One to bounce back from!!

HOLWELL SPORTS 0 LUTTERWORTH ATHLETIC 2

The hosts had won three straight EMCL matches, but were without several key players including centre-halves Aaron Ridout and Stuart Rose, full-back Kieran Foster, Chris Hibbitt in midfield and leading scorer Scott Mooney.

Ian Bitmead was drafted into the back four alongside Tom Morgan while young midfielder Tom Barnard played at right-back. Levi Fray showed promise in midfield, while Graham Keast made his comeback from injury up front alongside striker Jay Kirkby.

With so many new faces, it was unsurprising Holwell took time to settle and Lutterworth took advantage. Holwell keeper Richard Cragg palmed over Sutherland’s shot before Morgan did well to track back and tackle D. Laywood as he bore down on goal.

Laywood was denied by Bitmead’s sliding block, and Waxton hurried his shot into the side netting when clean through as Lutterworth pressured.

Kirkby, Fray and Wells all fizzed shots from distance narrowly past the post, but Lutterworth went in front midway through the half. Ivens got lucky when his heavy touch on the edge of the 18-yard box flatfooted the Holwell defence and put him clean through to beat Cragg.

Kirkby curled a powerful 25-yard free kick just round the post, but unlike the hosts, Lutterworth continued to get behind the defence. Evenish’s goalbound effort was deflected just wide by his own team-mate, and Cragg did well to steer Rabley’s piledriver round the post.

But Holwell could have been level at half-time when Keast’s free kick from the left hand touchline found Bitmead at the back post, but he failed to connect cleanly.

Bitmead was pushed upfield after the break as Simon Daws’ team pressed, and Wells soon forced Tilley into his first save, again from long-range.

But within 10 minutes of the restart a quick break down the left saw A. Laywood run at pace into Holwell box and play in D. Laywood for a simple finish.

With Holwell stunned, Lutterworth created chances at will, Ivens had shooting low past the left post and A. Laywood’s deflected shot shaving the upright.

The hosts regrouped and were inches from getting back into the game when Keast’s corner found Bitmead at the back post. He cushioned a header back across the six-yard box to Kirkby who placed his header onto the bar.

Chapman almost bundled in Kirkby’s centre, but the keeper turned his effort round the post, while at the other end Cragg’s strong hands diverted Evenish’s powerful strike round the post.

Wells forced another save with another free kick, and Kirkby again came close five minutes from time when Smedley’s long ball put him one-on-one with the keeper.

But as the late afternoon gloom descended, Holwell were again indebted to Cragg, making a fine block to deny A. Laywood.

Holwell: R. Cragg, T. Barnard, D. Hallows, T. Morgan, I. Bitmead, L. Fray, B. Smedley, I. Wells, J. Kirkby, G. Keast, L. Chapman (J. Simpson 75). Subs (unused): J. King, F. Daws.