Holbeach United 2
Harborough Town 2
A stunning injury-time free kick from Jack Smith rescued a deserved point for Holbeach United against fellow high-flyers Harborough Town on Saturday.
Smith curled a 25-yard effort over the wall and into the corner three minutes into added time at Carter’s Park in what turned out to be Tom Roberts’ final game as Tigers’ player/boss.
Roberts stepped down after seeing his charges twice come from behind in a clash that was closely fought all afternoon.
An Ollie Pinner own goal (38) put the Tigers behind against the run of play, but Josh Ford lashed home an almost instant leveller (40) to make the score 1-1 at half-time.
Harry May looked to have won it for the visitors when he buried a fine individual goal 20 minutes from time – but Smith’s heroics ensured that the spoils were shared.
Outgoing boss Roberts said: “Jack’s goal at the end was a good way for me to go out.
“Fair play to Harborough, they set up very negatively and looked to play on the counter with a bit of pace. It looked like they’d win the game too, but the free kick saved us.
“I was disappointed with the two goals. We gave a soft free kick over for the first, which Ollie put into his own net through no real fault of his own.
“We didn’t clear our lines for the second goal, although it was a fine finish from their lad, it wasn’t good defending from us.
“The disappointing thing about the team this season is that we’ve seemed to struggle at home. We have really owed the home fans a performance for a while now as, on the road, we’re a very good team.
“I don’t know whether the players are low on confidence, or if a few of the lads are carrying little knocks. The lads just need to regroup and come together for the next match.”
It was always likely to be a competitive clash between two of the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division’s top six – and the first 15 minutes proved to be a real battle, with neither side on top.
Holbeach then fashioned a few opportunities, with Matt Warfield curling a free kick just over and Ford forcing a low save from Glen Giles after getting in behind on the left hand side.
Harborough struggled to create anything of note, but took the lead seven minutes before the break when the unfortunate Pinner diverted May’s dangerous free kick into his own net.
The lead lasted just two minutes, though, with Ford smashing a leveller past Giles following fine work from winger Aaron Eyett.
It was more open after the interval, with Billy Shepherd crashing a fierce effort off the bar for Harborough and Eyett forcing a great save from Giles after a run and cross from Smith.
The visitors slowly began to boss the game with time running out and duly took the lead when May weaved his way past a static home defence and picked out the near top corner with a super strike.
It was very nearly 3-1 when Barnes Gladman’s one-on-one strike was tipped onto the post by Drury, a save that proved crucial for the Tigers as, moments later, Smith’s heroics rescued a point.
Tigers: Drury, Walton, A Jackson, Pinner (Thomas 68), N Jackson, Tinkler, Warfield (Dougill 89), Muldrew, J Smith, Ford, Eyett. Not used: P Smith, Stevens.
Attendance: 65.
- A minute of silence for the late Jeremy Biggs was impeccably served by all ahead of kick off.
