FA Vase tie goes to Extra Time!

Holwell 5 - 6 Kirby Muxloe

Ian Bitmead in possession for Holwell Sports during the FA Vase thriller against Kirby Muxloe. PHOTO: Tim Williams

What a match fans were given on Saturday as Holwell just lost out to Kirby Muxloe in an eleven goal marathon at Welby Road.

Holwell started the game well with good work by Scott Mooney on the left cutting in and firing a shot low at goal to show the visitors intent and it wasn’t long before Holwell made the early pressure pay off with an opening goal after only 5 mins by Ben Smedley after another good throw in by Sam Muggleton was headed on by Ian Bitmead leaving Smedley an easy tap in at the back post.

Kirby Muxloe looked as though their tactics were to find front target man Stuart Verral and bring in others from knock downs and on 11 mins the visitors were level when Verral rose easily above the Holwell defence to equalise with a header back across goal with Cragg rooted.
In what was to become a crazy game Holwell nearly went back in front within a minute as a loose back pass evaded visiting keeper Turner as the ball went under his foot and only a sharp scamper back saw him clear the ball off the line to save his embarrassment.

For most of the rest of the half honours were even with good attacking football from both sides just not clicking in the final third of the pitch. Though towards the end of the half the home team were beginning to get on top and Holwell were unlucky not to go 2-1 up when Michael Stevenson hit the woodwork.

Holwell had the chances but were failing to take them and on 42mins Kirby Muxloe were awarded a harsh penalty when Muggleton clipped Verral’s heels in the box. The visitors could count themselves lucky to go in at the break 2-1 up.

No one could have envisaged the goal fest still to come and Holwell came out strong again when Scott Mooney levelled immediately after the restart following two corners in a row. The ball clearing out to Hibbitt who shot at goal and Scott Mooney turned it into the net to get the homeside back in the game. From here on Holwell were the dominant side and Dominic Hallows edged the home side back in front with the second of the game’s three penalties after 63 minutes.

Holwell looked in control at this point and should have closed out the match successfully but only ten minutes later Verrall completed his threesome also from the penalty spot after a blatant shirt pull by Rose in front of the referee. Tom Hills put the visitors back in front with only five minutes left but Hoilwell fought back and all was not over yet as the tireless Scott Mooney’s second goal of the game sent the tie into extra time.

An Own goal from Ian Bitmead as he tried to defend a low cross and a Sam Taylor deflected shot inside two minutes gave Kirby Muxloe the advantage early on in extra time and Holwell tried to get back on terms but this two goal advantage was to prove just too much and with a last gasp game’s third penalty on 115mins from Dominic Hallows gave some hope it was too late making the final score 5-6.

It was some game but both managers would be looking at poor defending and unforced errors as they reflect on their teams performances.