Foster Bullet Seals It!!

Having been unbeaten in the league since 23rd November Holwell were keen to end December on a high. As such the visitors, currently nine points ahead, posed a significant threat to that ambition.

Holwell showed early intent as they forced the pace early on and had a big shout for a penalty as early as the third minute when a shot at goal was blocked by a defender on the ground as the ball hit his arm as he tried to roll out of the way.

However Borrowash started to sustain real pressure on the home defence and were looking the more dangerous side but against the play Holwell broke on 12mins with a ball over to Wells on the left edge of the box, half a chance but his low cross went across goal with no takers and cleared.

Borrowash were well on top at this point and should have gone ahead on 17mins but last ditch defending by the home side saw off this chance but it wasn’t to last as on 23mins Mark Hinds took a ball over the top on the right side of the pitch looking very suspiciously offside drove in on goal one to one with Cragg he beat the keeper to put Borrowash in front.

The visitors had a claim for a penalty on 29mins when left winger Tom Betteridge went between two defenders on the edge of the box looking for the penalty, going down too easily the referee waved away any protests.

This affected the visitors as Holwell went on the attack from the clearance and Michael Stevenson with a suspicion of offside, stole in to equalise for Holwell.

The rest of the half was nip and tuck looking more like an important cup tie with chances for either side but on 41mins Holwell played the ball out of defence as Stuart Rose advanced he sent in a speculative long ball over the top, the visitors defence seemed to stand still as Scott Mooney raced in to finish well and put the home side in front.

It was nearly 3-1 within a minute as the visitors struggled to clear a ball into the box with keeper Steve Smith having to look lively to punch away from his right hand post. HT 2-1

As the second half started Holwell pinned the Vics back with a series of corners Bitmead coming closest within 4mins of the restart when Smith just tipped over his header on goal.

But Holwell’s inability to deal with fast break aways came back to haunt them as on 58mins after another corner the ball was cleared out to Akers on the right who sped down the wing before sending in a low cross which was not cut out by Holwell and Sam Kellogg brought the visitors back level.

However from this point on Holwell started to dominate play with the visitors on the rack for the rest of the half. Holwell had the ball in the net on 75mins, after a free kick on the left Williams sent the ball into a packed area but as the ball fell to Mooney who poked the ball in, Wells at the near post was adjudged offside.

Mooney seemed likely to kill off the visitors on 87mins but just as he went to shoot the ball took a wild bobble and his shot went wide.

Manager Daws sent on Kieran Foster for Mark Tinsley who had worked hard all match chasing and harrying the Borrowash defenders. Then in the 90th minute the visitors were stunned as Bitmead fed Foster with a great cross field ball. In space he opened up his stride, as he entered the eighteen yard box he slammed in an unstoppable shot to win the three points for Holwell. Another stunning finish by Foster, who had just returned after a hamstring injury.

The home supporters were sent home happy again after another impressive display.