The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Holbeach United 5
Harrowby United 1
Free-scoring Holbeach made it ten goals in five days as they returned to the top of the UCL Premier Division in style by hammering Harrowby on Wednesday night.
The Tigers bossed the Carter’s Park clash from start to finish and led 2-0 at half time thanks to Jamie Clarke’s third goal in two games (2) and a cracking Tommy Treacher strike (12).
Substitute Lee Dube then ended his mini-drought with two goals in as many minutes (69 and 71) to put the game to bed, before Jake Duffy put the icing on the cake with a late third (88).
Sam Hill notched a last-gasp consolation for the Arrows, but it failed to take the shine off another clinical performance from the Tigers, who were clearly full of confidence after Saturday’s 5-0 romp at Wellingborough Town.
Co-boss John Chand said: “It was a good, disciplined performance. I think we started really well and had a good 20 minute period before taking our foot off the gas a bit.
“We had stopped doing the simple things, but addressed that in the second half and it turned into a solid showing from us.
“We blotted our copybook a bit at the end with a sloppy goal, which is unlike us, but it doesn’t take the gloss off a good win.
“It’s good to be back on top. It was important that we reacted, the teams around us are winning and we’ve got to do the same.
“I though Dube really lifted the lads when he came on and he scored a couple of great goals. You couldn’t ask for somebody to have a better attitude than him and everyone is pleased he got back among the goals.
“All in all, it’s a good performance but we’re not getting too carried away. We’ll keep plugging away, but let’s see where we are in March or April.”
The Tigers couldn’t have asked for a better start, with Clarke – who was making his home debut – taking advantage of a spill from keeper Aiden Hotchin to slide a poacher’s finish into the empty net from just inside the box.
At the other end, Holbeach number one Nick Conroy was forced to tip a header from Jack Whyley over after he was afforded the freedom of the box.
The hosts responded with a lightning break as Treacher’s excellent through ball released the pacy Craig Parker, but he could only slot wide from an angle after bearing down on Hotchin.
Holbeach didn’t have to wait too long for their second – and what a finish it was. Treacher showed great awareness by getting his body between his man and the goal before lashing a lethal finish into the corner after latching on to a loose ball.
Lee Beeson, who was forced off with a stiff calf later in the half, was the next to test Hotchin – but his low drive was kept out by the legs of the visiting keeper at the near post.
The Arrows did come back into it a little in the closing stages of the first period, but the closest they came to getting one back was when ex-Spalding United ace Martin Wormall teed-up Liam Harper to fire a low drive wide.
With joint-chiefs Graham Drury and Chand not totally satisfied with the first half showing, Holbeach came out hungry for goals in the second period.
They really should have gone further ahead when sub Gary King squared for Clarke, but the experienced striker just couldn’t stay on his feet with the goal gaping… and it ended up going down as a bit of a comedy miss.
Clarke, who notched twice on his debut at Wellingborough on Saturday, then stung the palms of Hotchin with a fierce near-post effort, but he was soon replaced by Dube.
That move almost paid instant dividends as the leading scorer drilled a long range strike on target after an incisive turn.
Dube soon bagged his first goal since a hat-trick at Diss Town on August 16, though. The 19-year-old striker raced clear and expertly side-footed a low effort into the corner to end the game as a contest 20 minutes from time.
Seconds later he doubled his money, heading home at the back post after King’s whipped delivery from the left hand side.
The popular striker could easily have finished with a hat-trick, but chose to square for Duffy to tap home after rounding Hotchin and composing himself two minutes from time.
A late lapse allowed Hill to pull one back, but it mattered little in the grand scheme of things.
The Tigers are now two points ahead of Yaxley at the top of the table, but now take a break from league action for a while. They are without a game on Saturday, then travel to St Neots Saints in the UCL Knockout Cup on Tuesday (7.45pm).
Meanwhile, Chand confirmed that Beeson and Treacher are nursing knocks after being substituted during Wednesday’s win, making Saturday’s weekend off a blessing in disguise.
Tigers: Conroy, C Parker, Gibson, Allen, Stevens, Steadman, Beeson (King 32), Duffy, Treacher (Spencer 67), Clarke (Dube 58), Fuller. Not used: Lovelace, Pinner.
