Snappy Thurnby too good for Holwell.

Thurnby have maintained a strong challenge in the league since their expolits in the FA Cup with all the top teams except Basford having been turned over by this pacey outfit.

Still missing Hibbitt and Stevenson and with Rose dropped to the bench Holwell were under severe pressure from the start from a strong pacey Thurnby attack and the outcome looked set early on.

However Holwell were up for the fight and in five minutes Jamie Simpson could have done better wit Holwell’s first corner as his attempt was turned away for another corner – Holwell were getting into the game.

Thurnby’s play was very slick but still Holwell had chances and on 10mins nearly went ahead when Kirkby turned swiftly in the box and keeper Flinder pulled off an instinctive save low down. Holwell had another chance on 19mins from a free kick but Flinder palmed the ball out and it was cleared swiftly out to Phillps who set Jol Potter away on the right. His pace and strength took him passed Hallows and as he ran in from the edge of the box he shot passed Cragg to put Thurnby 1-0 up.

From visitors attack to home side goal Holwell allowed Thurnby to run straight through them to take the lead.

It was all Thurnby now with Holwell seemingly chasing shadows and on 28mins Porter again picked the ball up on the right and forced his way along the eighteen yard line before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Cragg – a mirror copy of the first goal.

But Holwell to their credit kept plugging away and did well not to concede again but they just could not get the forwards going though Mooney and Kirkby did well down the channels the final ball into Bettinson was not as it has been recently and it needed that quality against Thurnby. HT 2-0

Thurnby came out all guns blazing in the second half and Holwell did well to stem the flow of attacks. However under the pressure Simpson brought down Melbourne in the box right in front of the referee and he awarded a penalty and booked Simpson for the tackle. Melbourne took the penalty but again Richard Cragg who some say must be contender for player of the year saved low down to keep out Thurnby.

However the tide was only one way and back came Thurnby within two minutes Reece Morris who had been tormenting the Holwell defence latched onto a loose ball to hit a shot past Cragg at his near post to extend Thurnby’s grip on 60mins.

Holwell kept on to get something out of the match and won a penalty on 70mins giving them hope which Dom Hallows dispatched efficiently for 3-1
Mooney had a shot saved late on as Thurnby took their foot off the pedal but a second defeat in a week has seen Thurnby open up a six point gap between them and Holwell now.

Another tough match at home on Saturday to Holbrook Sports will see if Holwell can recover form this setback?