Derby Stalemate

On a horrible bank holiday Monday Holwell entertain Barrow in their second home EMCL fixture of the season, both teams leaving with a point, but both feeling they could have won it.

In from Saturdays victory over Greenwood came Stevenson with Smith dropping to the bench. For those fans that braved the elements they were treated to a passionate, but scrappy game in truth with both teams missing chances to win the game.

The first chance fell the way of Holwell when Chapman curled a ball round the full back down the left for G.Wells to run on to, but unfortunately while trying to lob the stranded Barrow goalie, the ball wouldn't drop in time and came back of the face of the bar. Stannard then broke free down the right and drilled the ball across the face of goal for G.Wells to tap in, until a Barrow defender got a slight touch on the cross to divert it from G.Wells' path.

Holwell's momentum was they disturbed when they were left to play a man down for the best part of 10 minutes while Foster received treatment after crashing in to the concrete pillar. Foster returned bandaged up to complete the game. It was at this point Holwell created another two good chances before the half time whistle. Firstly Williams was slipped in on goal but unfortunately dragged his shot just wide of the far post. Then after another ball from Chapman, G.Wells then teed up brother I.Wells, but his shot was blocked on the line by a covering defender.

At half time Daws rallied his team and asked for just that bit more quality in the final third and the game was there for winning. Unfortunately the same words were probably spoke in the away changing room too. After threatening in patches in the first half, especially from wide areas, in trying to get round the Holwell defence they failed to carve out any clear cut chances, despite have possibly claims to a penalty.

It was however Barrow who struck first in the second half and broke the deadlock. A cross field ball found the Barrow left winger who cut inside before putting the ball past Cragg. Barrow then seemed to sit back and try and defend the lead they had installed.

Smith came on to replace I.Wells who was on his final warning by the referee. Holwell then became to get back in control of the game and pin Barrow back in their half and eventually got their just rewards in the shape of a G.Wells equalizer. A Hibbett flick found Williams whose lobbed pass over the centre halves heads was met by G.Wells and this time the lob over the again stranded goalie dipped just in time in to the net.

Holwell then pressed for the winner. Williams went close, before G.Wells dragged wide from close range when maybe a lay off would have been the better option. A cross from Foster was then glanced away from the head of G.Wells by the Barrow defence, before Hibbett headed wide from a corner.

Finally it was Barrow's turn to strike back in the dying minutes. Barrow broke on Holwell twice in as many minutes in the final minutes. It was Holwell's goalkeeper Cragg that was first to save the day by clawing a low driven cross away from the on rushing Barrow forward who would have been left with an easy tap in. Then a minute later Ridout blocked on the line before clearing to safety.

A frustrating afternoon for the Holwell fans when again one point could have easily been three. However after Barrow's two late chances, one point could have easily been nun, and a second home defeat in as many league game.

Next up is Retford United in the FA Cup Preliminary Round.