Concede three penalties and you lose - simple!

The spectators at Welby Road more than got their money’s worth from a match high on entertainment and enterprise. But they trooped home unhappy after watching their side take the lead three times only to succumb to five goals from Rushby.

The pace was frenetic from kick-off with both sides committed to attack. Scott Mooney gave Holwell a fourth-minute lead with a cross-cum-shot, but it proved short-lived as Rushby placed a 10th-minute penalty into the bottom left corner after centre-half Stuart Rose shoved the striker over as they jumped for a cross.

But Holwell were back in front just two minutes later when Sam Bettinson timed his leap perfectly to head Graham Keast’s outswinging corner into the right corner.

Prims’ quick counter-attacks were causing problems with Kieran Foster and then Aaron Ridout making vital last-ditch challenges. But the Holwell fans were furious in the 31st minute when the referee awarded the hosts a corner rather than the penalty they wanted after Michael Stevenson had gone down under a challenge when clean through to the right of goal.

Their mood was not improved in the 39th minute when Rushby equalised from close-range after being teed up by the Prims right-back’s burst into the box.

And four minutes later, Prims had their second penalty when a quick break left Harris one-on-one with keeper Richard Cragg who brought down the forward with his trailing leg. Rushby chose the same spot to bury his penalty and complete his hat-trick.

Simon Daws’ team talk clearly did the trick as Holwell levelled two minutes into the second half when Keast’s ball into the box was partially cleared to Stevenson who fired in from 20 yards.

And after 53 minutes, Mooney had time and space in the Prims goalmouth to plant a good finish across keeper Hankey into the right corner.
Holwell looked hungry for more goals, Hankey pushing Williams’ powerful shot round a post and Bettinson shooting wide after a good run into the box.

But Prims equalised against the run of play after 64 minutes when Rushby brilliantly curled a free kick into the left corner after Foster had hauled him down on the edge of the box, despite Holwell appeals for offside.

Both sides were still creating chances, but Prims went ahead for the second time with 17 minutes left with the most contentious penalty of the match, Foster appearing harshly penalised when challenging for a high ball. Cragg got a strong hand to Rushby’s spot kick, but it crept in.

Holwell poured forward, hitting the post just two minutes later, while Mooney chose to square a pass rather than shoot after an excellent mazy run left two defenders trailing, and the danger was cleared.

Holwell: R. Cragg, K. Foster, T. Williams, A. Ridout, S. Rose, I. Bitmead, G. Keast, M. Stevenson, S. Mooney, S. Bettinson, G. Wells (M. Tinsley 83). Unused subs: D. Randall, G. McKay, R. Kitt-Geraghty.