Thurnby Nirvana 3
Holbeach United 0
New Holbeach United manager Darren Jarvis admits that he wasn’t overly worried by Tuesday night’s sobering 3-0 UCL Premier Division loss at Thurnby Nirvana.
Goals from Matt Melbourne, Lynas King and the talented Liam Canavan handed the Tigers a 3-0 reverse in Jarvis’ first game in charge – a result that effectively ends any lingering hopes the Carter’s Park club may have harboured of getting back into the title race.
Holbeach were without the unavailable Andrew Tidswell, Stacey Cartwright, Danny Steadman and Craig Parker, so handed starts to new recruits Ash Murrell and Jack Smith in another scratch line-up.
Jarvis was happy with a lot of what he saw – and lamented a fine free-kick from Aiden Kirby that was disallowed because it was actually awarded as an indirect set-piece. King added Thurnby’s second goal moments later and the game was gone.
“You have to take stock of the situation,” said the ex-Peterborough Northern Star chief. “Obviously there is a bit of unrest in the squad, that’s natural when managers leave.
“We were also missing a number of players that would definitely have started.
“But Thurnby away is always a tough game. They have a very strong side and it’s difficult for the very best teams in this league to go there and get a result.
“We’ve had to throw a side together – and it’s always hard for the team to click straight away when you’ve not played with each other before. Saying that, the lads did well – the likes of Danny Maddison, Jack Smith and Ash Murrell impressed.
“I thought we competed well for the first 20 minutes, but then conceded a goal through a bit of sloppy defending on our part. Aiden Kirby then fired in a great free kick, but it went directly in having been given as indirect – what can you do?
“They went straight up the other end and made it 2-0, then Canavan finished it off. We had some good controlled possession at the end of the game and had a few chances, so there are positives.
“We just have to draw a line under this one and move on to Newport Pagnell at home on Saturday.”
Tigers: Conroy, Guyan, Maddison, Brown, Murrell, Warfield, Kirby, Smith, King, Beeson, Clarke. Subs: Keeble, Revell, Bull.
Attendance: 49
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Evo-Stik League: First Division South: Sheffield FC 1 Norton United 2; Tividale 3 Goole AFC 2.
UCL Premier Division: Boston Town 2 Peterborough Northern Star 1; Deeping Rangers 0 Sleaford Town 0; Desborough Town 2 Long Buckby 3; Newport Pagnell Town 3 Eynesbury Rovers 4; Thurnby Nirvana 3 Holbeach United 0; Wellingborough Town 0 AFC Kempston Rovers 2.
UCL KO Cup: Quarter-finals: Northampton Sileby Rangers 1 Lutterworth Athletic 3; Wisbech Town 2 Cogenhoe United 2; (pens 4-3); Yaxley 0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds 1.
