The wind that was gusting straight down the pitch towards the Oxton Road end was reported to be around 40 mph and it was the Eagles who found themselves kicking into it in the first half whether by choice or not we don’t know.

Holwell made good use of it and raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Tyler Sibson on nine minutes followed by Joseph Hartop from the penalty spot on twenty-six minutes. The Eagles tried to play their way up field from the back keeping the ball low and it worked when they got it right.
The Eagles were given a penalty on thirty-one minutes when Grant was felled and up stepped Eugene Francis to pull a goal back.

As halftime approached the visitors were themselves awarded a penalty. Up stepped Hartop to score his second of the game.

Deep into injury time the Eagles won a free kick on the corner of the box. This time James Greenhalgh hit a screamer into the bottom far corner.

HT 2-3

The Eagles had done well to go into the break only a goal behind and must have fancied their chances with the wind behind them in the second half.

It didn’t take long before the Eagles were level. Eugene Francis scored his second of the game to make it 3-3 on fifty-five minutes.
Holwell were finding it almost impossible to get out of their own half and a double strike by James Greenhalgh on sixty-one minutes and substitute Alex Devey a minute later all but put the game out of reach for the visitors.
Eugene Francis completed his hat-trick on seventy-nine minutes, the first by an Arnold player for some time (we’ll try and find out the last one to do so).

Late goals by Liam Corrigan on eighty-four minutes and a second for Alex Devey on eighty-nine minutes finished the scoring as Arnold recorded their biggest win since they put eight past Barrow a couple of seasons ago.

A great performance all round...

FT 8-3

It’s no doubt that Storm Brian had a lot to do with today’s outcome but it was the Eagles who adapted better on the day and thoroughly deserved the win, a win that they have been threatening for some time. They say luck can come in different ways and Brian certainly played a part today.

Congratulations to Eugene Francis pictured with the match ball and his sponsor Nick Scott after the game…

Arnold:

Tonge
Ogunlade
Hunt
Dixon
Corrigan
Mushambi
Beighton
Greenhalgh
Francis
O’Connor
Grant

Subs:
Douglas
Devey
Mugadza
Richardson
Wood

Goals:
Arnold
Francis 31(p). 55, 79
Devey 62, 89
Greenhalgh 45, 61
Corrigan 84

Holwell:
Sibson 9
Hartop 26, 41(p)

Att: 38

Officials:
Phill Roberts
Simone Callaneo
Ash Bradley