The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Holbeach United 4
Cogenhoe United 2
Second-half penalties from Andrew Tidswell and sub Josh Ford helped Holbeach United complete a rare ChromaSport UCL Premier Division double over Cogenhoe United on Saturday.
The Tigers, who won 5-1 in the Compton Park reverse two weeks ago, went ahead on 12 minutes when Jake Clitheroe buried a Sean Coughlan cross – but Luke Emery levelled four minutes later.
A Coughlan cracker (54) restored Holbeach’s advantage at Carter’s Park, only for Taylor Orosz to level things up again within 60 seconds.
There was to be no coming back from spot-kicks converted by Tidswell (63) and Ford (88), however, as Tom Roberts’ side made it three wins on the spin in all competitions.
The win keeps Holbeach’s faint hopes of a double alive, with the next step being the home UCL Knockout Cup clash with Wisbech Town on Wednesday night (7.45pm).
Player/boss Roberts admitted that it wasn’t the best performance from his charges, but insists that results are all that bother him at this stage of the season.
He said: “It’s all about results now. It’s not about how pretty things look, we just want wins.
“I’ve got no problems if we win games by being scrappy, it’s the sign of a good side.
“I thought we just about deserved it. They came and played 4-5-1, but we still created a lot of chances.
“I’m disappointed with the two sloppy goals we have away, but when we needed it the players delivered.
“Sean pulled out a great goal and you’d never really doubt ‘Tids’ or ‘Fordy’ from the penalty spot.
“The first penalty was a difficult one. It was one of those that could have gone either way – obviously we’re happy that it went our way.
“It’s nice to actually get a decision like that from a referee for once.
“We also rested some players with the Wisbech game in mind, so hopefully we’ll be fresh for that one.”
Holbeach perhaps started the better of the two sides, with full back Dan Worthington blasting high and wide early on.
Neither side managed to mount a quality attack until the opener on 12 minutes, however. The speedy Coughlan made good ground on the right and crossed for Clitheroe to divert the ball into the bottom corner.
It was a tidy finish and gave the Tigers a lead they just about deserved.
Parity was soon restored, though, as Cogenhoe struck four minutes later. Winger Luke Emery was afforded way too much space at the back post as he rifled a low drive through the legs of Ricky Drury.
Clitheroe sliced wide and Jordan Thomas volleyed straight at the keeper as Holbeach looked to regain their advantage, but they were soon indebted to a brave low save from Drury, who kept out Jack Bowen from close range.
Two more chances came the way of the Tigers before half-time, but Clitheroe’s side-footed effort from 20 yards whistled past the post and Thomas blazed over from inside the penalty area.
Cogenhoe almost grabbed the lead early in the second period when Dean Lukeman just failed to divert a low cross home at the back post.
However, Holbeach duly went up the other end of the pitch and re-took the lead with the goal of the game on 54 minutes. Coughlan, always a menace, finished off a menacing run on the left with an opportunistic right-foot curler from outside the box, giving the keeper no chance.
As with the first half, the visitors immediately hit back. The dangerous Orosz cut in from the right and buried a low left-footed effort into the bottom corner from long range.
There was to be no coming back from Holbeach’s third goal, though. A goal-bound Jamie Stevens volley clattered into the arm of a luckless away defender from point-blank range, but the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Although it was incredibly harsh, Tidwell duly smashed the penalty into the top corner to give the Tigers’ the lead for the third time.
Not done there, sub Ford won and converted another penalty for Holbeach two minutes from time, before being elbowed by defender Ross Harris soon after.
The Cogenhoe skipper was given his marching orders to complete a miserable day for them.
Tigers: Drury, Worthington, Jackson, Stevens, Ward, Gale, Tidswell, Eyett, Thomas (Cartwright 81), Clitheroe, Coughlan (Ford 70). Not used: Warfield, Dougill, Roberts.
RESULTS
ChromaSport UCL
Premier Division: AFC Kempston Rovers 1 Northampton Spencer 1; Desborough Town 3 Yaxley 2; Eynesbury Rovers 1 Kirby Muxloe 0; Harrowby United 0 Harborough Town 2; Holbeach United 4 Cogenhoe United 2; Newport Pagnell Town 1 Deeping Rangers 0; Oadby Town 1 Boston Town 3; Peterborough Northern Star 1 Leicester Nirvana 4; Rothwell Corinthians 2 Wisbech Town 3; Sleaford Town 1 Northampton Sileby Rangers 0.
