FA Cup Magic At Welby Road

In front off very vocal and large home support Holwell finally got the better of Kirby Muxloe defeating them 1-0. After upsetting Retford United at this stage last year Holwell again proved they can mix it with the higher ranked teams and in doing so set up a home encounter against Bedworth United on Saturday 12th September. As well as the obvious enjoyment of a good cup run in the worlds most famous cup competition the club will also benefit with the reward of £1925.00 for defeating Kirby. This along with the pleasing sight of an above average attendance (146) means that chairman Lewin can finally pay off outstanding debts the club owes.

Daws kept faith with same side that started at the weekend, while Kirby made a couple of changes.

The match started with both teams going at each other in similar fashion to the weekend with clear chances again at a premium. The match really sprung to life when Kirby were reduced to 10 men after Hibbitt was caught high with studs showing after 20 minutes.

Holwell seized this advantage and began to charge and penned Kirby back but still failed to create that elusive chance. In fact the next talking point came when on a Kirby attack then felt they should have had a penalty for Stainsby holding Agar and stopping him from getting to the ball after the pair collided.

Holwell were next to feel aggrieved by the referee. Great link up play by Chapman and Joachim, led to Joachim slipping in Wells for a golden chance to break the deadlock, but just as he beat the final defender the defender clipped his standing foot sending him off balance before the Kirby goalie scooped up the loose ball. Again no penalty given by the referee.

Holwell's frustration grew when the referee this time showed his red card to Holwell full back Marshall for an alleged stamp.

HT 0-0

Holwell started the second half brightly and again threatened the Kirby goal from set pieces but were still unable to work the Kirby keeper.

With an hour gone Kirby finally looked to have broken the deadlock, when scoring direct from a free kick, only for the referee to disallow it, as it had been awarded as an indirect free kick and as was the quality off the strike it flew straight into the net.

Five minutes later at Holwell finally broke the deadlock and this time it counted. A Chapman corner from the right was only partially cleared and when given a second opportunity to cross in his near post cross was glanced in at the front post by Wells to the delight of the majority of the 146 Welby Road crowd.

The goal gave Holwell further confidence and it could be said that Holwell now played their best football of the whole tie, even if Kirby were now throwing caution to the wind.

Stevenson began dance through tackles, closely followed by Foster, before Joachim rolled back the years and joined in.

Holwell had further chances to kill the tie off but Wells saw the Kirby keeper come out best in a one on one situation before Stevenson twice failed to get his shot off after dancing his way through a now highly frustrated Kirby backline.

Kirby's night was compounded in injury when one of their defenders saw red after his frustration got the better of him and his reckless challenge on Wells saw him go for an early shower.

Harris came on late and had a chance to finally settle it but saw his effort blocked, and as Kirby went even more direct Ridout, Hallam and Stainsby stood firm and dominant, while being protected excellently by Hibbitt and Bitmead.

A great night for Holwell and a deserved victory over the 180 minutes. It back to league action on Saturday when Holwell entertain Nottingham side Greenwood Meadows.

Holwell; Stainsby (booked - time wasting), Foster, Hallam, Ridout, Marshall (sent off 40 mins), Bitmead (booked - accumulation of fouls), Hibbitt, Stevenson, Chapman, Joachim, Wells (Harris - 89 mins)
Subs Not Used - Barnard, Corkett, Lowe, Stannard.