Stuttering Tigers rescue unlikely draw

Holbeach United’s stuttering start to the season continued in a 2-2 draw with Northampton Spencer on Saturday.

They had to be thankful for two Josh Ford penalties in the second half for rescuing a point at Carter’s Park.

Asssistant manager Tom Roberts had called on the side to repeat the style of the 4-0 midweek Emirates FA Cup win over Ely City for home fans. However, it was a laboured and fairly uninspiring effort.

Things started brightly enough for them. Gary King was given an early sighter from eight yards after a nice set-up by strike partner Ford, who soon had an effort of his own ricochet off Spencer keeper Josh Thomson’s legs. In truth, the Tigers’ leading scorer probably should not have given him a chance.

For Spencer, Ryan Dove looped a header over Tigers keeper Ricky Drury, but left-back Chris Ward was on hand to clear danger off the goalline.

A fairly tame first half finished with a penalty claim for the home side. Left winger Stacy Cartwright lifted the ball over Thomson and then went down in a heap after apparent contact with the keeper. The ref was not interested.

Things didn’t take long to liven up after the break. After just five minutes a Ward foul was punished with a spot kick hammered home by Dove.

The Tigers threw on young striker Harry Limb for Ward as they adopted a more attacking formation, but the task was soon made harder.

Dove beat Drury in the air, with his header trickling into the net. He finished a wonderful, curling cross by Curtis Avery.

Drury quickly had to be sharp to prevent it being 3-0, flicking sub Jack Inwood’s header over the bar.

And then came the unlikely and unforeseeable turnaround.

First, a high challenge on King was punished with a penalty tucked away by Ford. And just two minutes later, Andrew Tidswell – deployed in central midfield – was bundled over and Ford beat Thomson with a carbon copy of the first spot kick, low to the keeper’s right.

Spencer manager Ben Stone felt his side were harshly done by.

He said: “Maybe before the game I might have taken a draw because we’re obviously a new side coming in and have a few players away today, but I thought we were exceptional.

“We confined Holbeach to two or three attacks and decisions definitely didn’t go our way.

“By the letter of the law, our penalty was a sending off too as the defender was the last man and I didn’t think either of Holbeach’s were anywhere near penalties.

“We deserved three points for our effort alone.”

Holbeach have one win, one draw and a defeat from their opening games and host Harrowby United on Wednesday (Aug 26).

Tigers: Drury, Worthington, Ward (Limb), Pinner (Treacher), Clay, Stevens, Clitheroe, Tidswell, Ford, King, Cartwright. Subs not used: Maddigan, Warfield, Roberts.