The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Holbeach United 3
Wellingborough Town 1
Three goals in the final 12 minutes helped Holbeach United come from behind to beat Wellingborough Town 3-1 in the UCL Premier Division on Saturday.
On a day where hosts Holbeach created chances galore, they looked set to suffer a surprise defeat when the league’s leading scorer Jake Newman won and converted a penalty on 68 minutes.
However, falling behind gave the Tigers a massive shot in the arm and they levelled 12 minutes from time thanks to a cracking back-post header from Jamie Clarke.
Andrew Tidswell then grabbed his first goal since returning to Carter’s Park when he buried a rebound (83), before the ever-dependable Matt Warfield converted a penalty in the dying seconds to clinch the points.
Having suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to lowly Sleaford Town on Wednesday night, boss Darren Jarvis saluted the character shown by his side as they climbed back up to fourth in the table.
Jarvis, who earned his second victory in four games as Holbeach manager, also felt his side should have won a little more comfortably that they actually did.
He said: “I think the most important thing today was the work-rate and commitment that all the boys showed.
“Even when chances weren’t been taken they stayed together and didn’t criticise each other – which is very important at any team. You’ve got to stay together as a unit, and we did that.
“To get that reaction after going 1-0 down is great. In truth, we probably created enough chances to win three games, but in the end it was definitely the right result.
“From my point of view, we showed great work-rate and created plenty of chances – so I’m very happy.
“I do feel like we’ve got a good spirit here. I love being part of a changing room, for me it’s a sacred place as you build unity and togetherness in there.
“I want the boys to be together in whatever they do. It’s all about having a happy dressing room – and at the moment, I can’t ask for more. I think the boys are enjoying it and both Robbo (assistant manager Tom Roberts) and I certainly are.
“Wednesday against Sleaford (1-0 loss) was a poor performance. The players were the first to acknowledge that, they were all very self-critical and honest.
“That’s why I’m pleased with the character in this game. ‘Clarkey’ hadn’t scored in a few games and ‘Tids’ got his first goal since coming back to the club, it’s all very positive.
“On another day we may have got five or six and we’d be talking about a big win. But I’m just pleased with the boys, they showed all of the characteristics that I want a team of mine to have.”
On a surprisingly nippy afternoon at Carter’s Park, the Tigers almost got caught cold by their visitors in the opening exchanges. Indeed, it took a smart near-post save from Nick Conroy to keep out Newman’s strike after he raced clear down the right.
Holbeach replied with a 25-yard drive from Jack Smith that whistled just over, while Gary King was unable to finish off a top team move after losing control of the ball in the box.
Conroy was then forced into action again, as a wonderful cross-field pass from Luke Pritchard released the dangerous Newman. There was no beating the Tigers’ number one, though, as he pulled off a super double save to deny The Doughboys’ top talent.
At the other end, Charley Sanders showed great strength and pace to muscle his way into the box on the left-hand side, but Aaron Bellairs got down well to keep out his low effort at the near post.
Perhaps the chance of the half fell to Tidswell just before the break, as he blazed an effort over from six yards following an excellent delivery from Clarke. The frontman wasn’t helped by a wicked bobble, but you still expected the net to ripple.
There was still time for Newman to go close again before the interval. He got in behind Holbeach’s back four again, but lifted the ball over the bar with Conroy, for once, beaten.
Wellingborough were within a whisker of going ahead early in the second period, with the unlucky Ainsley McDonald expertly lobbing an effort over Conroy – only to see it come back off the bar.
From the clearance, Clarke got in one-on-one with Bellairs at the other end, but hesitated a little and allowed the ex-Bourne Town keeper to save at his feet.
Then came a period of dominance from the hosts, with Sanders denied by a low Bellairs save, Clarke somehow blasting over from six yards and Sanders lashing inches wide following a super run and cross from young right back Dan Worthington.
They were punished for their profligacy too, as a probing Newman run into the box was abruptly ended by Warfield for a penalty. The left-footed striker sent Conroy the wrong way from the spot to leave the hosts staring down the barrel at back-to-back home losses.
Holbeach weren’t behind for long, however, with captain Clarke ending a personal goal drought with a trademark back-post header on 78 minutes. The goal seemed to lift a weight of his team-mate’s shoulders – and they went on to hammer home their advantage.
Tidswell was next to make his mark, pouncing on a rebound to blast home from close range after Ben Brown’s amazing headed effort came back off the under-side of the bar.
Sanders them ballooned a sitter over the bar, before Clarke’s cross was handled in the box for an 88th-minute penalty. Warfield duly slotted his spot-kick into the top corner to secure a morale-boosting three points for Jarvis and his Tigers.
Tigers: Conroy, Worthington, Parker, Warfield, Brown, Jack Smith (Easy 77), Kirby, King, Clarke, Tidswell, Sanders (Lambe 90). Not used: John Smith, Guyan, Delahoy.
Next game: Oadby Town (Saturday, home, 3pm)
