Holwell Gain Revenge

Holwells current good form continued as they continue to close the gap on the 6th place Ashby with arguably their most efficient performance of the season.

Holwell fielded a side that consistent of five different starters compared to the fixture a Welby Road earlier in the season and this helped in a 9 goal swing in the result.

Daws was forced in to a change from the starting 11 who started against Borrowash last weekend with the news that Keast who was substituted during this game actually sustained concussion. In to the side game Foster, with Hallam also replacing Smith.

On a deceptively bad playing surface, and with a strong breeze down the field both sides tried but often failed in building many meaningful attacks on the surface. In fact as the half progressed both sides were rather guilty of going to long to soon. The first half was a scrappy affair with only shots from distance causing both keepers into any sort of action.

If nothing really happened in the first half, with goal scoring chances at a premium what ever Daws said at half time did the trick. Now playing into the strong breeze Holwell came out firing and seized the initiative in this game and put the game to bed within 15 minutes of the restart.

Playing at higher tempo, with shorter exchanges of play Stevenson and Hibbett dominated the midfield, feeding Hallam, Foster, Stannard and Mooney into wave after wave of attack.

Holwell threatened with a in swinging Stevenson corner that eluded everyone before his next one saw it cleared off line after Stannard headed towards goal. Stannard made the break through however in the 50th minute volleying in from the penalty spot after a Mooney lay down .

Hibbett slipped when going for a goal before Stannard fired wide. Mooney did manage to double Holwells lead in the 55th minute after dancing through two defenders cut in from the left a curled the ball into far corner.

With Holwell rampant Ashby became very direct, with Stainsby virtually a spectator protected by Chapman, Ridout, Parra-Watson, and Calver.

Mooney again went close, as did Parra-Watson from a corner, but after this 15 minute spell of dominance Holwell sat back in and saw out the match comfortably allowing Ashby to play in front of them but never through.

Wells replaced Stannard with ten minutes remaining, with Barnard introduced for Hallam in added time. Stevenson went close with a free kick late on as did Foster with a shot from the left but it remained 2-0.

With Holwell now 9 points adrift of Ashby in 6th place with three games in hand the hunt for 6th spot in very much a possibility. Holwells good form will be put the test next weekend when the travel to table topping Bardon Hill who have hit 10 goals, conceded 0 in their last two games in the past week.

Holwell; Stainsby, Calver, Ridout, Parra-Watson, Chapman, Hallam (Barnard 90 mins), Hibbitt, Stevenson, Foster, Stannard (Wells 80 mins), Mooney
Subs not used; Smith