Holsworthy 4 Foxhole 2

[Darin Morse]

Holsworthy 4 Foxhole 2

Saturday 12th November 2011

Foxhole's slide continued after slumping to another defeat in sunny North Devon, going behind through Cisneros' third minute opener, his smart finish from close range following a clever turn inside Adam Holland by the impressive Morgan. Griffin equalised within six minutes after a fine move involving Cunningham and the returning Gamble, running through to beat Walter comfortably, and the marine was soon to squander opportunities from eighteen yards, first by firing over after comprehensively outfoxing Rowe on the halfway line, and then misdirecting a lob from Faircloth's assist. Arguably the game turned on the referee's inexplicable decision on seventeen minutes not to penalise O'Donoghue's clear foul on Gamble inside the box, Cisneros' second goal on the half hour once Holland had treaded on the ball serving only to intensify the feeling of injustice. Holsworthy were to finish the half in command, only Ryan Stephen's fine block on Morgan, and Ryan Holland's continued brilliance to deny Kelly from Chidley's inviting centre restricting the home team to a single goal advantage.

The killer third did, however, arrive inside three minutes of the restart when Morgan's deep cross was converted by Copp. Bookings for Gamble and Fieldhouse for fouls on home full-backs O'Donoghue and Stewart respectively were swiftly followed by their withdrawal in favour of Wilkins and Rundle, a move that initially appeared to have little rejuvenating effect on the visitors as Morgan twice went close to sealing the points, and Stone inadvertently deflecting another Chidley centre against his own bar. However Rundle's influence grew once he'd switched from the wing to central midfield, to the extent that Griffin's second goal nineteen minutes from time was no surprise, the willing striker racing on to his keeper's huge kick down the slope to head over the advancing Walter. All too briefly the Magpies were on the ropes, Griffin somehow firing wide from ten yards a golden chance to steal a point the largely lacklustre performance barely warranted. Regaining their composure, Holsworthy swept forward late on and, after substitute Lee had twice missed the target when well placed, Morgan grabbed a deserved goal at the death, his shot rifled inside the near post from the edge of the area.

Foxhole (4-4-2): Ryan Holland; Adam Fieldhouse (sub. Ryan Wilkins), Ben Thomas, Adam Holland, Joe Stone; Richard Faircloth, Shaun Cunningham, Ryan Stephen, Ben Spaul; Richard Griffin, Adam Gamble (sub. Aydan Rundle).

Holsworthy (4-3-3): Ryan Walter; John O'Donoghue, Malcolm Stewart (sub. Josh Shepard), Richard Smith, Ian Rowe; Liam Dart, Mitch Cisneros (sub. Ryan Davies), Adam Copp; Lee Morgan, Phil Kelly, Dean Chidley (sub. Ryan Lee).

Referee: Mr Gary Cornish (Wadebridge).