SWPL PREMIER WEST (SATURDAY)

Wadebridge Town 0 Holsworthy 1

GAVIN Carter’s 75th minute finish ensured Holsworthy picked up just a second win since the autumn to pull further clear of trouble with a 1-0 success at Bodieve Park.

The result was made even more imperative with strugglers Bodmin Town and Millbrook both winning, but the Magpies were fully deserving of the three points.

Holsworthy boss Ryan Hall had to do without Jay Thomas which meant Max McDonald, who went on to put in a man of the match performance, was moved from left-back to midfield, with Kieran Jollow coming into the defence, while Aidan Slade came in for the unavailable Toby Martyn.

The Devonians had pushed leaders Newquay all the way a week earlier and continued from where they had left off, this time with an improved attacking threat.

They tested home keeper Rob Rosevear six minutes in as he was pushed away Gavin Carter’s free-kick from the left.

Winger Dean Hutchings had a golden chance to put Holsworthy ahead on 13 minutes when he failed to make a proper connection from six yards following another fine Carter ball in.

More good play by Carter found Hutchings whose effort was blocked, before McDonald, who was covering every blade of grass in the midfield three, had a 20-yard shot comfortably saved.

The final 25 minutes of the first half saw no real chances of note as Holsworthy saw off Wadebridge’s usual attacking threat without much trouble.

Holsworthy brought on Ben Sharpe following his hat-trick the week before for the reserves, and he nearly turned provider on 62 minutes when he set up Carter who shot narrowly wide.

Three minutes later the visitors went close twice in quick succession. Carter’s flick-on found Sharpe who was denied by a fine block, before from the resulting corner, Rosevear saved from Jedd Peschke.

After a ball in went across the six-yard box without a touch it appeared it may not be Holsworthy’s day, but they got the all-important goal 15 minutes from time.

From McDonald’s cross into the area, Carter challenged the home defender before crashing the loose ball home from five yards.

That still failed to spark Wadebridge’s attacking threat into life, and although they had a superb ball into the box that nobody got a touch to, that was as close as they came as the Magpies headed home nine points clear of the bottom two.

Reflecting on the afternoon, Holsworthy assistant boss Richard Haydon told the Post: “It was great to build on the previous week’s performance against Newquay, and it was a complete team performance.

“It’s never easy to go to Wadebridge but the attitude of the players was superb.

“But defensively we kept our shape and our determination to stamp our authority on the game and nullify their attacking threats meant it was a fully deserved win.”

Haydon also praised the performance of Max McDonald, adding: “Although anyone could have been man of the match, Max did both the attacking and defensive parts of the game really well and won us plenty of free-kicks! His performance was first class!”

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Callum Martyn, Jedd Peschke (capt), Ollie Moores, Kieran Jollow; Aidan Slade, Sam Hill, Max McDonald; Gavin Carter, Sam Jago, Dean Hutchings. Subs: Tai Wonnacott, Ben Sharpe, Jonny Lang, Todd Peschke, Will Harris.

Holsworthy man of the match: Max McDonald.