The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Oadby Town 0
Holbeach United 2
Satisfied boss Seb Hayes felt his Holbeach United were always in command as they picked up a 2-0 triumph at Oadby Town on Saturday.
Second-half goals from Ollie Pinner and Jake Clitheroe ensured the Tigers made it back-to-back wins for the Tigers in the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division, cementing their hold on seventh place in the progress.
Striker Josh Ford also rattled the woodwork twice from free kicks, while Stuart Muldrew saw a one-on-one effort turned onto the post.
Although they never reached the heights of the previous week’s 9-0 success over Harrowby United, Hayes was happy enough with what he saw at Freeway Park.
The Tigers boss said: “I think that, if we had scored in the first 20 minutes, it would have been a different game.
“Obviously, you’re never going to replicate a 9-0, I knew that wouldn’t happen. But we always looked in control in the first half, without getting that goal we so desperately wanted.
“We had a good chat at half time and then went out and scored within 30 seconds, so that was just what we wanted really. The second goal then killed it for us, I just didn’t see them scoring twice.
“It wasn’t brilliant from us, but I never really felt like we were in any danger of not winning the game.
“There are plenty of positives for us, too. Jamie Stevens came back and got a good 40 minutes, while it’s now two wins and two clean sheets in a row too.
“We probably could have scored more – Josh Ford hit the woodwork a couple of times and Stuart Muldrew saw a one-on-one turned onto the post.
“But I have to be happy. We’re looking stronger and I now have quite a strong squad at my disposal.”
Hayes named ten of the 11 players who started the Harrowby win in his starting line-up, with the only change seeing Mitch Griffiths come in for the unavailable Tommy Treacher.
Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half, with the Tigers’ chance being one of Ford’s two set-piece efforts.
Holbeach’s opening goal was as simple as you like, with Pinner turning home a Matt Warfield free kick from close in. The midfielder doesn’t score many, but now has two in as many matches.
Clitheroe’s goal was trademark stuff, outstripping the Oadby defence for pace before slotting the ball past the home keeper.
Holbeach: Drury, Jenkins, Madigan (Stevens), N Jackson, Cartwright, Warfield, Tinkler, Pinner (Muldrew) Clitheroe (Munton), Ford, Griffiths.
