Holwell - Singing in the Rain at Greenwood Meadows!!

Greenwood Meadows 1 - 3 Holwell Sports

In atrocious weather Holwell were by far the only team that wanted to do a job in such foul driving rain and with Greenwood weakened by missing players it wouldn’t take much to step up and keep a good momentum going and pick up points on the road.

Holwell, were first to the ball in the early stages using Foster on the right to send in quality crosses to Bettinson and Mooney up front. But it was Dean Randall at right back who sent in the cross which gave Holwell their first chance on ten minutes when a pin point accurate cross found Mooney who laid the ball off to Bettinson his effort just skimming the left hand post before going out.

Holwell were getting in behind the defence with relative ease and on 15mins Mooney chipped across the goal where Bettinson rose and Hodgkinson in the home goal brought off a fantastic reaction save from big Sam’s point blank header.

With the rain pouring down the football tide was only one way. On 16mins Graham Keast won the ball on the left before sending the ball on to Michael Stevenson. Keast was then clattered by Rorie Francis - and as he lay injured on the ground the ref allowed the advantage as Stevenson sent in a lob from around 25yards over keeper Hodgkinson to put Holwell in front. Francis was subsequently booked for his tackle on Keast.

The commitment and drive from Holwell was testament to their will to win and the visitors continued to drive on but Greenwood still had a couple of chances. Skipper Fawzi sent in a corner kick to the near post on 20mins, Holwell failed to deal with the threat effectively and as the ball came out to Francis he drilled a shot back in levelling the score with Cragg unsighted by defenders.

Holwell got back on the attack and from the restart were again in the Greenwood box with a chance to get back in front however Holwell’s forwards couldn’t control the ball in the driving rain. On 31mins Mooney was thwarted by the keeper as his shot on the turn was held by Hodgkinson.

Holwell were managing the conditions much better than the home side when on 37mins Kieran Foster went one better than Stevenson’s earlier shot and beat the keeper with a strong shot from nearly 35yards out to put the visitors back in front. HT 1-2

With the rain now even worse the second half continued as the first with Holwell the team that was more committed to winning and getting to grips with the conditions. Still managing to find passes in the rain and looking more confident Holwell pushed on but the final ball was too short at times as the ball started to hold up in soft areas.

Greenwood didn’t seem to want to get back into this and traffic was one way. Holwell needed the comfort of another goal to seal the win and on 66mins the visitors were rewarded. Holwell were awarded a free kick on the edge of the eighteen yard box skipper Michael Stevenson took the kick. It looked to all as though the ball had gone through everyone without having been touched but Ian Bitmead claimed the merest of touches at the back post as Holwell went 3-1 up.

This killed the game and with Keast, Foster and Mooney exchanged for McKay, Tinsley and Ridout the game seemed dead but for one fantastic save from Cragg late on to keep the score 3-1 to Holwell.

Holwell prepare for the 1st Round Proper of the FA Vase next week away to Radcliffe Olympic FC which will be a tough match. The club hopes that a big following will support the club as they attempt to go into the second round proper. The match will be played at Wharf Lane, Radcliffe-On-Trent and it is hoped that as the trip is only 19miles a big support will be on hand to spur the Holwell team on to victory.