East Midlands Counties League
BLACKWELL MW 1 HOLWELL SPORTS 2

Fielding an unchanged team, the visitors made a good start against a side with only four league wins to their credit.

Ryan Whatley went close early on, with keeper Judson diving smartly to his left to deny him at the foot of the post, but the goal soon came, on eight minutes, and what a super goal it was.

Whatley swung in a delightful free kick from out on the right to the far post where Ian Bitmead outjumped the defence before planting a firm header across Judson and just inside the post.

Falling behind seemed to kickstart Blackwell into action and twice in quick succession they went close.

Ollie Freckingham's superbly timed tackle stopped Moran in his tracks when through on goal, and then Richard Cragg produced a smart save, diving to his right to palm away Archibold's free kick which had curled around the wall.

Holwell needed another goal and midway through the half they should have had it. A fine flowing move through the midfield ended with the ball at the feet of the unmarked Nick Hardy eight yards out but he delayed too long allowing Judson to race out and block his shot.

Sensing the let-off, Blackwell dominated the rest of the half, using the long ball over the top to good effect, but despite looking too square at times, the visiting defence held out until half-time.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Holwell were still finding it hard to regain their rhythm, but could have stretched their lead when some neat skill from Rob Pitman out on the left put Bitmead in on the keeper, only for Judson to dive and turn his shot around the post.

Holwell then had a let-off when, from a quick counter, Hewer's shot rebounded off Cragg and Russ Pitman raced back to save the day by heading the ball from underneath the bar.

And minutes later a long ball over the top caught the defence napping but fortunately Fowler screwed his shot just past the post.

The second goal Holwell so desperately needed finally arrived on 72 minutes in bizarre fashion. The ball was just inside the Blackwell half and there seemed to be no danger but Archbold and Clifford left it for each other allowing Bitmead to nip in to pinch it before racing away to slip it past Judson.

Minutes later it should have been all over after another fine lay-off from Rob Pitman put Bitmead in for his hat-trick but he squandered an easy chance by shooting straight at Judson. Pitman was also unlucky when his header from Whatley's cross looked a goal all the way, only for Judson to brilliantly turn it away.

Deep into time added on, Blackwell bagged a consolation – and it was another freak goal. Cragg, who had handled well all afternoon, went to kick away a back-pass but slipped and the ball went straight to Harrison, who gratefully shot into the empty net.

Holwell: R. Cragg, T. Cooper, O. Freckingham, Russ Pitman, D. Saddington, S. Smith, N. Prenderville, R. Whatley, Rob Pitman, I. Bitmead (L. Fox 83), N. Hardy (M. Cowling 83