retired_destiny1124

21.2.09
Bristol Rovers (1) Holyhead Hotspur (3)
Struggling Bristol Rovers gave us a difficult match, but we finally were able to clinch the match with a final goal in second half injury time as we defeated them 3-1 at Memorial Stadium. We had a golden chance to take the lead midway through the first half when Michael Holmes was tripped by Wes Morgan in the area. Stephen Morgan, who had a difficult match today, saw Carl Ikeme make a diving save on his penalty kick. We shook off the miss and took the lead shortly after when Keith Hughes scored his 1st ever goal for us by deflecting a Paul Morris free kick past Ikeme. We held on to the lead at halftime only because Robert Clarke was giving his usual steady effort in goal. I finally began to feel a bit better about our effort when Holmes deflected a cross from Sean Evans past Ikeme. The feeling of comfort didn't last for long after Morgan was called for a handball in the area. Stephen Opaka converted the penalty kick to ruin Clarke's clean sheet and put the home side right back into the match. Clarke made a brilliant clutch save when he parried Opaka's shot away when Opaka was alone in front. We put the match away when MOM Michael Bradshaw, stopped twice by replacement keeper Graham O'Brien in the late stages, put away a shot from in close to close out the 3-1 win.

***

28.2.09
Our Under-18 side won their 2nd consecutive Group 2 title as they clinched the title after only 17 matches. They have lost once, while winning the other 16 matches and have scored 63 goals while only yielding 4 on the season. It is fine work that our developmental staff is doing with the youngsters.

retired_destiny1124

28.2.09
Holyhead Hotspur (2) Exeter (0)
Another brilliant effort by MOM Michael Bradshaw was enough to spearhead us to a 2-0 win over Exeter at The New Oval. Stephen Morgan's excellent touch pass put Bradshaw in free and he finished well past Jonathan Tuffey inside the left post to give us the lead in the early moments of the first half. Morgan's partner in center midfield, Paul Morris, then slipped another pass through to Bradshaw as he slipped his marker and Bradshaw made it a brace with a flicked shot inside the right post. Ian Moore drew a redcard shortly after that short-circuited a lot of Exeter's comeback hopes. Late in the second half Bradshaw showed why he is so well regarded amongst our team- despite being only 17- as he had moved past Tuffey and had an open goal to finish his hat-trick. Instead, Bradshaw tried to get the ball to strike partner Michael Holmes to let him score. It didn't work out, but our fans gave Bradshaw a standing ovation for that effort and Holmes tousseld the youngster's hair playfully as they made their way back down the pitch. Robert Clarke made several good saves in the second half as Exeter tried to rally and his clean sheet was well earned. Bradshaw broke the club record as his brace moves him to 26 goals for the season.

***

1.3.09
Just like that- Bradshaw is gone from us for at least a month. He pulled up with a groin strain in practice and we took immediate precautions. It is disappointing, but we should have the depth to survive his loss.

retired_destiny1124

7.3.09
Mansfield (1) Holyhead Hotspur (1)
I guess I should be relieved that we escaped Field Mill with a 1-1 draw against Mansfield. They scored early in the match when MOM Liam Davis wasn't adequately marked by Sam Hutchinson and was able to deflect a cross from Scott Phelan past Robert Clarke. We worked hard in the first half, but I was very unhappy with the Referee as both Michael Holmes and Daniel Hayes were subjected to a pounding by the Mansfield midfield and backline. We started rallying after Paul Lee replaced Holmes- due to Holmes injury- to begin the second half and Hayes sent a well-placed cross that Lee deflected past Simon Royce for the equalizer. We failed to gain the lead, despite some good chances, and then were forced to just try and settle for splitting the points after Hutchinson's 2nd yellow card midway through the half. We managed to accomplish that in finishing out the 1-1 draw.

retired_destiny1124

14.3.09
Holyhead Hotspur (0) Northampton (0)
The chances were there for us- the finishing wasn't- as we battled to a scoreless draw hosting Northampton at The New Oval. Sergei Lepmets was excellent in goal for them today and he stopped Paul Lee twice, Daniel Hayes once and Paul Morris once on superb scoring chances to help earn his side a share of the points today. Overall, we outplayed them, but with our lack of finishing minus Michael Bradshaw, we just haven't been able to get the goals we need for better results. Defender Chris Doig of Northampton took the MOM honours in the match.

retired_destiny1124

21.3.09
Boston United (0) Holyhead Hotspur (1)
Still no offense from our other forwards, but today we got the goal we needed to eke out a win over Boston United at York Street. MOM Hector Caceres was the hero today as he blistered a 35 yard free kick inside the left upright past Yves Makabu Ma Kalamby for the only goal of the match. The chances were there for the forwards to contribute again today, but Shaun Cummings and Neil Teggart failed to put another past Kalamby. Boston United also had pressure and chances in the second half and Robert Clarke stood tall in earning his clean sheet as we won an important road match.

retired_destiny1124

28.3.09
Holyhead Hotspur (2) Sconthorpe (0)
Finally! We got a goal from our forwards- actually two- and they were the difference as we edged Sconthorpe 2-0 in a spirited match. The first half was rough as it was clear the Referee was going to call little, unless it was two-footed, and there was a lot of holding, jostling and tough tackling that kept the scoring chances at a premium. We struggled with our passing and gave the ball away much more than I considered wise. Robert Clarke was sharp in keeping them off the scoreboard as we gave away a couple chances in our area. I urged them to settle down and play our type of match in the second half and the dividends were clear when Sean Evans pushed a ball forward to send Paul Lee free down the left side on a counter-attack in the opening moments of the second half. Lee blasted a shot that Kevin Pilkington got his hand on, but couldn't keep out of the left side of the goal for his 10th goal of the season to give us the lead. The energy from both sides was clearly raised as the visitors sought to equalize and we sought another goal. The clinching goal came when Aaron Downes took down Michael Holmes just inside the edge of the area late in the second half. Lee stepped up and cemented his MOM honours by converting the penalty kick as we helped Clarke close out another clean sheet in the 2-0 win.

retired_destiny1124

1.4.09
After the midweek make up matches were played, the League 2 race down to the wire:
League 2 Table- 41 matches played, 5 remaining
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">1- Leyton Orient PL 88 pts (+37) 2- Holyhead Hotspur PL 82 pts (+38)3- Bournemouth 76 pts (+18)4- Hull 74 pts (+20)5- Torquay 72 pts (+24)6- Swindon 69 pts (+14)7- Boston United 66 pts (+12)8- Rushden 62 pts (+7)9- Blackpool 60 pts (+10) </pre>

The best news for us is that Michael Bradshaw is back in training and should be ready to play our next match.

retired_destiny1124

4.4.09
Holyhead Hotspur (3) Tranmere (0)
Michael Bradshaw only played the first half and didn't score, but his return to the lineup really seemed to spark us as we drubbed Tranmere 3-0 at The New Oval. Bradshaw's hard work and pressure on the Tranmere backline created the big play of the match as Graeme Lee lost the ball to Daniel Hayes in the area and was forced to trip him as last man. MOM Dave Fleming calmly converted the penalty kick past Bent Bratbakken as Lee left for the dressing room after his redcard. With the lead and the extra man, we used the space beautifully and Fleming zipped a pass in that Hayes deflected past Bratbakken to give us a 2-0 lead early on in the first half. I warned the boys to tone down the attacking, because even with 10 men, Tranmere had the talent to rally. Robert Clarke's fine work kept them off the scoreboard and we moved to the second half still leading 2-0. Hayes made it a brace halfway through the second half when he volleyed a cross from Sam Hutchinson home to complete the scoring in our win. Leyton Orient's win clinched their promotion to League 1.

retired_sachin_g006

Almost there Faramir, as Sir Alex Ferguson says " Its squeaky bum time"

retired_destiny1124

mark- *chuckles* that applies to another story I am playing right now (haven't started posting yet...)

***

11.4.09
Barnet (0) Holyhead Hotspur (0)
A win would have clinched promotion for us, but it was not to be as worked hard- but not efficiently- in playing to a scoreless draw at Underhill against Barnet. The scoring chances were at a premium as both sides midfields and backlines played well in support of their keepers. The best chance we had saw Michael Holmes fire a shot off the crossbar past Lyall Beazley. Their best chance saw Robert Clarke make a diving parry of Sylvain Legwinski's free kick late in the second half. MOM honours went to our Martin Hall. The draw virtually clinches promotion as we now hold a 9 point edge on 4th place Bournemouth with a 24 goal differential lead over them with 3 matches remaining. One more good result will clinch our advancement to League 1. We still hold a 6 point lead over 3rd place Hull to hang on to the spot behind Champion Leyton Orient.