Holbeach United 2
Rothwell Corinthians 1
Dramatic late strikes from Lee Dube and Lee Beeson helped Holbeach United dodge a UCL Knockout Cup banana skin on Saturday.
The Tigers, who sit second in the UCL Premier Division, were always hot favourites to defeat mid-table Division One outfit Rothwell Corinthians at Carter’s Park on a day that coincided with the third round of the FA Cup.
But that counted for nothing when Jordan Henson curled home a superb free-kick opener for the visitors inside the opening three minutes – putting an FA Cup style upset firmly on the cards.
That’s how the scores stayed up until eight minutes from time, when Dube headed Holbeach level from close range. The striker then won a penalty minutes later, allowing super sub Beeson to rifle home the winner with just four minutes left on the clock.
Holbeach were full value for the win, having rattled the woodwork twice and seen a nailed-on penalty for a foul on Craig Parker waved away.
But co-boss John Chand, who was in sole charge due to Graham Drury’s continued touchline ban, admitted that the performance was among the Tigers’ worst of the season so far.
Joint chief Chand said: “The late goals got us out of jail if I’m honest. They hit us with a bit of a sucker-punch early on with a goal from a free kick – and the conditions didn’t help at all really.
“We didn’t really play any football at all, but the main thing is that we got through in the end.
“However, I’d definitely say that this was one of our top three most disappointing performances of the season so far. But we’re through – and that’s that.
“We have struggled at stages of the season against so called lesser teams. Sometimes we’ve not approached the games in the right manner mentally.
“A win is a win, but I didn’t think we were really it the races. I don’t want to gloss over the fact that we weren’t at our best.
“At one stage I did start to wonder if it was going to be one of those days. We missed a lot of chances and had a few penalty shouts waved away.
“But I always fancied us to score at some stage and was confident that they wouldn’t create a lot in behind us. We were all desperate to avoid extra time, so in the end we can just be happy to get through.
“The performance wasn’t particularly great, but it’s a case of job done really and we move on. All in all, we’ve got a scrappy win on a day that didn’t really allow us to play great football.
“We made a few changes to the side to accommodate a few people and maybe that didn’t help us. We looked more dangerous when we went 4-4-2 towards the end and it’s no surprise that the goals came when they did.”
It was a much-changed Holbeach line-up from that which saw off Wisbech Town 1-0 on Boxing Day, with the biggest change seeing double-winning keeper Leigh Overton replace Nick Conroy in goal – having re-signed with the club on Friday.
Sadly for Overton, his first port of call on his Tigers return was the pick the ball out of the net after an inch-perfect Henson effort nestled in his corner from some 22 yards after just three minutes.
It was no more than the UCL Division One side deserved, as they bossed the opening exchanges. Striker Henson was their star man and he worked Overton with another drive from distance soon after.
In contrast, Holbeach were struggling to create anything – and when they did, they were denied by the officials. Both Dube and fellow striker Matty Nolan had the ball in the net during the first period, but on both occasions the goals didn’t count. While Nolan saw a header ruled out for offside, Dube’s clever finish was chalked off because a free kick was taken too quickly in the build up.
There was, at least, signs of a comeback at the very end of the first period – thanks in both cases to midfield ace Jake Duffy. The playmaker saw a 20 yard drive flash wide of Martin Thorpe’s post, before waltzing past a defender and the keeper seconds later – only to see his strike kicked off the line.
It was one-way traffic after the break, with Holbeach pretty much camped in the Corinthians half. The Tigers thought they had levelled early on when that man Duffy curled an effort towards the top corner after a probing run from right back Parker, but the ball bounced back off the upright.
Beeson, on as a 60th minute substitute, then forced a fine stop from Thorpe with a volleyed effort that was his first touch of the match, as you started to wonder if it was going to be one of those days for the Tigers.
That notion gathered more pace when Holbeach were denied two penalties within the space of five minutes. The first looked to be a nailed on spot-kick when Parker was clipped by Martin Anderson just inside the box.
Holbeach’s right back was bombing forward at full tilt and his momentum did lead to a pretty theatrical fall, which probably went against him.
The next shout was a little more optimistic, as Beeson fell to the ground following the slightest push from an away defender.
Jamie Clarke, normally a lethal finisher, then fired over from inside the six yard box as Holbeach continued to plug away.
But they were almost caught by a wonder strike from Rothwell’s Luke Phillips, who lashed a 40-yard effort inches past the post with Overton scrambling.
Next to go close for Holbeach was Dube, who blasted an effort onto the bar and over after getting in behind the stubborn visiting defence.
The pressure was relentless at this stage – and the Tigers finally got their reward eight minutes from time. Clarke raced forward on the left and attempted to cross for Dube. The delivery was deflected into the path of his strike partner, who made no mistake with a flying header from close range.
Not done there, Dube won a penalty for his side moments later after being pulled back in the box. Beeson, reliable as ever, did the rest with a low effort that Thorpe got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.
There was still time for another Holbeach penalty appeal as Clarke’s goal-bound effort seemed to be turned around the post by a Rothwell hand, but it mattered little for the hosts as they booked their place in the next round.
Tigers: Overton, Parker, Cartwright, Warfield (Allen 60), Brown, Miller, King (Beeson 60), Duffy, Nolan (Steadman 60), Clarke, Dube. Not used: Conroy, Spencer.
Next: Yaxley (Wednesday, home, 7.45pm)
