Holwell Lose Out

A Holwell side that should have been full off confidence after three straight wins came unstuck at Welby Road on Saturday high flying Bardon Hill some how left with 3 points, 3 goals and two red cards.

Daws welcomed back G.Wells after illness ruled him out of last weekends victory at Blaby, and he replaced Hallam who is now expected to be sidelined for 4 weeks with ankle ligament damaged sustain in the same match.

Holwell started the game poorly, and as the past two weeks gave their opponents a goal lead. Last season EMCL top scorer Hart was given to much time at the edge of the box before drilling home Bardon's advantage.

Maybe being the early wake up goal needed for Holwell needed to bring life to their game they became to take control off the game and threaten Bardon goal. Mooney headed down for Hibbitt who shot wide. G.Wells brought a routine save from the Bardon custodian before Mooney levelled. An up field ball by Rose was not dealt with by the Bardon defence and Mooney latched on, jinking back on to his right foot before firing into the net.

Holwell continued in the ascendancy Mooney going close again as well as Foster before Stannard somehow managed to round the injured keeper before firing the ball back at him with the ball rebounding for a corner. From the resulting corner Smith headed wide.

Holwell good play was then holted when Bardons goal scorer received a straight red card for appearing to strike out at Rose. Despite going a man down it was Bardon who now looked the most threatening and right on half time took the lead again when Holwell failed to prevent a cross from coming in and Chatfield found the net at the second time of asking.

The second half begun and within 7 minutes Holwell found themselves in a deep hole. It was Bardon who started the second half brightly, not wanting to invite to much pressure upon themselves and got their just rewards when Hanslow saw his tame effort squirm through the hands of Stainsby in the Holwell goal. An unfortunate error from Stainsby who has thus far kept goal brilliantly since the departure of Cragg.

Holwell begun to huff and puff but unfortunate were rushing their play and their lacking any quality in the attacks being built.

With half an hour remaining Holwell were handed what at the time seemed a life line. A second red card of the game and a second for a Bardon player this Coulson given his marching order for a two footed lunge on Hibbitt.

Again though this united Bardon further and certainly made them more stubborn to break down with them settling for what they had, and knowing that Hanslow was a constant threat even as a lone striker.

Mooney did manage to reduce to arrears with 10 mins remaining poking in the rebound from a Stannard effort, but Holwell couldn't muster the grandstand finish the home crowd were longing for, and instead grew even more frustrated with the way the afternoon was going. The game being constantly interrupted for fouls, injuries and clearances going straight out of play. It would be fair to say that Holwell only looked like winning this match when it was 11 v 11, and at half time could and should have been 3/4 -1 up.

Next up is due to be a trip to Borrowash Victoria but due to two acts of vandalism to their ground the game is now due to be reversed and taking place at Welby Road. K/O 3.00

Holwell; Stainsby, Randall, Rose, Ridout, Calver, Foster, Smith, Hibbitt, G.Wells, Stannard, Mooney
Subs not used; Barnard, Denigan, Daws