LATE WINNER: Mitch Griffiths. Photo by JAKE WHITELEY

Hayes full of praise as ten-man Holbeach United seal super Pagnell double

HOLBEACH UNITED 2
NEWPORT PAGNELL 1

Mitch Griffiths struck a dramatic late winner to give ten-men Holbeach United an impressive win over title-chasing Newport Pagnell Town on Saturday.

Charley Sanders (5) fired the Tigers ahead early on at Carter’s Park, but was sent off after just 14 minutes to leave Seb Hayes’ side with an uphill battle to hold on for the win.

That task got even harder when Dave Baker levelled on 65 minutes, but Holbeach held firm and grabbed a deserved winner when Griffiths netted from close range two minutes from time.

The victory means the Tigers have completed ChromaSport UCL Premier Division doubles over Pagnell and Yaxley – two of the three sides above them in the table.

Although Hayes was delighted with the victory, he admitted that striker Sanders needs to clean up his act after his third red card of the campaign – which was awarded for elbowing.

“We came into the game feeling we really deserved something against Wisbech,” admitted Hayes. “So the lads were focused and wanted to put things right.

“I never really felt uncomfortable, even when we went down to ten men and when they equalised.

“What I will say is that Charley (Sanders) deserved his red card. But he really needs to wise up now.

“He’s a brilliant player and a great person to have in the dressing room. I love him as a player and a bloke.

“But he’s prone to moments of madness and it’s too easy for players to wind him up. I don’t know, it’s just such a shame – I really think it’s holding him back.

“He could easily play two or three levels higher, but he misses too many games through bans and, consequently, niggly injuries. I think that’s 29 he’s missed this season and more than 40 over the past two years.

“As much as I love him, it’s something he needs to address.

“That aside, it was a very pleasing to result. To have won four of the six games against the top three is great for us – and we deserved it on the day.

“It’s funny, we seem to play better with ten men against the better sides. I think back to Deeping Rangers, when we had ten men for over an hour, and Grantham in the FA Cup – when we were brilliant in defeat.

“It’s like we know how to play with ten and the attitude shifts.

“I’ve always said that we’ve done well against the better sides. It’s just silly defeats against the mid-table teams that has cost us. It’s our own fault, we’ve just not approached those games with the right attitude.

“But we’re not far off for next season.”

Holbeach started superbly at Carter’s Park and went ahead when Sanders volleyed home a Griffiths cross.

That was as good as it got for the powerful frontman, who was given his marching orders after elbowing Yaw Ofosu ten minutes later.

In truth, Pagnell didn’t pressure Holbeach too much before the break. But Ricky Drury was forced to make a super save from Stuart Smeathers just after the restart.

However, Baker levelled soon after when he headed Greg Ling’s cross into the far corner of the net.

Hayes wasn’t happy with a point, however, and changed his formation to go three at the back.

It almost paid off immediately when sub Will Bird headed a great chance wide, while at the other end the lethal Dom Lawless capitalised on a short Joe Braithwaite backpass and rounded Drury – only to shoot wide from a tough angle.

Drury then pulled off a stunning save from Luke Emery, before Griffiths tapped home a George Zuerner cross to give Carter’s Park a fitting send off for another season.

Tigers: Drury, Harker (Smith 77), Braithwaite, Cartwright, N Jackson, Tinkler, Griffiths, Curtis (Bird 60), Barker (Zuerner 70), Sanders.

Attendance: 65.

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