Holwell undone by quicker feet in heavy conditions!

Holwell Sports 2 -- 4 Blaby & Whetstone Athletic

Holwell pressed from the start and on 12minutes were in the zone passing the ball around and beginning to make chances. Michael Stevenson came close to unleashing a goal bound shot but for a last ditch saving tackle by Jordan Reynolds.

It was all Holwell now and a goal looked imminent but the fans had to wait until 22mins when Mooney charged down a defenders clearance controlled the ball and easily beat the on coming keeper.

A minute later Holwell were two up as Tom Williams sent in a long cross field ball which went through the six yard box where Graham Keast was on hand to knock it back across keeper Cox to put Holwell two up.
The tide and the rain was one way towards the Blaby goal when another chance went begging as Sam Bettinson and Graham Keast tried to move the ball in the heavy conditions but the delay allowed a defenders challenge and chance scorned.

Blaby had only had one real chance at goal which was ruled out as Wheeler was adjudged offside and on 43mins Richard Cragg did well to tip over a strong goal ward shot. HT 2-0

Holwell had looked strong in the first half and well on top deserving to have put the game beyond Blaby. However Blaby came out with a purpose after half time and played a very high line to press back the Holwell midfield and make it harder for Mooney and Bettinson to benefit from balls over the top. They had also upped the tempo significantly and from the restart Holwell were on the back foot and continually under pressure. Mason Brown and Arron Preston were beginning to find space and it was Holwell’s defence that was on the turn unable to clear its lines.

Within 5mins Blaby had their first attempt at goal by Wheeler but it sailed over Cragg’s bar, but within 7mins they had a goal back when Mason Brown latched onto a through ball which split the home defence and he slotted the ball past Cragg for 2-1.

Holwell had lost Tom Williams to an injury in the first half and now Stuart Rose had to be replaced due a back injury, Dean Randall replacing him. It took Holwell some time to recover and before they could mount any real response Arron Preston found himself clear with another simple ball through the home defence to equalise.

Holwell were all at sea now and finding it difficult to get back into any rhythm and Richard Cragg seemed to be keeping the home team in it with save after save for a time.

But gradually Holwell did start to get back on top with the wingers Keast and Tinsley taking the pressure off the middle with attacks down the wings sending in crosses which were just not being put away by the forwards. It seemed for a time that Holwell had weathered the storm and the third goal would come as first Bettinson, then Mooney and Foster had opportunities.

However as the game wore on and with three new replacements on for Blaby it was the visitors that looked the more likely towards the end.

Then on 85mins Holwell were undone again as Darren Wheeler jinked his way through the mud past four or five home defenders to slip the ball to Richard Cragg’s right and put Blaby 3-2 up.

Holwell couldn’t recover from this and the earlier effort and hard work came to nothing as Aron Preston crowned a good performance by keeping his feet to seal a very good second half performance by Blaby.