports FC 4 – 2 Thrapston Town FC

A more purposeful performance by Holwell resulted in three good points being won at home on Saturday as the team regained some pride bringing back the feel good factor! What a different feeling a win brings after five straight losses in cup and league matches as the home side turned in a great display to overturn Thrapston Town FC.

As Baker and Chapman returned to the side after holidays Manager Gray also brought back Michael Stevenson to midfield and Robinson to right back following injury, whilst moving Connor O’Grady to striker. From the start the changes looked inspired as Holwell went at Thrapston from the off with greater tenacity and pace than of late with a more purposeful looking mind set from the start.

In the first couple of minutes Holwell were awarded a free kick as O’Connor was dumped to the ground but Chapman’s free kick struck the wall and was cleared for a corner.

Eight minutes in another good attack up the right saw Thompson and Robinson combine well for the full back to push on sending a telling cross to the back post which just evaded Chapman as Thrapston found they were under real early pressure.

But both the Thrapston wingers were not to be discounted as they tried to get the visitors going as both Robinson and Betteridge had things to think about as they were forced back to defend. Robinson put the home side in danger early on after clattering Carpenter thirty yards out but Bitmead dealt with the resultant free kick heading the ball away from danger.

Both teams were pushing forward compressing the midfield when on thirteen minutes Ambrose was found by a through ball from Baker in acres of space as the visitors defence moved up. Not in an offside position, receiving the ball in his own half, the forward carried on to beat keeper Alex Vitue, opening the scoring.

Holwell were bossing the game now going close again on 18mins as Chapman and Ambrose interlinked well on the left with Harry Thompson getting on the end of Chapman’s cross but just missing the target as he tried to head back across the keeper.

But Thrapston’s Gatting, was having a real close battle with Betteridge on the right and turned the full back high up the pitch as Holwell advanced. As he progressed he sent a ball over the top for Ethan Lee to run on to which he did, rounding the advancing Binns in the Holwell goal to level the score on 19mins. Much against the run of play, a goal from their first real attack was something to think about.

Up front for Holwell O’Grady and Ambrose were causing havoc as the visitors were pinned back relying on long balls out of defence, one such hopeful punt caused panic in the Holwell defence as Bitmead mistimed a clearance which had to be dealt with smartly by Ridout to avert a second for the visitors.

But the main flow was still in Holwell’s favour when on 27mins they deservedly went back in front as Jack Baker collected the ball centre of the field twenty five yards out, he controlled the ball well before shooting high to the keeper’s left who got a touch to it but couldn’t stop the ball from crossing the line to put Holwell 2-1 up.

Thrapston tried to get back into the game but Holwell were more up for this than of late and could have gone further in front as Ambrose found himself one on one with the keeper again but bizarrely seemed to go down looking for a penalty when in a better position to score than he thought. Then minutes later the forward went down again rather easily it was thought as he tried to weave round defenders close to the goal. O’Grady picked up the loose ball and he too went down which looked more like a penalty but the officials were having none of it.

Still Gatting and Betteridge were having their own tussles when on 43mins Gatting managed to unshackle himself to score the goal of the match as he made space for himself, he curled a ball high to Binns right hand corner, a stunner against the run of play.

However to emphasise their determination, Holwell restored their two goal lead before half time as a Robinson cross was sent out for a corner. From the corner Ian Bitmead scored at the back post with a powerful header, to put Holwell 3-1 up just on the stroke of half time.

The second half continued as the first with Holwell on top for most of the half. Thrapston tried but could not counter the more positive play by Holwell and on 59minutes the game was seemingly won as a catalogue of errors saw keeper Vitue inexplicably head the ball instead of catching it near the edge of the box. Connor O’Grady leaped to the ball as it came back down planting a header at goal which a defender failed to get to on the line to put Holwell 4-2 up.

Thrapston still looked troublesome at times as Bitmead did well to save a goal bound shot with a good header away but Holwell could have scored another couple before the end of the half as they continued to push on with Ambrose striking the bar after a cross from Chapman and Baker might have finished better after a mazy run through defenders but run out of space.

A much desired, much needed better display from Holwell after recent reverses it is hoped the team can now build on this strong performance to move into the top half.

Holwell: Binns, Robinson, Betteridge, Bitmead, Ridout, Stevenson, Baker, Thompson, Chapman, Ambrose, O’Grady (Tinsely).
Not used: Hazeldine, Calver, Cowling.

Match details

Match date

Sat 08 Sep 2018

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

Division 1

League position

9
Thrapston Town FC
16
Holwell Sports FC
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