The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Sleaford Town 0
Holbeach United 2
Danny Hussey continued his 100 per cent league record as Holbeach United boss as his side picked up a 2-0 derby victory at Sleaford Town on Saturday.
James Tricks gave the Tigers an early lead in the Future Lions UCL Premier Division game at Eslafore Park, before home striker Ryan Oliver was sent off for an elbow.
It was soon ten versus ten when Jay Whyatt was given his marching orders for Holbeach, who then doubled their money after the break when Tinkler headed home an Adam Jackson cross to seal the points.
Tigers boss Hussey, who has now won both league games in the Tigers hot-seat, said: “It was a very good win for us if I’m honest.
“We came into the game knowing that they had scored plenty of goals, so to win and keep a clean-sheet is the best we could have hoped for.
“I thought that there was no doubt about the two red cards – both were fully justified.
“I think our lad showed a little bit of petulance by going in like that when they’d just had somebody sent off – you should know that the referee will always look to even things up. It put us under unnecessary pressure, as we did look more comfortable before the red card.
“They took the game to us before half-time, but we tweaked a few things at half-time and the change of shape really worked for us.
“It’s always nice to win a derby game and to win three league games on the trot is a good start for me personally.”
The Tigers moved into a seventh-minute lead when the in-form Tricks finished at the far post after Tom Smith’s cross had been nodded on by Will Bird.
Sleaford then had striker Oliver sent off for an alleged elbow on Spencer Tinkler, but Holbeach only boasted a numerical advantage for 25 minutes, with young gun Whyatt shown a straight red for a late tackle on ex-Tiger Joe Smith.
Sleaford were buoyed by that and pushed for a leveller, but a great Tom Smith block kept the scores level before the Tigers clinched the points in the second period.
A rare right-footed cross from Jackson was nodded home by Tinkler to secure a third derby win over the Greens this season.
Tigers: Drury, Whyatt, Clay, Braithwaite, T Smith, Tinkler, Jackson, Ford, Bird (Harker 83), B Smith (Hamilton 78), Tricks (Fieldhouse 71).
Attendance: 97.
