Debenham LC 6 Holbeach United 1
Co-boss Danny Clifton admitted that Holbeach United’s shocking 6-1 defeat at Debenham on Saturday “felt a little bit like last season” as everything went wrong for his side.
The Tigers went into the first away game in the Thurlow Nunn League Division One South without seven players and were forced to throw in multiple youngsters and a late new signing to ensure they fulfilled the fixture.
That signing, Ted Haime, made a dream start to life as a Holbeach player by firing the opener after just two minutes.
But that was as good as it got for Clifton’s charges, as debutant Reece Golding fired in the first of four goals on the day in the 11th minute.
Danny Thrower (29) then put the hosts ahead, before Golding (35) grabbed his second to make it 3-1 at half time.
There was no let up for Holbeach after the interval as Golding (51 and 65) put the game to bed, then Elliot Ballard rounded off the rout with a penalty 15 minutes from time.
“It was a bad week in general for us,” admitted joint boss Clifton. “We knew we’d have a few players out, but by Friday the number had reached seven.
“I was scratching around trying to get a team together, which felt a lot like last season.
“The same goes for the game, we had inexperienced players out there and players out of position – there were a lot of square pegs in round holes.
“We started really well and I was pleased for Ted, but once we went 2-1 down we didn’t look ourselves.
“We had a go early in the second half, but they had a team of willing runners and we just didn’t match them. To be honest, their striker won’t get an easier hat-trick in his career.”
Tigers: Rigby, Warrington, Robertson, Gilbert, Carter, Calvert, Johnson, Millinson, Yambasu, Martin, Haime. Subs used: Bilicz, Parker-Meadows, Redman.
Attendance: 48.
