Holwell lose out in entertaining open game.

Holwell Sports 3 - 4 St Andrews FC

Holwell welcomed St Andrews to Welby Rd on Tuesday and in an open entertaining game competing well after a draining full 90mins and extra time on Saturday.

It was yet again a catalogue of missed or not taken chances interspersed with defensive errors that contributed to Holwell’s fate.
In the first half Holwell had a period of about twenty minutes where they were by far on top and did not take advantage which could have changed the outcome.

Apart from a big shout for a St Andrews penalty in the first minute as Leon Doughty went down in the box, Holwell started well with forwards putting pressure on the visitors defence. Mooney was played in on 15mins but his shot was parried by Luke hall in goal, the rebound falling to Kieran Foster who passed to Sam Bettinson – his shot was also saved but Mooney hit the post with that rebound.

St Andrews opened the scoring on 22mins when the defence failed to attack an incoming cross and Doughty got his first of the night. But such was this open game Liam Chapman got the home side back level two minutes later scoring at the back post after more good work by Bettinson and Mooney.

In pouring rain Holwell coped better over the next twenty minutes but failed to capitalise on some good opportunities. The best falling to Sam Bettinson on 38mins but Hall was alert and smothered the shot.
HT 1-1

There was not much in it at the start of the second half both teams going all out for the win with end to end stuff but Cragg was called to make two saves in quick succession on 50mins and Toby Warner cracked the Holwell bar on 56mins.

This signalled a period where St Andrews took advantage when on 59mins they worked the ball across the field to Danny Gallagher on the edge of the box who sent in a low shot which Cragg failed to stop at his left hand post to put the visitors 2-1 up. But again virtually from the kick off Michael Stevenson was played in the six yard box but his snap shot was instinctively saved by Hall to stop the equaliser.

Holwell tried to get back in the game with good work on the left by Liam Chapman with decent chances for Foster and Mooney on 66 and 67mins. It was the main difference in this match St Andrews taking shots when given the opportunity Holwell wanting another touch and being closed down losing the opportunity.

The game was thrown wide open again on 75mins as Holwell won a corner on the left Stevenson swung the cross in and Ian Bitmead was first to the ball attacking the front post and scoring with a strong header.

Holwell were finally undone as the visitors went straight back on the attack, on 78mins a cross in from the left saw Doughty get his second of the night with a header beating Cragg.

The home side were still reeling from this when a long ball from a free kick on 80mins was not dealt with by the home defence - Brady Hickby picked up the ball and under pressure from Randall still managed to bundle the ball over the line to make it 4-2.

Holwell rallied but time was short and with time wasting tactics frustration began to creep in Mark Tinsley had been introduced for Ian Bitmead and he made the score respectable on 90mins scoring with a header.

If Holwell could cut out some of the defensive errors that have lost points this year and have the confidence to take more chances up front they will still be there or there abouts at the end of the season.