Holbeach United pay for individual errors in defeat against rivals as relegation draws closer

Newark 4 Holbeach United 1

Danny Clifton bemoaned individual errors and more terrible bad luck as Holbeach United suffered a 4-1 defeat at relegation rivals Newark on Saturday.

The Tigers, who are now 15 points from safety with nine games left to play, showed plenty of positives at Greenwich Avenue, including a stunning first-half goal from Lewis Baughan.

But they were made to pay for a goalkeeping howler and two clear defensive mistakes, as goals from Richemone Sylla (24 and 73), Joshua Mundell (36) and Isaac Currie (pen 47) move the hosts five points clear of the drop zone.

For Holbeach, they are cut adrift at the bottom and still without a win all season – making relegation from the Uhlsport UCL Premier Division North just a matter of time now.

To make matters worse, the Tigers saw Luke Chester, Harvey Wirkowski and new signing Loui Catt all pick up injuries on the day.

Clifton said: “It’s a game that leaves with me mixed emotions, really.

“We did an awful lot right on the day, but the mistakes we made were all punished.

“You can’t really account for errors that lead directly to a goal – and we had three of them on Saturday.

“We’re a very young side and again we showed great energy and work-rate. But I am kind of waiting of them to be a little less naïve at times, do the basics right and for some players to take command of situations on the pitch.

“I looked at Newark and they have five or six young lads. But the difference was that they had experienced players throughout the spine of their team; the keeper, two centre backs and central midfielders.

“That’s something we want to achieve for next season, but the remaining games this year are all about seeing what these lads are made of and if they can be a part of a team that can win football matches.

“There wasn’t much between the teams, certainly at half-time. Lewis Baughan, who has really stepped up to the challenge of playing at this level, scored a great goal.

“But we came up short again and I have to shoulder some responsibility for that too.

“We could do with a break, though. We lost two players in the week which left me short at right back, so we brought in Loui Catt.

“He got injured in the warm-up so Luke Chester moved there – and he then went off injured, as did Harvey Wirkowski.

“We’re just getting no luck at all.”

Tigers: Blake, Chester, Nuttell, Harris, Kokoua, Wirkowski, Dalliday, Chaudhari, Gow, Baughan, Blake. Subs used: Camfield, Radic, Wilson.

Attendance: 65.