Holbeach United 5
Wellingborough Town 0
Andrew Tidswell helped himself to a hat-trick as title-chasing Holbeach United cruised to a 5-0 victory over struggling Wellingborough on Saturday.
The player/coach notched on 41, 62 and 70 minutes for the Tigers at Carter’s Park, with Jordan Thomas (18 and 28) adding the two other goals in the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division clash.
Holbeach could – and perhaps should – have scored even more, but the five-star success stretches their unbeaten league run to ten games and moves them up to third in the table.
And, if they win all three of their games in hand on leaders Leicester Nirvana – who surprisingly lost 2-0 at home to Eyensbury Rovers – they would effectively go three points clear at the summit.
Boss Darren Jarvis is keeping his feet on the ground, but was impressed with what he saw from his Tigers.
He said: “In recent games, we’ve only really performed for 45 minutes – and it has tended to be the second half.
“Today, the first half was great and we went in 3-0 up. My only criticism of the lads is that we didn’t score more.
“We asked the lads to play a certain way at both ends of the pitch and they took it on board well.
“Undoubtedly, we could have had two or three more goals – minimum. But I have to be happy, 5-0 is a good scoreline.
“The front pair haven’t scored, but they worked hard – Tommy Treacher in particular.
“There were some interesting results elsewhere, but there are a lot of good sides around.
“Obviously we’re keeping an eye on things at the top of the table and it’s good for us that Leicester Nirvana lost, but I’m sure they’ll bounce back – they are a very good side.
“We’ll just concentrate on what we’re doing game in, game out. We’re doing well at the moment, but now we move on to a midweek cup tie with Blackstones.
“The League Cup is a competition we want to win and we won’t take it lightly. We’ve got a strong squad here and we’ll look to bring one or two in for that one.”
With skipper Jamie Stevens back in the side, albeit in the unfamiliar role of right back, Holbeach were always expected to beat 21st-placed Wellingborough.
They started well, with Ollie Pinner unlucky not to direct a free header on target following a trademark corner from Tidswell.
Gary King then headed a decent chance over at the back post, before the hosts made an 18th-minute breakthrough.
Another Tidswell corner, this time from the left, was headed onto the bar by Thomas from close range. The rebound fell kindly for him though, and he prodded past Aaron Bellairs from close range.
It wasn’t long before Thomas doubled his money. A great run and cross from Nick Jackson on the left caused confusion in the Wellingborough box – and allowed Thomas to casually slot into the bottom left corner from about eight yards.
Number three arrived four minutes before half time, as the Tigers essentially killed their opponents off. Treacher showed great strength before feeding his strike partner Josh Ford on the left, before Ford pulled back for Tidswell to stroke home the first of his treble from just inside the box.
The visitors showed a bit more attacking intent after the break and went close within seconds, as Nathan Stewart got in on the right before firing just over.
But it was mostly one-way traffic, with the excellent Pinner unlucky not to make it four when he headed yet another terrific Tidswell corner wide from close in. In the midfielder’s defence, the ball seemed to hit him more than be nodded off target.
The chances continued to come for the hosts as King dragged wide when through on the left and Tidswell somehow fired over from close in after Ford had been denied by Bellairs.
Tidswell made up for his miss moments later, however, showing great skill to bamboozle his marker before sneaking a clever left-footed drive home at the near post from 12 yards out.
Holbeach keeper Ricky Drury was then forced to save smartly from both Nathan Burrows and Dan Mortimer, but it was the hosts and Tidswell who had the last word.
Treacher, who worked tirelessly all game, broke through and the left and unselfishly squared for the/player coach, to calmly convert from close in to complete the scoring.
The Tigers did have chances to extend their lead, but Bellairs denied both King and Pinner in the closing stages.
It mattered little, with the hosts comfortable and emphatic winners in a very one-sided clash.
It’s a cup clash next for Holbeach, as they welcome UCL Division One side Blackstones to Carter’s Park on Wednesday night (7.45pm).
Tigers: Drury, Stevens, Jackson (Ward 55), Pinner, Cartwright, Warfield, King, Tidswell (Bull 71), Ford, Treacher (Dougill 77), Thomas. Not used: Worthington, Clitheroe.
Attendance: 114
