Holwell Secure 3 Points

On a blustery afternoon up Welby Road the match against Gedling Miners Welfare was always going to be affected by the conditions and it was Holwell who came out on top.

Daws welcomed back trio Foster, Stevenson and Hallam after last weekends defeat at Radford, but was missing the services of Randall due to injury. Foster came straight into the line up to replace Randall, along with Stevenson who came in for Stannard. Stannard was joined on the bench by the returning and Hallam and Keast.

Holwell attacking the Welby Road end in the first half with the strong wind behind them started on the front and unsurprisingly stayed on the front for much of the first half aided by the gale force wind behind them.

Despite the territorial advantage Holwell failed to create any clear cut chances. Holwell threatened from a string of corners one that was cleared of the line and one that whistled just wide of the post.

In fact it was Gedling Miners that found themselves to have the three best chances of the first half, but Burton again standing in for the suspended Stainsby was in top form and prevented Gedling from capitalizing on their chances.

Holwell did take the lead on the half hour mark when a long free kick from Foster went straight in after Hibbitt and the Gedling goalkeeper failed to connect and the ball bounced straight in.

After tactically adapting at half time to the potential for a second half barrage Holwell emerged from half time and played their best football since the victory over Holbrook before Christmas.

Despite facing the strong wind, which may have subsided slightly Holwell carved out numerous chances while Gedling struggled to assert themselves on the game.

Chances fell to Mooney and Wells, while Holwell again threatened from corners. Wells just failed to meet a Foster cross as Holwell searched for their second goal.

Holwells second arrived shortly after the hour mark when Hibbitt headed home a Chapman corner. Holwell had been threatening this all game so it wasn't a total surprise that the goal came this way.

Ten minutes later Hibbitt got his second and made the game safe again heading in

Daws freshened up his 11 using all his subs.

One of these subs Stannard had a chance to add to the tally but took to long in getting his shot off. He the sent up Wells but again Wells shot over, as Holwell carved out opening after opening.

Gedling managed to pull a goal back when when Slawson guided the ball in to the net from a cross from the right, but it was too little to late as Holwell saw out the match to win 3-1.

The victory moves Holwell up a place to 13th, 2 points adrift of Kimberley Miners Welfare who sit in 9th.

Up next for Holwell is a Tuesday night fixture away at Quorn in the Westerby Cup, before Holbrook Sports are welcomed to Welby Road next Saturday for EMCL action.

Holwell; Burton, (booked - dissent), Denigan, Ridout, Rose, Chapman, Foster (Keast 70 mins), Smith (Hallam 75 mins), Hibbitt, Wells, Stevenson, Mooney (Stannard - 70 mins)