Best Points Total by Holwell Sports

Holwell Sports FC 2 Bardon Hill 1

In Holwell’s penultimate game of the season Bardon Hill set off to avenge the defeat inflicted on them back in September when Holwell beat them three goals to two. It looked like a real game of chess had started as both teams took time to settle into any rhythm and another stalemate looked on the cards. A point of interest saw identical twin brothers, Leon and Levi Fray take to the pitch against each other with Leon playing sweeper for Bardon Hill.

It took ten minutes for Holwell to get a shot on target but Harris in the visitor’s goal got down well to mop up the attack. Bardon were getting into their stride now and were getting to the ball quicker, with slicker passing and Holwell struggling to cope.

An injury saw the first substitution after only 15mins when centre half Burton had to go off with a hamstring injury.

Kirkby got onto the end of a good move from the left on 18mins but again Harris did well to get down to save the shot and stop Holwell taking the lead. A couple of minutes later Smedley was given a good chance to open the scoring but his shot went past the left hand post.
Bardon Hill were no slouches though, keeping the back four busy and on 25mins Steve Armson fizzed a shot just over Cragg’s bar.

The teams continued to cancel each other out with the game not helped by stoppages for petty free kicks, but Bardon Hill were trying to exploit Holwell’s right hand side and on 30mins Eggington took advantage as Smedley lost out in the tackle and sent in a great cross but no visiting forward connected.

Bardon were beginning to gain the upper hand as the half wore on and on 37mins went ahead after the home defence failed to deal with a high ball. Sam Harvey managed to control the ball before sending in a thunderous shot to the top left corner of Cragg’s goal to put the visitors, one up. HT 0-1

Again Holwell found themselves having to start the second half chasing a game but they were soon pressing higher up the pitch and Kirkby crossed within a couple of minutes to Michael Stevenson who headed the ball back into the middle only to see the ball cleared by Fray for the visitors.

Bardon Hill had to re-shuffle again after the end of Leon Fray’s game as he left the field after injuring his foot.

Holwell went on another of their power surges after this and turned the game on its head first Liam Chapman shot after 55mins when Jay Kirkby won the ball before setting him up. Two minutes later, Chapman chased a ball which some had left as a lost cause expecting a throw in but he stopped the ball from going out for a throw, sped past Goodman who had given up on the ball and played in Sam Bettinson who controlled the ball well before turning and slotting it to the left of the keeper for the equaliser on 57mins.

Holwell were buzzing again an Kirkby was causing havoc with his all round play, hustling defenders, holding up play, holding off defenders and winning free kicks. Another free kick was awarded on the hour and as Kirkby sent in the cross Michael Stevenson had two chances in quick succession as Bardon could not clear their lines and in what looked like a game of pinball Bettinson finally got some control of the ball only to see his goal bound shot somehow turned away by Harris to keep the game level.

Chapman was enjoying his day out on the left and sent in another searching cross which Bettinson got to but again Harris turned the ball away for a corner.

Graham Keast took the resultant corner and whipped in a cross; Jay Kirkby broke away from his defender and headed Holwell in front on 68mins.

Bardon tried to get back into the game but this ten minute spell seemed to take the sting out of them and the game finished with yet another Holwell win, number nineteen for the season taking them to their highest points tally ever achieved in the East Midlands Counties League and cementing sixth place.

Next week's game away at Holbrook gives Holwell the chance to avenge the recent home defeat and finish the season off in style.