Holwell Win Away

Needing to bounce back after conceding 7 in midweek Holwell went in Saturdays fixture with Ratcliffe knowing that they couldnt afford to be beaten. As it was Holwell earned their second away league victory and also their second league clean sheet in the process.

It what has been a tough week all round at Welby Road, Daws was also left with finding a replacement keeper with Cragg deciding to move on and down the hill to Melton Mowbray. Richard Stainsby was signed and took his place between the sticks. G.Wells returned for Seward who dropped to the bench in the only other change from the defeat to Ashby.

Facing a Ratcliffe side who also find themselves in the lower reaches of the EMCL, Holwell encountered another physcially big and strong side and were put under pressure by the direct style of the Ratcliife play.

Skipper Ridout marshalled his defence as Holwell restricted Ratcliffe to only long range efforts and set peices as possible attempts on Stansby's goal.

A Holwell performance full of effort, but lacking in quality began to grow into the game and take control. G.Wells and Mooney both missing a chance each to put Holwell ahead. This was until the 37th minute when a ball up field from Randall split the defence, G.Wells latched onto the ball and unlike his chance previously finished past Dunn in the Ratcliffe goal.

Ratcliffe struck straight back and were unlucky on two occasions not to level. Firstly Stainsby marked his Holwell debut with a tremendous save, tipping a certain goal over his bar. Then right on the half time whistle, from a Ratcliffe corner, Holwell saw their crossbar rattling after the corner was volleyed against the bar and over to safety.

Daws was forced into a change at half time with Seward replacing G.Wells who suffered a recurrence of the groin injury that saw him miss the Ashby defeat.

With the second half under way Holwell were restricted to playing on the counter attack as territoriality Ratcliffe dominated without putting Stainsby under any further pressure.

In fact it was Holwell on the break who looked more like scoring next with Mooney failing to covert a couple of solo efforts. Ratcliffe looked at their most dangerous again from corners but with Stainsby opting to come a deal with original danger, the threat came to little.

A solid defensive display resulted in Holwell seeing out the match to earn the 3 points and jump 3 places in the EMCL to 15th. It wasn't Holwell at their fluent best but it certainly was a step in the right direction following the Ashby performance.

Holwell Starting Line Up - Stainsby, Randall, Rose, Ridout, Calver, Foster (booked - tackle), Hibbitt, Hallam, I.Wells, Mooney, G.Wells (Seward 45 mins)
Subs Not Used - Denigan, Smith, Daws