Woeful Holwell beaten by Bustling Belper!

Holwell Sports 0 - 2 Belper United

Holwell looked on edge from the start not able to get control of the ball, settle into their passing game or easily work the ball out of defence into attack.

The first chance did fall to Graham Wells on 5mins after Chapman sent in a corner then another cross from the clearance which Bitmead headed back across goal where, from two yards out Wells completely missed the ball when in a scoring position.

Play was edgy with neither team gaining outright control but at this early point Holwell looked more dangerous as another chance went begging when Chapman and Chiavetta combined to send a ball in from the left which Hazeldine tried to acrobatically turn goal wards.

Belper started to put some moves together and Witham was forced into saves first by Tim Perry then Ben Stockley.

Belper lit the game up on 18mins when Sam Vickers was given acres of space and time to control the ball on the left edge of the eighteen yard box before calmly placing the ball low into the left hand corner of Witham’s goal. To be fair a goal worthy of any professional match but Holwell’s defence didn’t close him down to at least put him off.

Holwell just couldn’t get anything to go their way, plenty of huff and puff but the final ball was lacking a poor touch on 30mins saw a chance by Fontoura go astray.

Holwell’s best shot at goal came in the 35th minute after good work involving Chapman, Stevenson and Wells who set up Fontoura but Belper’s keeper Bamford pulled off a good save to deny the equaliser.

Wells had another chance with a header right at the end of the half but glanced his effort weakly past the post.

The game was dead two minutes into the second half when poor defending on the right allowed Vickers to progress into the box. As his low cross was not fully cleared the ball fell to Tim Perry on the edge of the box who shot back in passed the motionless Holwell defence and keeper Witham.

Holwell’s second half performance was woeful with poor play throughout the team frustrating the home supporters.

The introduction of Hammond and Harris midway through the half for Fontoura and Hazeldine failed to have any impact as Belper saw out the game to go home with all three points.

Having saved Laitham Hammond as he recovers from a broken nose, Ridout recovering from a knee injury, Foster missing due to a hamstring injury, Tindle with an ankle injury you have to give sympathy to new manager Webb who is finding it difficult to pick a settled side and get any sort of run going.

However some first team squad players need to be looking over their shoulders, as the Reserves Team are beginning to gel with a 7-3 win away to Anstey Town. Opportunities for youngsters to step up may be forced on the first team management as they work to halt this backwards slide.

Holwell:- Witham, Reeves, Chiavetta, Bitmead, Woodcock, Fontoura(Harris), Hibbitt, Stevenson, Chapman, Hazeldine(Hammond), Wells. Not used Ridout, Williams, Cropper.