Boss Roberts warns his Holbeach United players after Northampton Sileby bore draw

Northampton SR 1
Holbeach United 1

Tom Roberts warned his Holbeach United players that they are playing for cup final shirts after witnessing a drab 1-1 draw at struggling Northampton Sileby Rangers on Saturday.

Sean Coughlan’s superb strike put the Tigers 1-0 ahead on ten minutes in the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division clash at Fernie Fields, but Dalton Bettles earned Sileby a point with a 70th-minute leveller.

Player/boss Roberts admitted that the clash had a very “end of season” feel, with neither keeper really tested at any stage.

It was the first game of a manic 13-game April for Holbeach before they close their campaign with a UCL League Cup final against Peterborough Sports at Deeping Rangers on May 2.

Roberts wasn’t impressed with what he saw – and has taken the chance to remind his players that they still have much to play for.

“I thought we did OK in the first half,” said the Tigers chief. “But we just weren’t clinical enough.

“After half time it felt very much like an end of season game. That may be the case for them, but we’ve still got 12 more games to play in the league.

“All of the lads will get their chance during this run and there are cup final shirts very much up for grabs.

“It’s simple really, if some of them think they can switch off in the league games, they won’t be picked for the final.

“We can’t afford to let ourselves get into the habit of playing like this. If we do, it’ll affect our chances in the final for sure.”

Coughlan’s early goal was the clear highlight for the Tigers. He collected a superb diagonal pass from defender Stacy Cartwright and expertly lobbed his effort over the keeper.

But if Holbeach have shown one major weakness this season it has been defending set-pieces – and Bettles made them pay with a towering header from a corner late on.

A frustrated Roberts reckons that it’s the 26th goal his side have shipped from set-plays this season.

Holbeach were also hit by an Achilles injury suffered by Dan Worthington, which could rule him out for the rest of the campaign.

The Tigers visit Kempston Rovers tonight (Tuesday, 8pm), before an away trip to Huntingdon Town on Thursday (7.45pm).

Tigers: Drury, Worthington (Warfield), N Jackson, Gale, Cartwright, Stevens, Coughlan, Tidswell, Ford, Clitheroe, Ward. Not used: Russon, Newcombe, Davies, Roberts.

Attendance: 36