Five-star Tinsley helps Holwell Sports rout Ellistown

Mark Tinsley was the star of the show as he helped himself to a stunning five-goal haul as John Webster’s side chalked up their second win in four days and their fourth victory in their last five matches.

Tinsley opened his account after 16 minutes before adding Holwell’s second within the opening half-hour.

But as supporters may have expected the floodgates to open, Ellistown, who have just two points to their name in a miserable season, pulled themselves back into the match a minute before half-time when Dean Hopewell halved the deficit.

Home striker Graham Wells restored order three minutes into the second half with Holwell’s third, and soon after the game was well and truly up for the visitors when Tinsley completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute.

It was the start of a stunning three-goal burst from the Holwell forward inside 10 minutes, stretching the lead to 6-1 inside 65 minutes.

And there was still time for another landmark as young striker Shaun Smith, who is also on Melton Town’s books, came off the bench to score his first goal for Holwell, seven minutes from time.

The victory lifts Sports to 11th, just two points off the top 10, but having played several more games than all of the teams around them.

After a blank weekend and their midweek county cup semi-final, Holwell are next in league action on Saturday, March 4 when they travel to 18th-placed Belper United (kick-off 3pm).