Steady Start both teams settle for draw on opening day!

Fielding a whole squad of sixteen, made up entirely, of Melton Mowbray lads. A point of note to be made to those who have long complained that local talent does not get its chance at Welby Road.

Play at first was pretty frenetic with both teams failing to get control of the ball as it was sent skywards instead of being played on the ground. Holwell were beginning to get on top and were guilty of wasting some free kicks not taking time to set up.

Full back Tom Williams had to be replaced after only 15mins – having suffered a hamstring injury at Sleaford the week before it clearly had not healed fully and Graham Wells was brought on as replacement.

Stapenhill were full of running and both wingers were being given the chance to run at the home defence – but quality of crosses were poor and Holwell dealt with what was being sent in. However on 21mins the home defence failed to clear their lines and Jacques Briscoe took his chance to put the visitors one up by slotting a low shot passed Richard Cragg in goal.

This shook up Holwell and they finally started to get to grips in midfield and on 29mins Sam Bettinson got Holwell back into the game with good support from Chris Hibbitt who passed to Scott Mooney who then played in Bettinson to open Holwell’s account for the season.

Holwell nearly went in front on 39mins when Graham Keast latched on to a Bettinson down ward header only to see the keeper make a good save low down at his left hand post.

However as the game was pretty even just before half time Holwell were let off the hook on 44mins when Cragg did well to save a low shot turning it away for a corner.

Holwell started the second half with real intent nearly going ahead on 50mins when a free kick taken quickly by Graham Keast was delivered too early for Stevenson to control the ball and the chance was missed. The clearance was fed back in by Hibbitt but again Holwell couldn’t take the chance and the visitors were let off the hook.

Howell were well on top in the opening quarter of an hour and good work on the right saw Foster send in a cross which Mooney controlled but his snap shot went just wide.

Stapenhill gradually got going and started to make inroads on the home defence and on 60mins Holwell were hanging on under a lot of pressure with two shots at goal by Briscoe focussing Holwell’s attention.

Both sets of forwards were guilty of poor finishing with Stapenhill’s Sippitts and Weightman failing to finish from great positions.

The game ended a fair draw 1-1 but both managers will feel that it was two points dropped rather than one saved. Stapenhill supporters openly said they would have taken one point in their opening match (against last season’s fifth placed Holwell).

After failing to win any points on opening day for three years so would Holwell - no matter who they were playing!!