On a very wet and boggy pitch, Stretton Handley took to the field to face Holmgate and the Stretton players were eager to make up for the collapse in the last game.
However, the game started differently to how the Stretton players wanted and within a minute of kick off, Holmgate took the lead with a low strike into the corner. 0-1 Holmgate.
Stretton fought back well though and an impressive piece of dribbling saw LM run to the halfway line and unleash a powerful shot into the top corner to equalise. The Holmgate goalkeeper had no chance! 1-1
Holmgate came back again and some good defending by LH, MT and GH kept their attackers at bay. With 5 minutes to half time TH made an incredible save to a rocket of a shot that was heading into the roof of the net. However, from the resulting corner, Holmgate managed to score to make it 1-2.
Unfortunately for the Stretton Handley defence, right on half time, the ball got stuck in the mud inside Stretton’s box which allowed another goal for Holmgate. 1-3 Holmgate at half time.
After much needed drinks, a quick rest and a team talk changing tactics, Stretton Handley came out in the second half in fine form. A couple of good attacks saw them grow in confidence.
Stretton Handley hadn’t given up and they wanted to mirror what had happened to them in the previous game and make a stunning come back.
They did just that!
First, a good pass by LR saw MH run through and tap the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-3. Then a good run by LR saw him fouled in the box to win a penalty in the bog! Unfortunately LR powered his penalty wide of the post.
Stretton Handley began to dominate possession and were piling pressure on the Holmgate defence.
Excellent passing from defence through to attack meant that LR had a free shot which he smashed into the net to equalise. 3-3
Finally,with only 3 minutes remaining, Stretton Handley won a corner. The ball was crossed in and the boggy ground made it difficult for Holmgate to clear the ball. A goal mouth scramble resulted in the ball hitting a lot of legs before eventually LR managed to tap the ball into the net to complete the fantastic come back and make it 4-3 to Stretton Handley.
Stretton Handley defended the final few minutes well and managed to win with a very impressive second half performance.
Well done to all the players involved!
Stretton Handley 4-3 Holmgate