Holbrook Sports FC 0 – 2 Holwell Sports FC

Kicking off down the Holbrook slope it didn’t take Holwell long to establish themselves and using the long ball tactic well. The home back four had no answer for Bettinson’s flicks and Mooney’s running.

However it was Graham Wells who was given the first chance to get behind the full backs on four minutes when Bettinson nodded the ball out to Graham Keast, he then found Michael Stevenson his measured pass inside the right full back for Wells to run onto got the winger in.

His first time cross into the box was superbly dispatched for the opener by the diving Sam Bettinson finishing off the move he started.

Holbrook just could not get going looking to limit the damage in the first half in the hope that they could recover using the slope in the second half.

Holwell needed to get another to make things a bit more certain but though they used the long ball effectively chances were going missing again with Hibbitt and Bettinson not able to capitalise on defensive errors by the hosts on 20mins.

Another chance fell to Michael Stevenson after good work by Bettinson and Mooney but unfortunately he could not finish.
Holwell controlled the first half well and deservedly went in at the break in front. HT 0-1

The expected onslaught by Holbrook never materialised in the second half and still it was Holwell that controlled the match with intricate passing and strong running by the front players.

Holbrook elected to try and play the ball out of defence but the midfield of Holwell stifled any play and chances on goal were very limited with Cragg well able to handle anything that was aimed at the visitors’ goal.

Holwell still looked the more likely to score and on 63mins went further ahead when Dean Randall did well to send in a low cross from the right which Scott Mooney got on the end of and blasted the ball past Keeper Graves.

For all Holbrook’s passing play out of defence they never did trouble Holwell who sent on Mark Tinsley for Chris Hibbitt and Kieran Foster for Sam Bettinson. This further strengthened the midfield which subdued the Holbrook play.

The closest Holbrook got to scoring was on 85mins when, after a free kick was cleared, a shot from the edge of the box was headed over the bar on the line by a dependable Dean Randall who gave another good performance at right back.

Holwell face league strugglers Aylestone Park at home on Saturday which will be the first team’s last home league match of the season such is the mad way this season’s fixtures have been controlled.