Blaby’s superiority shines over Holwell!

Holwell Sports 2 - 5 Blaby & Whetstone

Again Holwell gave the opposition a start as Ricky Bates opened the scoring for the visitors on 15 minutes. As Holwell set up to defend a corner, instead of the expected cross, the ball was passed out to totally unmarked Bates on the edge of the box where he shot low and hard through advancing defenders leaving Witham unsighted as the ball nestled in the left hand corner of the net with the keeper rooted to the spot.

But it only took Holwell five minutes to get back on terms as they regrouped and set about getting back into the game. it was yet another profitable Chapman cross from a corner which Mark Tinsley managed to head the ball beyond Warren Butlin in the Blaby goal.

There were chances for both teams to take the lead as for the rest of the half Holwell were able to match Blaby in a half which saw both teams hit the bar and chances for Holwell’s Chapman and Blaby’s Hill from long range efforts.

Blaby again started the smarter in the second half going 2-1 up four minutes into the half as Blaby exploited Holwell’s Reeves lack of height sending a high ball to the back post where Aaron Preston towered to head the ball past Jamie Witham.

However back came Holwell and they were level again on 52mins as Hibbitt rose to head a Chapman free kick from the right only to see his effort hit the right upright. As the ball run along the goal line Ian Bitmead reacted quickest to force the ball over for the equaliser, 2-2.

Though the game was end to end it was frenetic, scrappy at times and one could sense that it wouldn’t take much for Blaby to up their game and go on to win they just seemed that bit more certain of their abilities and skills.

But it was Holwell again who nearly went ahead on 60mins as Tinsley again got his head to a free kick but Butlin managed to get his finger tips to the ball and turn it over.

Blaby were pressing Holwell now and it took a bit of luck come skill for the visitors to go in front on 63mins as Preston managed to work an overhead kick in the box which went in off Witham’s right hand post.

The pressure was beginning to tell on Holwell and they survived a near own goal minutes later as Hibbitt headed the ball onto his own goal post.

The game took a major turn in the 70th minute as bizarrely Blaby’s Tom Hill was sent off for deliberately walking on a Holwell player who had gone down in a challenge resulting in a free kick.

After a period of about five minutes Blaby were finding it hard to adjust but Holwell just could not take advantage. Blaby resorted to long balls out from the keeper and counter attacks as Holwell pushed up.

This worked for Blaby and their superior class showed as they went on to overrun Holwell.

Holwell succumbed on 84mins as Blaby’s Butlin sent another long ball out to the right to Preston he took the ball on sending in a low cross field pass to Jack Lane who stroked the ball passed Witham.

With Holwell heads down after a good effort the long ball tactic working for Blaby, Preston again beats Reeves to the ball and crashes a shot off the left hand post 87mins.

With the game gone Blaby scored another on 90mins as George Tyler stole in to slot the ball passed Witham.