Holbeach United 0
Loughborough University 5
Much-fancied Holbeach United were humbled 5-0 at home by newboys Loughborough University on the opening day of the new Uhlsport UCL Premier Division season.
A red-hot first-half from Loughborough saw the Tigers four down at the break in Saturday’s Carter’s Park clash, with goals from Connor Smith (pen 3 and 40) and Kamen Cashmore (10 and 33) stunning the hosts.
Substitute Kel Akpobire (80) rounded off the rout in a much less eventful second half, leaving Holbeach to reflect on their worst start to a season in recent memory.
Assistant boss Tim Cole, who was standing in for absent manager Danny Hussey, admitted that his side got what they deserved.
He said: “It’s very disappointing, to be honest. There’s a lot of anger in the dressing room, we didn’t do ourselves justice.
“Conceding two goals in the first two minutes absolutely killed us – I think if that didn’t happen, it would have been a much closer game.
“We were better in the second half, but in truth we couldn’t have been much worse.
“We’re big boys and we’ll have to lick our wounds and get ourselves ready for a big derby at Boston Town on Tuesday.
“All of their goals came from silly little mistakes on our part, be it passes going straight to them or us not playing to the whistle.
“Our keeper Phil (McGann) came in to help us out but he didn’t really have a chance with the goals – they had five good chances and took them all.
“Credit to Loughborough, they passed it around nicely at the back and all of their lads looked fit and quick. I think they’ll cause a few shocks this season.
“I thought that we’d be able to use our physicality better on the day, but sadly we weren’t able to make any kind of impression.”
After making a number of eye-catching signings over the summer, the Tigers kicked off the new season as one of the teams tipped to challenge for the title.
But they couldn’t really have made a worse start, with Joe Braithwaite guilty of conceding a third-minute penalty – which was casually tucked into the bottom corner by Smith.
Things got worse for the boys in black and yellow on ten minutes, with scorer Smith pulling the ball across goal for Cashmore to net from close range, leaving stand-in keeper Phil McGann helpless.
At the other end, Michael Frew missed a golden chance to pull a goal back for the Tigers when he blazed over following a rare mistake at the back from the Scholars.
Josh Ford was then unfortunate to see his goal-bound volley hit a defender and roll safely into the hands of the keeper.
However, it was soon 3-0 to the visitors after a clever outside-of-the-boot pass from Will Dawes picked out Cashmore, who raced clear and finished through the legs of the exposed McGann.
Dawes then became the first player to be sin binned this season, spending ten minutes on the sideline for showing dissent to the referee.
Being a player down didn’t damage Loughborough, though, as Theo Sackey-Mensah caught the Tigers sleeping and expecting offside on the right. He duly squared for Smith to knock in his second of the day just before the break.
The second half was something of a non-event, with Holbeach unable to mount a comeback and the slick visitors never really looking troubled.
Ford forced a decent save from the away keeper following a direct free-kick, but the Tigers were unable to fashion any clear-cut chances.
Typically, the Scholars had the final word when sub Akpobire was afforded the freedom of Carter’s Park to slot home number five unopposed.
The Tigers felt he was offside, but no flag came to their aid and they were forced to take a 5-0 home thumping on the chin.
Holbeach, who will have boss Hussey back in the dugout at Boston Town on Tuesday (7.45pm), will hope to bounce back immediately in that derby fixture.
Tigers: McGann, Wilson, Jackson, Joe Smith, Braithwaite, Tinkler, Ford (Bird 70), Faiweather, Frew, Jack Smith (Oliver 73), Lockie (Avis 73). Not used: T Smith.
