Five Nil Win - New Year Cheers continue!

HOLWELL SPORTS 5 GEDLING MINERS WELFARE 0

HOLWELL maintained their fine start to 2013 with a comprehensive defeat of a below-par Gedling.

Seven goals, two clean sheets and maximum points from their first two games of the new year have lifted Simon Daws’ men away from the bottom six and up to 10th.

The dye was cast within 10 minutes as Holwell forged into a 2-0 lead. A quick move down the left and slick one-two between Graham Wells and Graham Keast allowed Wells to tee up Scott Mooney whose precise finish into the bottom right corner gave the hosts a ninth minute lead.

A minute later Michael Stevenson caught Gedling slumbering when his quickly-taken free kick released Levi Fray down the right channel. He ran on unopposed and comfortably beat the advancing keeper.

Gedling looked at sixes and sevens and surrendered possession cheaply, while Holwell patiently picked them off when the chances came their way.

Mooney had already found plenty of room to work in the Gedling goalmouth before Holwell made it 3-0 near the half-hour mark when Ian Bitmead hit the bar from 10 yards out and Stevenson rolled the rebound into the net.

Wells just cleared the bar with a fierce free kick from the edge of the box before Keast showed good control, skipped past one challenge and angled a low shot just past the far post.

Holwell would have expected a reaction from the visitors after half-time, and Gedling did resume with more pace and purpose, particularly through Westcarr and Whitt who linked well.

But the home side were still creating chances and went four goals clear just shy of the hour. Mooney was once again put clear through the middle, but under pressure laid the ball square for Bitmead to smash a shot past Walker.

Whitt shot just past the left post after smart work from Westcarr and Stanley, and Westcarr was denied the goal his endeavour deserved when Holwell keeper Richard Cragg made his first save of the match with 15 minutes left, blocking the shot with his feet.

Sub Jay Kirkby had a good chance in front of goal from a move which his strength and determination engineered, but Gedling captain Armstrong did well to block before Walker saved Stevenson’s low shot from the edge of the box.

Holwell skipper Dom Hallows completed the scoring from the penalty spot six minutes from time after Mooney had again easily outwitted the Gedling offside trap and was brought down as he shaped to shoot.

Hallows’ precise spot kick into the left corner summed up an efficient and accomplished performance.

Holwell: R. Cragg, L. Fray, D. Hallows, K. Foster, A. Ridout, C. Hibbitt, G. Keast (H. Calver 72), M. Stevenson, I. Bitmead (J. Kirkby 74), S. Mooney, G. Wells (L. Chapman 75).

l Holwell’s league campaign takes them back on the road this Saturday for a tough assignment at fifth-placed Aylestone Park (kick-off 3pm).