Back to business and win number nine!

Match Report – Tuesday 26th March
St Andrews 1 -- Holwell Sports 2

Holwell back to business with ninth straight league win.

Getting back to business and importantly back on the winning track was the order of Manager Daws and though it was a rusty start, going behind as soon as three minutes, it didn’t take long for Holwell’s class to show that the visitors had the skills and determination on the night to continue their long unbeaten run in the league.

St Andrews came out the quickest from the start putting Holwell under early pressure. Within three minutes the visitors were behind after Rose bundled over Lee Linnett right on the edge of the box. Liam O’Glynn stepped up and drilled a fierce low shot into the bottom corner which Cragg could only watch as it hit the back of the net.

Holwell began to get into their rhythm and the balance of play soon swung their way but again the failure to convert good chances kept the visitors behind. Chapman should have levelled the game on 22mins when Bettinson played him in but his shot was saved by Tom Dennis. A minute later Kirkby did well to get the ball back from the bye line but Loake beat Bettinson to the header and conceded the corner.

Holwell were on dominating the play now and on 31mins their endeavour paid off when Graham Keast was put clear on the left, his low shot beating the advancing keeper.

St Andrews did well to keep the score level at half time whereas Holwell looked the more confident as the teams headed for the break.
The second half continued as the first finished with Holwell probing the home defence who were struggling to get the ball into the Holwell half with only Hollis up front for the home side. Holwell had two early chances to go in front but failed to make them count.

Holwell again advanced through the middle on the hour and Hibbitt did well to force the ball through to Bettinson only for the forward to shoot straight at the keeper , though he was adjudged offside. However minutes later Chapman who was having a much more productive second half was fouled out on the wing and Keast sent in a searching cross which was headed back into the area and Jay Kirkby was on hand to somehow hook the ball over his left shoulder into the net to put Holwell in front on 63mins.

St Andrews just didn’t have an answer to Holwell’s flowing football and both sides took the opportunity to use all subs which never managed to change the outcome of the match and but for a couple of scares near the end as the referee allowed additional time, Holwell comfortably progressed to their ninth successive league win since the turn of the year.

Radcliffe Olympic away on Saturday awaits Holwell next and this will be a tough game to bring up win number ten but the team are strong at the moment and confidence is high.

Holwell : R Cragg, A Ridout, D Hallows, K Foster (L Fray) S Rose, C Hibbitt, G Keast, J Kirkby ( S Mooney), S Bettinson, L Chapman (G Wells) Subs not used J Simpson, H Calver