The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Holbeach United 1
Desborough Town 2
A late Nick Jackson own goal sentenced Holbeach United to their first ChromaSport UCL Premier Division defeat of the season on Saturday as Desborough Town leapfrogged them in the table.
All looked to be going to plan for the Tigers when Jack Smith headed home Jordan Thomas’ cross on 34 minutes to cap a strong first-half performance at a rainy Carter’s Park.
But Desborough improved after the interval and deservedly levelled when Jake Bettles forced the ball home from a 63rd-minute corner.
Both sides had chances before the decisive moment four minutes from time, with Jackson unlucky to slide a dangerous John Dean cross into his own net when he was attempting to prevent the man behind him scoring himself.
The loss leaves Holbeach fourth in the table, some six points behind leaders Peterborough Sports ahead of Wednesday night’s home clash with Yaxley (7.45pm).
Tigers’ player/boss Tom Roberts had few complaints about the result, claiming that his side looked “predictable” and “one-dimensional” in the second half.
“It was a game of two halves,” said Roberts. “In the first half, as a unit, we were very compact and looked hard to beat.
“In the second we became very predictable and one-dimensional. We played an awful lot of long balls – and when we did, we were so far off it that we couldn’t pick up second balls.
“To be fair to Desborough, they came here and were hard to break down. They hit us on the counter attack with two goals and we can’t complain. They probably deserved the victory in the second half.
“We did look in command in that first half though – and I didn’t really see a way that they could hurt us.
“The first league loss was always going to happen at some point. What’s important now is that we get a positive reaction against Yaxley on Wednesday.
“We really need to right some wrongs in that game and I’ll be looking for a good reaction.
“It’s a shame we’ve been beaten at home, but it’s just one of those things.
“I still feel we need to freshen the squad up with a few new faces and we’re chasing signings. The squad needs a few more bodies.”
After a low-key first ten minutes at Carter’s Park, visitors Ar Tarn blew a big chance when Mark Redding side-footed an excellent opportunity wide from ten yards out.
Desborough were then dealt a big blow when star striker Luke Cummins was stretchered off with what looked like a nasty groin injury.
Holbeach then seized command, with Smith rifling a 25-yard drive over and heading Aaron Eyett’s cross wide of the post within the space of a few minutes.
He didn’t miss on 34 minutes, though, nodding a classy cross from Thomas into an empty net after beating keeper Chris Jones to the ball at the back post.
At the other end, Jackson put in a fine sliding tackle to deny the away side a certain goal as he slid in to divert Dan Grainger’s teasing delivery behind for a corner.
Set piece expert Andrew Tidswell then whipped a trademark free-kick just over in the final exchanges of the first period as Holbeach went in 1-0 to the good.
With the rain getting harder as the game went on, any flair and creativity that had been on show gave way to long balls in the second period.
Smith volleyed a presentable chance over seconds into the half, while both Josh Ford and Thomas forced Jones into eye-catching – but relatively routine – saves.
Ford was foiled again by Jones when he unleashed a fierce half-volley, before Ar Tarn levelled in scrappy fashion.
Bettles bundled the ball over the line from a corner, despite the best efforts of Ricky Drury – who pulled off what looked an outstanding save, only for the ball to have already crossed the line.
Midfielder Matt Warfield was then denied a spectacular goal when Jones finger-tipped his ferocious 25-yard effort over, while striker Ford headed Tidswell’s deep free kick just over at the back post.
But it was Desborough who now looked the biggest threat – and, soon after Redding had headed inches wide and Drury had saved one-on-one from Bettles, they went ahead.
Dean raced down the left and crossed low towards the back post, with Jackson only able to divert it past Drury from close range.
There was one late chance for the Tigers to pinch a point, but Eyett hooked over from close range after keeper Jones had totally missed the ball.
Losing to Desborough is no disgrace for Holbeach, with Saturday’s success stretching their unbeaten run to ten games and moving them up to third in the table.
Tigers: Drury, Allen, A Jackson, Warfield, N Jackson, Tinkler, Eyett, Tidswell, Ford, Smith, Thomas. Not used: Walton, Butland, Harker, Davies, Roberts.
