In-form Holcombe grab semis spot

​Holcombe Ladies 5

Tunbridge Wells 2

TWO more goals from the prolific Jennie Hoyte helped Holcs secure a Kent Cup semi-finals place and stretch their unbeaten sequence to 15 matches on Saturday.

Wells provided solid and well-organised opposition for a home side who weren’t quite at full strength. Several youngsters were brought in from the second string, but while they were occasionally pushed on to the back foot, they showed there usual cool and calm nature and persisted with the game plan until it paid off.

Hoyte struck the first and third goals before half-time, Lauren Martin hit the target in between and although Wells pulled one back and although the second half became more physical and scrappy, Leigh Bierman and Lauren Osborne wrapped up a convincing victory.

Holcombe 1

Sevenoaks 3

THE absence of key striker and skipper Dave Mathews and with others still recovering from injury, Holcs found their task more difficult than they might have expected.

They had the better of the early stages as the midfield made inroads but clear-cut chances were few and far between. Midway through the first half, Oaks mounted a rare attack and Pakistan ace Muhammed Nadeem pounced on a rebound to give his side the lead.

Stephane Smith also flicked high into the net from a goalmouth scramble to equalise, but the first half action didn’t end there as Oaks regained the lead from a penalty corner.

Chances were at a premium in the second period as neither team took control, but Oaks added to their lead through Nadeem, who was the real difference between the two teams, to secure the spoils.

Marden Russets 0

Holcombe II 3

NOTHING less than a win would do for Holcs’ second string, but a mixture of good defence, good goalkeeping and uninspired play in the D kept the scoresheet blank until the second period, when the visitors started to take control of the game.

They went ahead in the 42nd minute when an exquisite pass from Giles Osborne found the unmarked Greg Gandy who slotted home and, almost immediately after the restart, Gandy’s sublime reverse stick shot found the back of the net.

Marden had chances to pull goals back, but it was Holcombe who wrapped it up through Sam Lund in the 70th minute.

News that table-topping Lewes had lost completed a perfect day.

Holcombe 2A 2

Sutton Valence 3

STUCK at the bottom of the table, Holcs fancied their chances of obtaining a rare victory and came out firing on all cylinders. The improved mentality shone through when they went 1-0 up courtesy of new father Andy Simpson inside the opening 15 minutes.

Trouble was Valence answered fire with fire and as they stepped up their game they went 3-1 up by the interval.

Vinnie Lewis pulled one back with a penalty flick early in the second period, but while the rest of the game was full of exciting play and while Holcs made a number of goalline stops, they were unable to make inroads at the other end and suffered their 13th defeat of the season.

University of Kent 4

Holcombe III 3

WITH players missing and four drafted in, Holcombe were uncertain as they headed down the M2 to Canterbury.

Captain Gaz Wellings shuffled the pack and with a defence of Pring, Grunwell, Hurst and Baker laid a foundation he thought the Uni boys would have trouble breaching.

Giving Myra Mirza the free role in centre midfield, Holcs went ahead when new boy Tom O’Keeffe smashed the ball to the keeper’s right. Harvey also went close early doors, but the students worked a good team goal to square the scores. They caught Holcombe napping midway through and keeper Pring was given no chance from a drag flicked short corner.

Still, a howler from the home keeper gifted Harvey a goal from nothing and the teams turned round at 2-2.

Tom Edwards and youngster Rob Field went close several times as Holcombe looked to close the game out in the second period, but the Uni team regained their lead with an acute angle flick.

Only for a neat transfer from Wellings to Hurst, to Garbett and a trademark reverse stick shot from Harvey to make it 3-3.

The students won the game with a looping shot and Holcs had to content themselves with the cheap beer and chips.

BBHC III 2

Holcombe IV 2

WITH no points for 2010 and no points from an away fixture all season, Holcs went into this match determined to turn their luck around.

They went two up in 15 minutes from two excellent short-corner strikes by Chris Green and it looked as if the tide might be turning.

BBHC pulled one goal back before half-time and while Holcs created more chances in the second period, their tactics didn’t really work and they paid the price when the home side levelled in the dying moments.

At least they now have a point this year. And the first point on their travels.

Holcombe V 1

Gravesham II 1

RICHARD Russell’s brilliant 63rd minute short-corner strike earned Holcs a well-deserved draw in this top-of-the table clash.

Gravesham took the lead following a good move down the left and but for man of the match goalkeeper Josh Stubbings amazing double save it could have been worse.

Brian Field missed two great chances towards the interval and Gravesham were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty flick in the second half, but the workrate of Mitch Whale, Graham Harvey and Adam Sanders, ensured Holcs got a deserved point.