The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Holbeach Utd 1
Grimsby Borough 1
(Holbeach win 4-1 on penalties)
Holbeach United capped their impressive season with a trophy as they edged out Grimsby Borough 4-1 on penalties to lift the Lincs FA Senior Trophy on Wednesday night.
The Tigers were the better side for much of the clash at Lincoln United’s Sun Hat Villas Stadium and took the lead on 20 minutes when Charley Sanders won and converted a penalty.
However, Adam Drury’s 44th minute strike hauled lower-graded Grimsby level just before the break and, even though Holbeach fashioned a host of chances, that’s how it stayed.
Seb Hayes’ side were much more clinical in the shoot-out that followed and it was sub Jack Smith who netted the winning spot-kick to secure the first trophy of his reign at Carter’s Park.
The Tigers boss insists that winning the competition now makes their season “great” – and he immediately targeted a ChromaSport UCL Premier Division charge next time around.
“I’m very happy,” said Hayes. “But when it went to penalties I wasn’t feeling confident.
“It was just the way the game went, I didn’t think they (Grimsby) were in it – although they had a little spell before half time when they scored.
“We were just panicking at that point. But we came out and played well in the second half – we just should have finished it in normal time.
“You know me, I’ll always find a negative in a positive! I always want perfection and the team to keep pushing themselves.
“We won this trophy the hard way. I wanted to put on a performance for the fans and win it well, but – in the grand scheme of things – just winning is all that matters. It doesn’t matter how.
“Overall it’s a great season for us and this has topped it off. For me personally, it’s a fourth cup won in five finals – but I really wanted to win a county cup. This is massive for me.
“Last year I had a fans forum where ten people turned up – and I said I’d deliver a trophy for the club within three seasons. I’ve done that now.
“The next thing we need to do is do better in the league. Fourth or fifth isn’t good enough for this club, we’ve got to be competing for the title.
“Yeah, we were close this season. But not close enough. That’s my next job; rebuild, add to the squad and go for it next season.”
The first ten minutes of the final were largely even, with Grimsby twice threatening from direct free-kicks and a clean through George Zuerner beaten to the punch by the sliding keeper.
Zuerner did get free of the defence on 15 minutes, set free by Sanders after the big striker cheekily nutmegged his man. However, the midfielder slotted just over the bar.
Sanders then saw a near-post strike from a Mitch Griffiths cross deflected wide, before a freak deflection from the corner forced the Grimsby keeper into a top save.
The Holbeach pressure eventually told on 20 minutes, with Sanders hauled down in the box when through on goal. He picked himself up and slammed the spot-kick home to give the Tigers a deserved lead.
That’s how it stayed up until the final minute of the half, when Grimsby levelled out of nowhere. A deep cross into the box was headed back into the danger zone for Drury to fire into the net from close range.
After the break the final became a niggly affair, with neither side really bossing matters.
It was Holbeach who continued to have the better of the chances, with Bird slicing a presentable opening well wide and Spencer Tinkler forcing a save from the keeper after attempting to round him.
Grimsby’s keeper was called into action again moments later as Holbeach slowly seized command, denying a clean through Sanders superbly.
At the other end, a quick counter attack and a slip in the Holbeach defence allowed Borough in – but their frontman dragged his effort wide of the near post.
But it was the Tigers who kept fashioning the better openings. Sanders stabbed a presentable chance over from the edge of the box, then saw a powerful drive blocked on the line after a great cross from Joe Smith.
Griffiths then lashed over at the near post, before Sanders galloped through on the left and forced the keeper to save at his feet.
Holbeach almost pinched the trophy in the dying seconds after piling pressure on the Grimbsy defence, but – after a bit of pinball in the box – they were thwarted and forced to take on the penalty shoot-out lottery.
It proved a largely straightforward competition for the Tigers as Griffiths, Ricky Drury, Joe Smith and, crucially, Jack Smith netting to give them a 4-1 success, with their opponents rolling their first two penalties wide.
That sparked wild celebrations as skipper Nick Jackson lifted the trophy aloft post-game and ensured that Holbeach’s super season now has a silver lining.
The Tigers conclude their league campaign at Kirby Muxloe on Saturday (3pm).
Tigers: Drury, Harker (Keeble 79), N Jackson, Cartwright, Braithwaite, Joe Smith, Zuerner, Tinkler (Jack Smith 69), Griffiths, Bird, Sanders (John Smith 88). Not used: Leckie.
