29/3/2025 - Vs Diss Town (Home).

A bright afternoon at Carter's Park as we welcomed our sponsors to this league game against promotion hunting Diss Town FC.

Diss, who sat in 6th place going into this fixture, are a physically strong side with a direct style that suits their personnel - we set the team up to be able to cope with the direct approach.

SQUAD: Simpson (GK), Bassendine-Matthews, Cook, Roberts, Ling, Oldham, Kacirek, Carter, Thorne, Compton, Wright. Subs: Keeble, Greenacre, Ibeneme, Gadzia, Hamilton.

We started the game compact and the central defenders coped excellently with the Diss Town target man. The opening minutes were just a case of each team eyeing up the other, both sides trying to prod and probe to find a way through with Diss possibly creating a little more than us until some outstanding skill from Harvey Thorne left the defender dancing as he cut inside and found Callum Wright. who lashed the ball into the net to make it 1-0 on 10 minutes.

Whilst our defence was holding firm, we were failing to hold possession of the ball further forward and allowed Diss to counter attack on too many occasions.

As half time approached Diss equalised, a deep cross from the right side found the number 10 at the back post, he managed to bring the ball down on his chest before firing past Simpson - a disappointing goal to concede before half-time.

During the break Greenacre was called to replace Bassendine-Matthews, who had put in a good shift down the left side but was feeling an injury.

Another substitution on the 50 minute mark as Callum Wright pulled up with an injury, Marley Hamilton entering the game, returning from a few weeks out with a muscle strain and keen to impress.

It took Hamilton just 5 minutes to find the net, latching on to a long ball and beating the keeper from just inside the box, a tidy finish. 2-1 Holbeach United.

With 68 minutes on the clock Gadzia replaced Kacirek as we shuffled the pack.

On 80 minutes Jordan Keeble, making his 300th senior appearance for the club, was introduced, replacing Kyle Compton.

Then the drama, a failed clearance led to some frantic defending and Carter was judged to have pulled down the Diss forward inside the box, penalty awarded.

Diss smashed in the penalty. 2-2.

As Diss bombed forward, desperately trying to keep their promotion push alive, Simpson pulled off a fantastic stop to keep the score level. As he held onto the ball a Diss player blatantly stamped on his back, triggering a bit of handbags that led to him being sent off and 4 yellow cards being produced by referee, Amy Keir.

Diss now down to 10 men but with only moments left the game finished 2-2.

We appreciated the wonderful support shown by the great number of Holbeach United supporters - we also thank the young tigers beating the drum throughout the game, you did a great job!

END.