Lessons to be learned from leaders Gornal for young Holwell Sports side

Holwell keeper Trayton Brightmore also saved a penalty

But, with Holwell's side being so young, joint boss Ian Bitmead said he was happy with their showing against strong opposition and hoped his players would learn lessons from it.

“Gornal are top for a reason – they are a good, well-organised side who are obviously paying a lot of money,” he said.

“But, to be fair, we've taken quite a lot of positives from it.

“With the way Gornal play and the way they set up, it actually showed our young lads what it takes to be at that level and what is going to be needed for us to get out of where we are.

“Tray was at fault for their first goal, so he was happy he saved a penalty.

“We did well overall and the pleasing thing was we laid a glove on them as, when we played them earlier in the season at their ground, we didn't even have a shot on goal.

“I spoke to their manager afterwards and he was very complimentary of us, saying what a good young side we've got.

“I know that doesn't mean a lot when you are sat bottom. But it does show we are moving in the right direction.”

Joel Westwood had put Gornal in front on seven minutes before Traevay Wright doubled that on 17 minutes.

Bradley Maslen-Jones added a third on 34 minutes and Sports could have gone under. But they dug in, Brightmore keeping out Maslen-Jones’ penalty on 46 minutes after Westwood had been brought down.

In the end, Gornal could only add one more as Westwood competed a brace on the hour.

Next up for Sports this weekend are fifth-placed Heather St John's and Bitmead said: “On Saturday we play another team in the play-offs.

“So we will go there, give it a good go, stay organised, and keep learning and progressing week in, week out.

“We seem to have a fairly settled squad now of 23 which can be a bit of a headache most weeks.

“But it just shows how they all want to be there a do right by the club, and we need lads like that.”​​​​​​​