Holwell overwhelmed by classy Pinxton FC as FA Vase hopes come and go!

Holwell Sports FC 1 – 4 Pinxton FC

Holwell gave up their FA Vase ambitions for this season with a whimper on Saturday as they come up against a determined Pinxton FC who came ready to take no prisoners.

Holwell were under pressure from the start and never really got to grips with the stronger, smarter and more coherent Pinxton.

Within three minutes the visitors should have been in front but for a bad miss by Debrouwer as he blasted wide when it looked easier to score.
Bitmead was penalised on the edge of the box for a pull back on Stubley as he struggled to cope with the centre forward. Stubley took the kick but Holwell were relieved to see it fly past the left hand post.

Holwell broke quickly from this winning a corner on the left after good work, however Hendey’s cross failed to beat the first defender and like a flash Pinxton were up the other end as Holwell were again under pressure from the fast pace of the diminutive Jack Hawkins.

Debrouwer missed another great chance to open the scoring on ten minutes as Holwell looked to have used up some of their nine lives!

It was only a matter of time but the home side can think themselves unlucky on 11mins, as they conceded the opener. The home defence tried to clear their lines on the edge of the box, it seemed several were swinging feet at the ball but it was Jay Cooper who connected sending a shot through a ruck of players which Binns couldn’t get to.

Pinxton were much stronger in the tackle moving the ball about with ease when on 21mins after good work on the left Pete Stubley extended the visitors lead with a rasping shot centre of the box to middle of the goal which John Binns had no chance with.

Holwell rallied after this and as the half wore on started to get into the game as they pressed to get back into the game threatening the Pinxton goal on 42mins which could have been a rallying point just before half time.

But to serve as a warning Pinxton made one more attack on the Holwell goal as Cooper had a shot but this time John Binns pulled off a great save to keep the home side in the game.

As the second half started Pinxton looked to be controlling the game conserving energy expended in the first half as Holwell came more into the picture but still Holwell struggled with the pure physical presence being shrugged off the ball too easily.

Pinxton’s first real attack in the second half came on 53mins and the tie was seemingly put beyond Holwell as Callum Triance powered in a thunderous header from a left side corner. Left with a clear run in on the cross his strong header finished the contest.

Holwell did not let their heads drop but it was a flat performance from the home side as the home crowd tried to lift their side.

Manager Gray made the obligatory changes bringing on Stevenson, Foster and Nikolajevs for Smith, Hendey and Tinsley which brought about a hopeful opening as Ambrose scored on 63mins to give the home side a lift and the hope of turning the game around late on.

As the visitors lost a bit of composure at this point their centre half Dan Riley was sent off for a second bookable offence being booked for too strong a complaint to the Assistant Referee claiming Ambrose had been offside.

Still this seemed to fire the visitors up again and a gloss was put on the score as sub Scott Graham finished off the scoring with ten minutes to go with a fierce shot from the edge of the box low just inside Binn’s right hand post.

Holwell are still struggling to get the influx of new players to gel and established players to buy into Manager Gray’s plans though having all back from holidays, available, fully committed and ready to fight to get out of this poor vein of form is proving a difficult task. We go again with a home league fixture versus Thrapston on Saturday KO 3pm.

Holwell: Binns, B Smith (Foster), Betteridge, Bitmead, Ridout, Thompson, Hazeldine, O’Grady, Hendey (Nikolajevs), Tinsley (Stevenson), Ambrose. Not Used: Fjodorovs, Robinson