Holbeach Utd 1 Leicester Nirvana 2: A late slip by player/manager Tom Roberts cost the Tigers a point.
Roberts had replaced injured keeper Rick Drury late in the second half at Carter’s Park on Wednesday.(April 13)
And in the 88th minute his poor double-fisted punch clearance of a free kick presented Nirvana striker Tendai Chitzia with the chance to send a looping header from ten yards back over him.
In truth, a winner had been coming throughout an improved second half for the visitors, who went back to the top of the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division. They had been deposed by AFC Kempston Rovers 24 hours earlier.
However, Nirvana had to come from behind after being shocked in the third minute. Tigers striker Josh Ford pounced on hesitancy in the defence and set up Jake Clitheroe to lure keeper James Flinders and fire home from ten yards.
Nirvana’s response was almost immediate with Matt Melbourne drawing a point-blank reaction save out of Drury.
The keeper was also smart to stop a Chitzia header with the last action of the first half. Moments earlier at the other end, Andrew Tidswell’s rasping effort brought a decent save out of Flinders.
Nirvana stepped up their tempo after the break and the reward was not long coming.
The Holbeach defence was caught napping and a cross from the right was turned in from two yards by an unmarked Melbourne.
Minutes later, the Nirvana scorer smacked an 18-yard drive against Drury’s right-hand post.
Soon after, the Tigers keeper picked up an injury to his right foot and hobbled off.
Diminutive midfielder Reece Morris was proving more than a handful for Holbeach on their right-hand side and it was his trickiness which led to the late winner.
Tigers full-back Oli Donald chopped down the midfielder and from the resultant free kick at the corner of the penalty area came Roberts’ slip.
In a frantic finish, Clitheroe had an effort hacked off the goalline, but Nirvana did just about enough to justify the win.
Tigers: Drury (Roberts 75); Donald, A Jackson, Warfield, N Jackson, Stevens, Eyett, Tidswell, Ford, Clitheroe, Gale. Subs not used: Cartwright, Ward, Newcombe, Dougill.
