The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Desborough Town 0
Holbeach United 2
In-form Holbeach United made it four wins on the spin as they picked off hosts Desborough Town 2-0 on Saturday.
Striker Will Bird fired the Tigers ahead early on in the Future Lions UCL Premier Division clash at Waterworks Field, before defender Jonny Clay completed the win with a second after the break.
The victory kept Holbeach third in the table, just four points behind early pace-setters Pinchbeck United and three off second-placed Daventry Town – although Rugby Town leapfrogged them on Tuesday night.
Having not won at Waterworks Field for some time, Tigers chief Seb Hayes was impressed with what he saw – especially as his side are now the leading scorers in the league (24) and have kept clean sheets in five of their nine league games so far.
Hayes said: “It was a good win at a place where I’ve had very little success as a player or manager.
“I can’t remember the last time I won there as a first team player or a manger, it must be a good five years at least.
“In the past, we’ve struggled at the mid-table sides – the likes or Rothwell and Desborough.
“So, to have won at both of those two recently, and have kept clean sheets, is a real positive for us.
“We had a few more good chances but, if I’m honest, I don’t think a greater scoreline would have been a fair reflection of the game.
“We set up to go there and battle, but to play some football when we got the ball.
“The lads were also dogged in defence, which was a big factor. We’ve now kept six clean sheets in 11 games so far this season, which is pretty good. Five of those have come in nine league games – and we’re the top scorers too.
“People were having a bit of a laugh at our expense when we lost a few games early on, but our start isn’t looking too bad now.
“A few might have written us off, but we’ve had the toughest start of anyone really.
“With that in mind, having so many clean sheets and being the top scorers is unbelievable, really.
“Everything about the win was very pleasing, most notably that we had so many players missing.
“It’s also great to see a few of the younger players breaking into the squad.
“We always have a few training with us – and none of them look out of place.
“Young Reif Clarke made his debut on Saturday and did really well.
“Jay Wyhatt has also been very good for us at such a young age. There are plenty of others coming through, too.”
Tigers: Drury, Harker, T Smith, Braithwaite, Clay, Jackson, Barker (Avis), Tinkler, J Smith, Bird, B Smith (Clarke). Not used: Olive.
