Hanley started the brighter of the two teams, on 11minutes a Stair pass sent L.Skellern away down the left side of the penalty area Skellern's low cross was well saved by Holker keeper Stephans.A minute later a superb cross from the left by Stair looked to be heading for the head of Skellern only for Holker defender Heffernan to clear the danger.

On 15minutes Holker created their first chance,a superb through ball by J.Pattiinson sent Stanway racing clear only for Hanley keeper Dane Jackson to race off his line to clear.Two minutes later Town's Watson tried his luck from distance only for keeper Stephans to get down well to save Watson's 40yard effort.On 28minutes Hanley opened up the Holker defence a Ben Blowers pass found Leigh Skellern his back flick found Matt Bell whose return pass found Skellern whose first time effort from 18yards was brilliantly saved by Sam Stephans in the Holker goal.A minute later Stair curled a freekick from 25yards just wide of the Holker post.

Hanley had a couple of lucky escapes on 31minutes a superb freekick whipped in from the left just inside the Hanley half by D.Pattinson almost found it's way through to goal only for Town defender Nathan Grice to clear off the line and out for a corner,straight from the resulting corner Bell this time came to Hanley's rescue when he cleared off the line from a Coombe header.

On 38minutes a neat clipped ball by Holker's Smith found the onrushing Rushton who glanced an header over Town keeper Jackson from 15yards out only to see it bounce just past the Hanley post.Holker finished the half the better and were only a matter of inches from taking the lead, a quick breakaway and a pass down the right sent Rushton racing clear his low cross was only inches from the out- stretched leg of Hubbold.

Half-Time - Hanley Town 0 Holker Old Boys 0

Holker created the first chance of the second half on 49minutes a cross from the left by Smith to the back post found J.Pattinson whose header found Rushton who stretched out a leg to flick a shot six yards out which was brilliantly palmed away by Hanley keeper Dane Jackson.On 53miuntes a Stair cross from the left was flicked wide of the post by L.Skellern.On 59minutes a Stair corner from the right found the unmarked Mick Morton who headed just over the Holker crossbar from 12yards.

Hanley took the lead on 63minutes a sharp turn and clipped ball over the Holker defence by Theo Stair sent Matt Bell racing clear before drilling a low 15yard shot past Holker keeper Stephans and into the net.Four minutes later Hanley went 2-0 up when a Jack Watson pass found Theo Stair whose flick header sent Leigh Skellern racing clear before he too drilled a low 12yard effort past Stephans and into the bottom corner of the net.

Holker were working hard to get back into the game a Hubbold 25yard freekick went just passed the Hanley post.But Hanley's defence of Evans,Watson,Ward and Grice kept Holker at a distance.On 79minutes a Stair cross from the right was cleared straight back to Stair his first time 12yard angled shot was deflected for a corner.

Hanley got a third goal on 84minutes a Matt Bell ball over the Holker defence sent Theo Stair racing clear down the right before Stair cut inside into the Holker penalty area and firing low angled 12yard effort into the far corner of the net.Holker got a goal back in the final minute of normal time when John-Paul Stanway deflected 22yard effort wrong footed Town keeper Jackson before finding the net.

Hanley edged the tie but Holker did have their moments/chances has you would expect from a good side,and i am sure next season they will be one of the promotion chasing teams once again.

Full-Time - Hanley Town 3 Holker Old Boys 1

ATT:202

HANLEY TOWN;Team:
1 D.Jackson,2 C.Price,3 J.Watson,4 N.Ward,5 N.Grice
6 B.Blowers,7 M.Bell,8 M.MORTON*,9 L.Skellern,
10 T.Stair,11 O.Edwards(12 J.Stair 83),

Subs;(unused):14 A.Malbon,15 D.Fox,16 M.Stanyer,17 J.Hall

HOLKER OLD BOYS;Team:
1 S.Stephans,2 D.Pattinson,3 G.Smith,4 P.Coombe,5 G.Heffernan,
6 S.Pattinson,7 J.Pattinson,8 M.Grundy,9 M.Rushton,
10 B.Hubbold,11 J.P.Stanway

Subs:12 N.Reid,14 B.Moss,15 L.Shields