retired_destiny1124

10.9.05
Holyhead Hotspur (1) Kettering (1)
It appeared we had snatched a last moment win in the match when we scored at 89 minutes, but Paul Wheatcroft's lack of composure cost us the equalizer in second half injury time as we were left with a disappointing draw. Through much of the match, we struggled with our passing and wasted what appeared to be several excellent chances without getting shots on goal. We were doing a solid job defensively of keeping the visitors in check. We struck late when MOM Aaron Nowacki made a wonderful pass to James Pike in the area and he slipped his shot inside the left post past Mark Osborne. It looked like we would hang on, despite their rallying attempts, until Paul Wheatcroft inexplicably took a pass and just stood there- not just booting the ball up the pitch. David Theobald took it away and slid the pass through to Andrew Windross, who had time to beat Paul Nicholls cleanly with the equalizer. It was a terribly disappointing way to end what had been a solid effort.

retired_destiny1124

17.9.05
Worcester (0) Holyhead Hotspur (3)
A win that showed our improvements in the finer aspects of the game. We took advantage of set piece situations to score all three of our goals, though we could easily have had another couple if Neil Finn hadn't played so well on other chances. Lloyd McGowan gave us the lead when he deflected a corner kick from Carl Murkin past Finn for his 1st Holyhead goal midway through the first half. Less than five minutes later it was MOM Ben Woods drilling a 25 yard free kick past Finn for his 1st Holyhead goal. Woods capped a fine effort with another 30 yard free kick blast past Finn midway through the second half to help ensure the easy win as Paul Nicholls had excellent help in putting up the clean sheet. Losing Paul to sprained ankle for possbily the next couple months made the victory a bit costly- especially as Luke Weaver is barely returning to play after knee problems- leaving Andy Love our only healthy keeper.

retired_destiny1124

24.9.05
Holyhead Hotspur (2) RC Warwick (0) FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round
It took some doing, but we managed to score a pair of late goals to see off a determined RC Warwick side that pressed us throughout the match. Andy Love earned MOM honours for his work in goal, though he got off scot free when he handed the ball away to Ben Mackey in the opening moments of the second half, as Mackey launched his shot over the goal. We gained the lead at 79 minutes when James Pike slipped a pass to unmarked Andy McGregor and McGregor whipped it past James Dixon to give us the lead. Michael Merrick made a terrific through ball to put Pike away free and he put his chance away past Dixon to make it 2-0. We had to survive intense pressure from there and Love earned his clean sheet with several dazzling stops to keep things tidy in the win.

retired_destiny1124

27.9.05
Holyhead Hotspur (1) Droylsden (0)
Another close match for us, but we could also have won this match by more than one goal. The only goal came when MOM Ben Woods managed to push a pass in that found Aaron Nowacki breaking free of his marker in the area. Nowacki buried his shot in the goal past Paul Phillips for his 1st ever goal at Holyhead. We blanketed their midfield with our hardworking group and kept control over much of the match. We were oh so close to adding goals several times, but just missed the net on them. Andy Love put up the clean sheet in the win.

retired_destiny1124

27.9.05
Holyhead Hotspur (1) Droylsden (0)
Another close match for us, but we could also have won this match by more than one goal. The only goal came when MOM Ben Woods managed to push a pass in that found Aaron Nowacki breaking free of his marker in the area. Nowacki buried his shot in the goal past Paul Phillips for his 1st ever goal at Holyhead. We blanketed their midfield with our hardworking group and kept control over much of the match. We were oh so close to adding goals several times, but just missed the net on them. Andy Love put up the clean sheet in the win.

retired_destiny1124

1.10.05
Workington (1) Holyhead Hotspur (0)
We deserved the result as we handed them the opportunity that they took advantage of. We also didn't play well offensively and really failed to show the same spark I had seen in the past several matches. The only goal came when Danny Walsh made a horrid backpass from the center of the pitch. Andy Love couldn't flag it down and that gave them a corner. Freddy Cass made us pay when he outleapt Mark Studley and deflected it past Love. Despite our struggles, Stewart Morris played well enough to earn MOM honours- but he was the only shining light in our effort today.

retired_destiny1124

8.10.05
Holyhead Hotspur (2) Worthing (0) FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
A shattering goal changed the course of a tight match and for a change we weren't on the giving away end of things. Andy Lutwyche sent a screaming backpass by his own keeper and into the goal at 71 minutes and that broke the back of the visiting club. We had dominated the first half and into the second half, but our poor shooting had left us goalless. After the own-goal we sprung John Connors and he finally finished off a chance with a nice goal for his 1st goal for us. The spirit had left Worthing and we closed out the clean sheet for Andy Love.

retired_jgirl87

Another great start, Faramir. :thup:

(Maybe it's time to update your Location details in your profile with the titles of your latest stories)

retired_destiny1124

Thanks Spav-- good reminder, so I fixed it up- thanks for that too

****

15.10.05
Holyhead Hotspur (4) Northwich (0)
A great effort by our midfield ensured that we maintained control throughout the match. James Pike made that control pay off when he gained us the lead by deflecting a long cross from Stewart Morris past Kristian Rogers. The match really became ours when Kieron Charnock was redcarded for a cynical foul when he took down Lloyd McGowan in the area. Carl Murkin converted the penalty kick and we held a comfortable 2-0 halftime lead. Pike earned MOM honours when he potted his 2nd goal of the match early in the second half. Jamie Ougham added his 1st goal at Holyhead to cap the scoring in our solid win at The New Oval.

retired_destiny1124

22.10.05
Yate (0) Holyhead Hotspur (1) FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
It was off on a flyer for us and we rode that goal in the opening moments to a 1-0 win over Yate at Lodge Road in our FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round match. The goal came courtesy of a terrible pass by Nicky Spooner. Spooner failed to see Paul Wheatcroft lurking in the middle of the pitch and sent a pass across the pitch that went directly to him. Keeper Ben Jolly was moving and got caught badly out of position when Wheatcroft stepped up and launched a 40 yard strike past him. We had plenty of chances to add to that margin, but for one reason or another weren't able to capitalize. Stewart Morris earned the MOM honours as we will now move in to the 1st Round of the FA Cup. The 14K we were awarded for winning the match is very welcome.