Holbeach United fans can look forward to an exciting January fixture list after seeing the gap to league leaders AFC Rushden and Diamonds cut to five points.
A bumper Boxing Day crowd of 280 saw the Tigers edge out fourth-placed Wisbech Town 1-0 with Matty Nolan’s home debut goal.
And after their final two matches of 2014 saw Holbeach make up six points on the Premier Division pacesetters, joint managers John Chand and Graham Drury have an enticing – but very tough – first month of 2015 in prospect as the squad’s trophy challenge on three fronts is tested further.
Just a couple of weeks ago, with closest challengers Holbeach and Yaxley trailling the league leaders by double-figure points, there was talk that the destination of the title was a foregone conclusion.
Yet there was a significant moment at 4.25pm last Friday. With the Tigers leading through Nolan’s first-half header, word filtered through to Carter’s Park that floodlight failure had put paid to AFC Rushden and Diamonds’ match with Wellingborough Town.
Less than a week earlier, Diamonds had squandered a late lead to lose at Thurnby Nirvana and see their advantage cut by the Tigers.
Chand said: “We’re in a nice position – in the league cup, in the fourth round of the FA Vase and in with a shout of the title.”
The championship-winning manager hailed the achievements of keeper Nick Conroy and the defence of Kern Miller, Danny Spencer, Stacy Cartwright and Jonny Allen, who made it four clean sheets on the trot with the Wisbech shut-out.
“In the last 15 minutes, Wisbech threw a lot at us, but our back five stood really strong,” Chand said. “For the last four or five games they have been outstanding. I’m yet to see a better keeper than Nick Conroy in the league this time around or when I was here when we won it.
“We’re happy to win 1-0 – more so than 6-3.”
With a pretty poor playing surface – reminiscent of the Boxing Day battle against Spalding United two years previously – Holbeach changed their style of play and found a more direct approach to be fruitful against former Tigers boss Dick Creasey’s side.
With a focus on getting the ball forward early and making the most of set pieces, it was a free kick on the left which provided the breakthrough on 28 minutes.
Centre-half Spencer was picked out at the far post and turned the ball into the path of Nolan – signed this month from St Neots Town – who gobbled up the opportunity.
“Matty has made a career at a good level out of ghosting free in the box and finishing,” said Chand. “His experience and calmness has been good for us.”
Tigers: Conroy, Cartwright, Allen, Miller, Spencer, Warfield, Duffy, King (Parker 74), Beeson (Pinner 80), Clarke (Dube 80), Nolan.
TIGERS’ BIG MONTH AHEAD:
Saturday – Rothwell Corinthians (home, UCL Knockout Cup)
Wednesday, January 7 – Yaxley (home, League)
Saturday, January 10 – AFC Kempston Rovers
(home, League)
Saturday, January 17 – Thurnby Nirvana (away, FA Vase 4th round)
Saturday, January 24 – AFC Rushden & Diamonds (home, League)
Tuesday, January 27 – Deeping Rangers
(away, League)
Saturday, January 31 – Cogenhoe United
(home, League)
