Holwell blown off course by Arnold Town.

Holwell Sports FC 0 - 2 Arnold Town FC

Neither team got to grips with the swirling wind; you had to feel for the players as they tried to control the ball in the gusty windy.

Home fans were left wondering what the outcome would have been if Scott Mooney had put away the glorious chance he had to open the scoring in the very first minute but yet again it seemed easier to kick the ball over the bar than under it!

Holwell started brightly enough and put pressure on the Arnold defence. Still early on in the match the second best chance fell to Chris Hibbitt on 14mins when, after a corner the ball came out to him on the edge of the box only to see his drilled shot pass through a pack of players but saved on the line by keeper Jack Walker.

On 21mins Holwell were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box after Michael Stevenson had been brought down. Scott Mooney ran over the ball and Stevenson took the kick bending the ball round the wall and low down to the keeper’s left. Unsighted he did well to get down to the ball but spilt it. Mooney was on hand to hit the rebound which the keeper managed to get to and make a double save.

Meanwhile at the other end Ben Middleton had a chance to open the scoring for Arnold Town but pulled his shot wide with only Cragg to beat.

Holwell were caught out with too many pushing forward on 26mins when Foster and Ridout were out of position. Chadwick was allowed to pick up a long ball out on the left before advancing, sending in a cross for Middleton who too easily side footed the ball back across the static Cragg to put Arnold in front.

Not the sort of goal Holwell wanted to expose to the visiting guys from FA Vase opponents Rocester who must have got some confidence from this Holwell performance.

Michael Stevenson had a golden chance to level the match on 32mins but his shot also found its way over the bar.

Stevenson nearly made amends for that miss on 44mins when his audacious chip from 20yards beat the keeper all ends up only to come off the inside of the post – a let off for Arnold. HT 0-1

The second half was really all about the players versus the wind to try and make any sort of spectacle out of the conditions. Neither team could get to grips but Holwell tried to get back on level terms then suffered an early set back on 50mins, when Ben Middleton again took advantage of a poor Holwell clearance and slotted his second past Cragg to put Arnold two up.

Mooney and Bettinson were not getting much up front. Holwell had to bring on Tinsley for Bettinson when he took a hard knock on 64mins.
Holwell were beginning to get back into the game and did have the greater share of the play in the second half, but no success. Liam Chapman combined with Scott Mooney on 65mins with Mooney just missing at the near post as Chapman sent in a low cross.

Again Holwell had been haunted by giving the visitors a two goal lead which they could not retrieve to get anything out of the match.

Holwell will try to recover some pride by beating Greenwood Meadows at home on Saturday.