Holbeach United 4
Peterborough Northern Star 2
Ten-man Holbeach United produced a remarkable display to beat rivals Peterborough Northern Star 4-2 at Carter’s Park on Saturday.
An early Jack Smith (9) goal put the Tigers ahead In the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division clash, but the game looked set to turn on its head when Nick Jackson was sent off for fouling a clean-through Craig Jones in the box on the half hour.
Callum Madigan buried the penalty, but that only served to inspire Holbeach as Andrew Tidswell (35), debutant Jenk Acer (41) and Jordan Thomas (45) all notched to give the hosts a 4-1 half-time lead.
Star hit back through Jones (49) as they looked to launch a second-half comeback, but the Tigers held on to record their first win since December 19.
It was a significant one too, with leaders Leicester Nirvana going down 1-0 at Sleaford Town and high-flying Deeping Rangers beaten 2-0 at home by Eynesbury Rovers.
That leaves Tom Roberts’ Tigers 11 points off top spot with three games in hand – and he was pleased with what he saw.
“It’s an old cliché, but it was a real game of two halves I think,” said the player/boss. “When we came out second half the wind was like a gale.
“But we showed a lot of resilience and showed that we can go on and win games with our backs to the wall.
“We conceded two very poor goals. Yes, it was a penalty and a red card, but I’m not happy with how we got ‘done’ by one ball. We need to ask ourselves a few questions.
“The game reminded me of the Ely game in the FA Cup. Then we had Ollie Pinner sent off but still produced a really good reaction.
“We just never looked in trouble with ten to be fair. We’ve got lads who can create chances – and first half we should have been out of sight.
“The results went for us but, like I keep saying, we just need to get a good run of results going and focus on ourselves.
“The more games we play and win, the closer we’ll get to the other sides – and that’ll create a buzz in the dressing room.
“All in all it was a good performance and three points, so happy days.”
On a windy afternoon at Carter’s Park, Holbeach made a flying start in what was only their second game to go ahead so far in 2016.
Returning striker Josh Ford was unlucky not to beat keeper Dan George to a long ball inside the opening minute, but the Star stopper wasn’t so lucky on nine minutes.
Smith, making a rare start for the first team, capitalised on some indecision between namesake Luke Smith and George to bravely dink home the opener from the right-hand side of the box.
Ford was then unlucky not to make it 2-0 when he fired wide at the near-post from a tough angle following a clever clipped pass from Thomas.
Star slowly came back into the game after that and eventually hauled themselves level from what looked like a game-changing attack.
Jones latched onto a through ball and was in on Ricky Drury’s goal, only to be stopped in his tracks by a miss-timed sliding tackle from Jackson. The defender knew he was a gonner – and the punishment was doubled when Madigan thrashed home the spot-kick.
However, it was Holbeach who looked like they had a numerical advantage for the next 15 minutes as they ended the half with a real purple patch.
Player/assistant boss Tidswell kicked off their goal-rush with a trademark free kick from the left hand side, some 30 yards out. His curling effort deceived George and nestled into the roof of the net for what was the pick of the goals on the day.
Then came a clinical debut goal from Acer, who fired an angled effort with the outside of his right foot into the bottom corner from the left side of the box for 3-1.
Amazingly, Acer then got in behind again in an almost identical position – only this time he unselfishly squared for Thomas to tap into an empty net.
Shell-shocked Star did come out all guns blazing in the second after the break, though.
The excellent Matt Warfield made a last-ditch interception to deny a clean through Jones in the first minute of the second half, while Drury was forced to make a smart stop to tip Craig Smith’s low header around his far post.
It was no real surprise when the away side reduced their deficit on 49 minutes, Jones meeting a wicked Jacob Joyce cross with a back-post header that gave Drury no chance.
After that it was very much a backs-to-the-wall performance from the Tigers, who had to soak up a lot of pressure.
Chances came and went, with the best of them seeing Danny Barker half-volley wide after racing onto a long punt from keeper George.
Drury did have to make two agile saves to deny Hayden Bream from distance, but the final flashpoint of the game came at the other end.
Holbeach sub Sean Coughlan, who has pace to burn, was crudely hauled down by Madigan when clean through in the final minute.
However, with the referee distracted by a melee that took place elsewhere on the pitch, he bizarrely decided not to even book the Star skipper.
It mattered little, though, with the final whistle sounding a few minutes later.
The character shown by Holbeach will give them genuine belief that their title challenge is still very much alive – and on this evidence you certainly wouldn’t rule them out.
Tigers: Drury, Worthington, Ward, Warfield, Jackson, Thomas (Dougill 75), Tidswell, Ford (Coughlan 83), Smith, Acer. Not used: Platt, Roberts.
