Rampant Holwell in seventh heaven!

A rampant Holwell stormed to victory on Saturday against fourth placed St Andrews.

From the start Holwell looked in the zone hustling the midfield, quicker to the second ball, more expansive play, it looked as though Holwell meant business at last. St Andrews contributed early on with slick interplay but somehow Holwell could read the play and the visitors attacks broke down.

Holwell broke the deadlock on 11mins, a free kick swung in by Teare was chested down by Kirkby and Ben Smedley was on hand to guide the ball passed Butlin in the visitor’s goal. Little did the keeper know he was about to pick the ball out of the net another six times that afternoon.

St Andrews nearly got back on level terms right away when Will Robinson broke down the right and fired in a low cross that went right across goal but there were no takers. St Andrews play was disrupted when left back Ryan Hawker had to leave the field injured on 20mins replaced by Mark Connelly.

Play was one way for most of the half with Holwell bossing the game at their pace keeping the visitors defence busy and on 20mins went further ahead when Kirkby again had the St Andrews defence in trouble playing in Smedley who passed to Michael Stevenson to score from close range at a very acute angle.

St Andrews had the chance to get back in the game on 35mins with a penalty, when a ball that had beat keeper Cragg came back off the post and Rose was adjudged to have played the ball with his upper arm as it came at him. St Andrews must have known at this point that it wasn’t to be their day as Richard Cragg made a magnificent save stretching to his left post to parry the penalty attempt.

This spurred Holwell on again and on 40mins they too were awarded a penalty when Bitmead was brought down in the box this time Michael Stevenson coolly slotted the ball past keeper Butlin.

Three nil at halftime the crowd were in good spirit for once and wondered if St Andrews would make a better game of it in the second half.

However Holwell still looked the livelier, first to the ball making space, attacking the visitors defence and on 64mins the crowd were rewarded with a stunner by Michael Stevenson for his Hat Trick. A shot from 30yards out on the left which looked in as soon as it left his foot - a magnificent strike.

St Andrews didn’t seem to have any answers to Holwell and the home team went five up when Ian Bitmead who had hustled and bustled the visiting defence all day won the ball and put in Smedley who had the easiest of chances for goal number five on 78mins.

Five minutes later Smedley also got a Hat Trick when Bitmead was bundled to the ground in the box as they prepared for a free kick. Ben Smedley coolly put away the resulting penalty.

Holwell brought on all three of their young subs Barnard, Tinsley and Gordon for the last few minutes giving them the chance to get on the score sheet.

However it was stalwart Ian Bitmead who hadn’t given up on the day and crowned a hard working display on the stroke of full time chasing a high ball by Fred Stannard into the goal and outjumping the hapless keeper Butlin to make it 7-0 heading into the empty goal and sending the home fans away very happy.

Holwell also celebrated their 1000th spectator of the season on Saturday as diehard supporter, Colin Moulds was welcomed through the gate before the match. FT 7-0