Topsy Turvy Holwell Prevail after second half fifteen minute power surge!

Holwell Sports 5 -- Ellistown 1

Holwell were quickest out of the blocks in no uncertain terms and on 3mins a great long ball down the middle saw Bettinson head down laying a great ball for Chapman to run on to but he failed to open the scoring. Minutes later the Ellistown goal keeper twice denied Holwell on his line with two instinctive one handed saves. Holwell were using the long ball to effect and Mooney now provided Bettinson with a chance but his shot skimmed the bar.

But then against the run of play Holwell were caught out at a corner. As the ball came across Ben Smedley at the front post jumped to head the ball and only succeeded in flicking the ball to the back post as all advanced and, alert at the back post to put Ellistown in front was Carl Timms.

This seemed to upset Holwell’s rhythm and for the rest of the half nothing seemed to click, opportunities came and went but the breakthrough wouldn’t come and Ellistown’s Captain Timms had the run of midfield. HT 0-1

The Holwell half time talk certainly focussed minds as the second half saw Holwell completely overwhelm Ellistown.

In a fast and furious start Holwell won five corners in quick succession and on the fifth Keast worked a one two with Chapman on the left before sending in a cross which Ben Smedley looked to be getting to but he was bundled down by Dan Green and a penalty awarded. Michael Stevenson captain for Holwell whilst Dom Hallows recovers from a hamstring injury calmly slotted the ball home to level the match six minutes into the second half.

Three minutes later Holwell took the lead, with more urgency in their play Levi Fray did well to stop the ball going out on the left before sending in a telling cross which Scott Mooney rose to head Holwell in front.

Two minutes later Liam Chapman sent in a carbon copy cross which this time Sam Bettinson got his head to and all but finished Ellistown off.

Ellistown’s midfield which had done so well in the first half frustrating Holwell had run out of steam now and Holwell were buzzing!

Fifteen minutes after the restart Holwell were on fire and as Keast sent in yet another telling cross from a left sided corner Ian Bitmead headed home at the back post to put Holwell 4-1 up. What an amazing turn around from the first half.

Ellistown started making substitutions now in an effort to stem the tide but there was no stopping Holwell now and it seemed that every time Chapman got the ball on the left his spot on crosses were being met by Bettinson or Mooney but unfortunately the headers were not as accurate as the crosses.

On 72mins with Ian Wells and Jamie Simpson on for fresh legs, the ever lively Scott Mooney was sent away down the right channel and his pass into the middle found Jay Kirkby running in to side foot number five for Holwell. It all looked so simple now as Ellistown had all but given up.

On 81minutes Ben Smedley was put clean through and it looked as though goal number six was on its way but a good save by keeper Paul Madeley foiled Smedley’s entry on the score sheet.