A Great Start to 2015 for the Reserves!!

With many players away or unavailable on Saturday it was a young squad that headed to Borras Park looking to pick up another valuable 3 points and cement their place at the top of the league. Although at times it wasnt a pretty performance the lads showed other invaluable attributes to their game that allowed us to get the win.

The early stages saw Borras Park the livelier of the 2 sides but Holywell were able to cope with the pressure and look dangerous on the counter attack. Ross Tate at right back was a figurehead for this. He made 2 or 3 fantastic runs deep into the opposition half which allowed us to gain territorial advantage and apply our own pressure on the opposition goal.

The opening goal of the game came to Holywell around the 10 minute mark. Nathan Williams delivered a fantastic ball into the box from a wide free kick which was powered into the goal from Alex Roberts' head.

Unfortunately after our breakthrough the old adage 'You are at your most vulnerable when youve just scored' was true for us with Borras Park quickly equalising from their own set piece routine. We lost concentration for a while which was disappointing and paid the price. The affects of a long period since our last game could have been the reason and some signs we were still to get back to where we finished last year.

Borras Park buoyant from the equaliser were again looking the livelier of the 2 teams but with our front 3 we were always still confident on the break. It was from a counter attack that we regained the lead, another fantastic run from Ross Tate released Connor Hughes to calmly finish into the bottom corner and make it 2-1. This would be the score as the sides went in for half time, a good way to show resolve and retake the lead. Unfortunately the half was marred by the injuries to 2 players. Lewis Reed who was doing well in midfield and Jak Bates at left back were replaced by Niall Lewis and Lewis Harrison respectively.

After a brief talk at half time the lads accepted that they werent quite firing on all cylinders and took this on board into the second half with a view to stepping up the tempo. Connor Hughes tipified the extra energy shown by the team and started to create problems for the opposition. It wasn't just Connor however, all of the lads had stepped their game up and now with and without the ball their was a lot more effectiveness to what we were doing.

It did take a while for the 3rd goal to come after starting the 2nd half well but when it did it was a quick fire double from the team. The 3rd goal resulted from the penalty spot after Alex Roberts comfortably dispatched the ball into the bottom corner. The decision being given after another great run from Connor Hughes committed the centreback to make a slide tackle which he only succeeded in bringing down Connor. The 4th goal quickly followed, good pressing high up the pitch allowed the ball to break to Jamie Roberts whose shot deflected to Jack Gibbons who finished from close range.

The boys were now on top and playing well but then a strange period of the game followed with the referee making some questionable decisions which allowed the opposition back into the game. Two questionable decisions resulted in goals for Borras Park and from a comfortable position of 4-1 the game quickly closed up to 4-3. The 3rd Borras Park goal coming after the referee sent off Lewis Harrison harshly for a challenge on the edge of the box.

So now the team found themselves having conceded 2 goals and down to 10 men. This did not deter them though, and i've said it for a while but the character that this group has is one of the greatest characteristics we show. A quick switch in the tactics and the lads stood resolute to defend anything that was coming at them and the forwards provided a great platform for us to keep attacking and through which we were able to score the all important 5th. Switched to left back Connor Hughes showed just what a player he is developing into and summed up the hunger he has. Gambling on pushing forward he won a crunching 50-50 in midfield and then beat the last defender and finished coolly again around the onrushing keeper. That goal was all about character and the hunger to want to do it that makes a good player great, a fantastic goal for the team.

So, the game finished 5-3 and it was fantastic result for the team. Like I said earlier in the report this was a young squad on Saturday with the eldest player just 23 and 10 players Under-19 so for them to show the character and mentality to see through the different situations that were thrown at them in the game was very pleasing.

However, this is only the start of the year and we know there are improvements to be made so will push on again to achieve these. Next week, Saturday 17th, we are in League Cup action away to Queen's Park

Squad: Matty Holland, Ross Tate, Jak Bates, Ash Davies, Alex Roberts, Jamie Roberts, Sion McHugh, Lewis Reed, Jack Gibbons, Nathan Williams, Connor Hughes, Niall Lewis, Lewis Harrison

Man of the Match – Ross Tate, Although in the 2nd half there were lots of positive individule performances Ross' work down the right side both defensively and offensively set the standard for the team throughout.