Honours Even With Tigers

A second half resurgence earns Stamford the draw away at Holbeach. Write Stephen Breden

The first chance of the game came to the visitors as some nice play down the left led to Sam Hollis playing the ball to John King, who crossed the ball in towards Jordan Smith but his header was deflected wide. Will Bird had Holbeach’s first chance of the game but his shot from range went high and wide. Five minutes after their first chance Stamford looked bright again, especially down the left wing where John King again crossed to Jordan Smith but his header was well saved.

King was again involved five minutes later as he received the ball on the edge of the box following some nice play but he could not get his shot on target. With around ten minutes of the first half to go Holbeach had the lead. Following a corner the ball dropped to the edge of the box where George Zuerner smashed in on the volley. Three minutes later Charley Sanders cut inside and curled his shot over the bar.

In the last five minutes of the half Stamford looked to level the game before the break. The first chance came to Jordan Smith as he met Liam Marshall’s cross at the back post but his header was deflected wide. The last chance of the half came to Jon Challinor as he received the ball in the box before turning his man but he could only shoot into the side netting.

Just after the break Charley Sanders had the first chance of the half but his header went well over the bar. A few minutes later Jake Duffy ran at the defence and saw the Holbeach keeper of his line, he tried to lob him but his shot went over the bar. Fifthteen minutes after the break Will Bird crossed excellently to Charley Sanders but his header went well over.

Two minutes later at the other end John King cut inside from the right but his curling shot was straight at the keeper. A few minutes later Will Bird was in on goal but Joel Holzer, standing in for the injured Dan Haystead in goal, made himself big forcing Bird to shoot wide. A minute later Ash Robinson played the ball to John King who beat two men and crossed to Sam Hollis whose header looped over the Holbeach keeper and found the back of the net.

Two minutes later Stamford were in the lead as John King ran at the Holbeach defence before beating his man who brought him down. Jake Duffy stepped up to take the penalty and it beat Ricky Drury down to his right. With a quarter of an hour to go Stacy Cartwright launched a free-kick long in to the Stamford box, the ball originally looked poor but an unfortunate bounce saw the ball lob over Holzer in the Stamford goal. The last chance of the game came to the visitors as Rob Morgan ran at the defence before playing the ball to Sam Hollis but his shot was poor and therefore easily saved.