Stevenson Stars in final Home Match

Having given Michael Stevenson a guard of honour in his last home match for Holwell after fifteen years of sterling service to the club, Holwell went on to complete their first foray into the United Counties League Div1 with aplomb beating sixth placed Lutterworth Athletic 5 – 3 in a thrilling match which had end to end action throughout.

Having been beaten by Melton on Monday having given a good account of themselves the Howell players were in good fettle for this final home match with the mood buoyant as they made a special day of it for Michael Stevenson.

In windy weather it was difficult to control the ball well as Howell had the wind at their backs and tried to use the ball over the top for the front runners to chase after.

But Lutterworth were a very good side trying to play through Holwell who looked pretty square at the back relying on offside to thwart Lutterworth’s forwards.

It was Ross Cragg who had the first opportunity for Holwell on 12mins as he picked up the ball in midfield and advanced well towards the visitors goal unleashing a shot from twenty yards which just went over the bar.

But it was Lutterworth who broke the deadlock on 22mins as a mistimed clearance in the Holwell box fell straight to Barnes Gladman who turned and shot high past Ben Challis in the Holwell goal. Tough on Holwell who had been pressing Lutterworth well and deserved better.
But credit to Holwell they went straight up the park from the restart and keeper Grant Hartley had to look smart as he turned away a goal bound shot from youngster James Rushden.

Michael Stevenson took the resultant corner and in a repeat of a few this season found Captain Bitmead at the back post who restored parity smashing in for the equaliser two minutes after Lutterworth scoring.

Lutterworth stepped up their game for the next period playing neat passing football to try and break down the home defence who were coping well but on 34mins Gladman managed to beat the offside trap to run on one on one with Challis and he slotted the ball passed the advancing keeper to put the visitors back in front.

Amazingly in this end to end affair Holwell were back level again within two minutes as Stevenson picked the ball up from a cross into the box by Shaun Smith and smashed an unstoppable shot high left of the keeper who had no chance – some match this!

As the half came to a close Holwell were still doing well using the wind where they could with good running by Shaun Smith on the right, with Ross Cragg and James Rushden through the centre who were giving the two Lutterworth centre backs the run around.

Cragg came close on 40mins when a goal bound shot was well saved by Hartley but it was Rushden that put Holwell back in front on the stroke of half time as he pounced on a defensive error and shot the home side in the lead.

There was a fear that Holwell might get caught square at the back in the second half as Lutterworth chased the game as they did look dangerous with Munton coming close on a couple of occasions but the home defence marshalled well by Bitmead managed the game well with delaying tactics to take the sting out of the game.

Then maybe against the run of play Matt Hendey put the home side in front on 66mins as he cut in from the left after another good run and cross field pass by Shaun Smith.

David Hazeldine came close to extending Holwell’s lead as he unleashed a stinger of a shot at goal which Hartley again did well to parry away.

Lutterworth were not to be discounted though and started to really push in the final twenty minutes as they chased the game with Stephan Bjelic giving them hope scoring in the 86th minute as Holwell were in full panic mode.

However in what was a pulsating match the man of the day Michael Stevenson showed just why the Holwell faithful have revered this guy for the last fifteen years as he cut open the Lutterworth defence with surgical precision to send Shaun Smith free two minutes into added time and the youngster showed great confidence in finishing well to win the match for Holwell 5 – 3.

A tremendous send off for Michael Stevenson a great result which lifted Holwell another two places up the table to fourteenth but when you consider the upheaval and struggles Holwell have encountered in this their first year of UCL football can be seen as a credible finish.