Holwell complete Greenwood Double

Greenwood who were a very different side to the one Holwell faced earlier in the season came to Welby Road as the side who are rock bottom of the EMCL currently but performed in a way to suggest that if this side played week in week out they would be nearer mid table.

With Daws starting the first of his 6 game stadium ban it was up to Hatton to take charge, assisted by Keast, of a Holwell side looking for a boost in confidence and momentum after last weeks results.

Holwell were missing Hallam and Parra-Watson as Hibbitt returned after completing his suspension and Randall came in for his first start of 2015 after overcoming an ankle injury at the start of January.

It was Greenwood who started brightly and played without fear as Holwell were slow into stride and struggled to get the ball down and play as Greenwood pressed quickly all over.

Greenwood threatened first forcing Stainsby into a sharp save. Greenwood then fired a second warning as cross from the Greenwood left was met at the back post but headed wide.

Holwell were then caught out on the counter attack as Greenwood took a deserved lead through the lively Ubah.

The goal sparked Holwell into life and within 5 minutes Holwell had levelled through Mooney. Within another 5 minutes Mooney converted a penalty to give Holwell the lead. After going on a penetrating run Mooney slipped through Foster who was then fouled. Mooney sent the Greenwood keeper the wrong way to notch his 28th goal of the season.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining the game then pursued a you attack we attack style with game becoming very stretched and open although the scoreline stayed at 2-1 till half time. Just before half time Holwell were dealt a blow when Byrne was forced off with a hamstring injury, with McKay replacing him.

After addressing a few problematic issues from the first half, the second half was underway as Holwell now began to dictate the game and play at tempo that suited.

In saying this it took Holwell till the 65th minute before they put daylight between themselves and Greenwood when Mooney seized on sliced clearance from the Greenwood keeper to slot home from 30 yards. The goal completed another hat trick for Mooney his third of the season, but also took him to joint second in the league goal scoring charts.

With Holwell now mainly in game management mode, Greenwood only threatened on rare occasions, but did force Stainsby into a another top class save saving low to his left.

Holwell saw the game out without any further scares to record their 15th league victory of the season. The victory sees Holwell gain to within 4 points of Barrow in 7th with a game in hand and the Riversiders to play on Bank Holiday Monday.

Up next for Holwell however is Arnold Town at Eagle Valley. Arnold currently sit directly below Holwell in the EMCL table in 10th, 6 points adrift but with two games in hand.

Holwell; Stainsby (booked - dissent), Calver, Randall, Ridout, Chapman, Foster, Stevenson, Hibbitt, Byrne (McKay 43 mins), Stannard, Mooney
Subs Not Used; Smith, Wells, Barnard