Bitmead Brace Brightens Holwell!

With the world's press and the eyes of the nation seemingly on local team Melton Town in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup. Holwell and Bourne met on the other side of town, to get some much needed points in their stuttering start to the Uhlsport UCL division one. Bouyed by a decent crowd on a very hot day Holwell started well with good early pressure though Bourne could not be discarded when their wingers opened their legs and run at the home defence.

The home side had some good early chances the best of which fell to Hazeldine as the ball was cleared out from a corner to the edge of the box but his left foot shot was hurried and off balance, the ball went over the bar.

Soon to follow was a good move 17mins involving Clark and Bitmead that saw a deft ball over the top to Gaskin who broke inside the defender but again the shot went over.

Holwell were on top now and showing some good interplay up front as a shot on the turn from Bitmead was well saved by Bourne keeper Evans.

Danger still lurked however as Ben Challis was challenged low down at his right hand post as Holwell failed to stop the marauding run of Josh Rendell as he was allowed to get a shot off on 26mins. Challis was called on for a second time minutes later as Rendell was again allowed to strike when he should have been tackled.

Nicholson was bothering the Bourne defence with strong running latching on to a good ball over the top on 34mins, breaking inside he got past two defenders before unleashing a shot which Evans did well to turn away.

It was close as the half drew to a close with no sign of a breakthrough. Holwell were probably the better of the two sides and indeed went in at the break one up as Nicholson floated a cross to the back post Ian Bitmead scored with a good headed goal just before the break.

Holwell were sluggish at the restart whereas Bourne looked determined. The home side looked ragged and yet again they allowed an opponent back into the game as substitute Stancu took advantage to get Bourne back into the game only three minutes after the restart.

Holwell got their act together and were soon back on the attack as Peberdey climbed above all at a corner with his header going just wide.

But it was Captain Bitmead who steadied the ship as he and Nicholson combined again with Bitmead nodding a cross from the left beyond the keeper to put the home side back in front on 54mins.

Vernon was finding space on the right as a strong run found him breaking into the box playing in Gaskin who was unlucky to see his shot turned away.

Holwell were back on top now as Bourne seemed to be losing discipline when the home side had a glorious chance in the 77th minute, to put the tie beyond Bourne as Peberdey was pushed over in the box and a penalty awarded. Nicholson took the spot kick but Evans pulled off a good save to deny the home side.

Bourne's substitute Tom Russell was sin binned for comments as Bourne looked all out of ideas and their manager wanting to take on the world it seemed.

The game finished 2-1 to Holwell lifting them up from the bottom of the league due to other results with the end of the match marred by indiscipline as first Moss was given a red card after the final whistle for comments to the officials and ugly scenes involving the Bourne manager who subsequently parted company with Bourne FC later that evening.

A decent performance and one hopefully Holwell can take strength from as they take on old adversaries Heanor Town from the East Midlands Counties League in next weeks Preliminary Round of the Build Base FA Vase kick off 3pm.

Holwell: Challis, Vernon ( Timms), Dunlop, Coser, Clark, Gaskin ( Logan), Penerdey, Hazeldine, Gaighan, Bitmead, Nicholson.