Holbrook thankful for points in blustery encounter.

Holwell kicking with the wind, broke first and in the first minute Sam Bettinson headed down for Scott Mooney who’s first time shot went just past the post.

Both teams tried to size each other up in the opening minutes but Holbrook were just pressing that bit harder and it paid off on 16mins when the Holwell defence seemed static Paul Fisher was allowed to pick up the ball on the left of the eighteen yard box before rounding the advancing Richard Cragg and finished well off the far post to put the visitors one nil up.

Holwell got back into the game though and for the rest of the first half seemed to be the better of the two sides but just couldn’t convert chances. None more so than on 30mins when Sam Bettinson headed forcefully downward from a cross and the ball bounced up onto the cross bar and back down near to the goal line just cleared by a defender, and five minutes later from a corner Rose had a clear header at goal again cleared which could have brought the teams level.

Minutes later against the run of play Holbrook’s number ten Cory Bowler broke through the home defence to go one on one with Cragg and it looked ominous but first Cragg and then Hallows on the line did well to stop Holbrook going two up. From the resultant corner Gerard Moran headed towards goal but again Hallows denied Holbrook on the line.
Holwell soon were back on the attack and on 36mins nearly levelled when, from a free kick, a Holbrook defender nearly scored an own goal but for an instinctive save by keeper Graves in the visitors goal tipping the ball over the bar.

Holwell came out determined to get back into the game and pressed forward but on 50mins Ben Gowling was sent clear but yet again Cragg came to the rescue of the home side saving well. However it was Holwell that was the more forceful and on 55minutes Mooney nearly scored with an instinctive flick from a left side cross and as the ball came out to Smedley he sent it back into the middle for Sam Bettinson to score levelling the match.

Holwell were again enjoying the most of the game and back on top Mooney was sent away after a good move on the right on 62mins and it seemed that Bettinson would get his second as the ball came to him but he failed to connect and the chance was gone.

Holwell took off Chapman for Levi Fray on the left and on 70mins a rare mistake by Cragg in the Holwell goal led to Holbrook’s second as he spilled the ball from a cross and Gerard Moran pounced on the loose ball to put Holbrook back in front.

Holwell were chasing the game now and lost Hallows to injury and on 75mins were hit with a sucker punch when a hopeful wind assisted punt up the park, found Curtis Williamson in behind the Holwell defence and as Rose tried to get back Cragg delayed coming out allowing Williamson the chance to finish the match off three one to Holbrook Sports FC .