Holwell Progress!

Holwell are through to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup after they overcome a stubborn Graham St Prims. On Wednesday 20th August Holwell will find out who their opponents will be and where to start making travel arrangements too after Retford United (NCEL) drew 2-2 with East Midlands Counties side Stapenhill.

For Holwell it was very much a case of roles reversed to last weekend defeat to St Andrews. This weekend it was Holwell in the ascendancy, and looking the more likely to break the deadlock, but it still took the best part of an hour for this to happen.

Daws made two changes, one of which was enforced due to the injury of club captain Stevenson. This saw new signing I.Wells come straight into the side in the middle of midfield. Chapman also came into the side after being unavailable for the opening game of the season.

Holwell started on the front foot and were looking to avenge last seasons League Cup Semi Final defeat at the hands of Prims, with the first chance coming to G.Wells who shot low, but the Prims goalkeeper was able to save. Despite showing themselves to be a potential threat Prims grew into the game but were unable to create any clear cut opportunities. This however did fall to the Holwell forwards. First from a Stannard flick G.Wells bared down on goal only to blast the chance over. G.Wells then teed up Stannard but just as his was about to pull the trigger a Prims defender slid in the clear the danger. It was then Stannards chance to bare down on the Prims goalie, but unfortunately over ran the opportunity when rounding the goalie. Foster went close with a shot from distance, before G.Well had a glancing flick cleared off the line from a long free kick in to box.

Despite the chances, Daws wasnt happy with the tempo of the football being played and asked for better in the second half. The deadlock was finally broken about 15 minutes into the second half when a beautifully weighted cross from Chapman was guided home from Foster. Within a minute it was two. A free-kick from the right by I.Wells was eventually tucked away by Ridout.

As Prims chased a way back in to the game they became even more susceptible to the break away, and a lofted pass by I.Wells was completely missed by the on rushing Prims goalkeeper which left G.Wells the opportunity to flick the ball into an open net, which was taken.

Despite Prims battling to the final whistle and managing to carve out a few half chances, the game was safe and Holwell managed to see it out and in the process keep their first clean sheet of the season and net the club and handy income bonus.

In a game where Holwell never truly played the football they can, it was refreshing that the scoreline was a positive 3-0 result.

Holwell's next match is away at Greenwood Meadows in the EMCL, where the focus will be to get the league season rolling with a first league win of the season.