FA Cup .. Came and Went!!

Holwell were beaten by a poor pitch and more likely themselves in an inept display for the discerning supporters who took the time to travel to Sleaford.

One has to feel sorry for a Manager and his assistant when they prepare a squad for a match as important to a club as Holwell as this was hoping that when the team cross the white line to play they understand just how important.

It was hard to watch Holwell on Saturday take on an opponent that was probably expecting a more competitive game.

The game started ok on a pretty poor pitch, bumpy, uneven and poorly cut.

On 12 mins Holwell were undone with a great pass from midfield setting away the right winger Doddle, who left Sam Muggleton for dead before sending in a cross for Ryan Oliver to guide a header guided past hapless Cragg.

On 22 mins a great chance for Seaford to increase score but centre forward Edwards ballooned his shot over the bar.

Holwell were struggling to get into scoring positions but on 38 mins a chance fell to Hibbit who shot over. Holwell were on top at this point and a Smedley shot was blocked only for Stevenson to shoot over after a wicked bobble.

It was Michael Stevenson again who came closest to equalising the score on the dead of half time with a strike from all of 40yards which smashed against the home cross bar. Holwell had been in the ascendancy at the end of the first half and it looked good for the second half.

However all was undone when Sleaford broke down the left and another dangerous cross was turned in by Tony Edwards after Cragg parried his initial shot on 46mins putting Sleaford 2- 0 up.

For the rest of the half Holwell huffed and puffed but even with changes bringing on Bitmead for Tom Muggleton, Rose on for Foster and the sending off of Sleafords Substitute Millard nothing changed.

Holwell seemed to give up on this match from as soon as 60mins with not a shot on goal worthy of note in the second half though against the run of play should have had a penalty on 64 mins when Kirkby was bundled over in the box.