SWPL PREMIER WEST (SATURDAY)

Holsworthy 2 St Day 1

GAVIN Carter slotted home a second half winner as Holsworthy finally returned to form with a 2-1 success over St Day at Upcott Field.

The former Morwenstow forward tapped in Blake Shapland’s cross 15 minutes from time.

Earlier in the afternoon, Dean Hutchings grabbed his first Magpies goal before Jacob Cleverly’s long-range piledriver drew the villagers level.

Holsworthy were back towards full strength as they named a full bench.

Amongst those returning were left-back Mark Horn who is studying in America, while Aiden Slade was back from his travels and named on the bench.

Holsworthy started well and took a fourth minute lead with the front three all involved.

Carter found striker Sam Jago and his ball towards the far post was met by Hutchings for his first goal following his recent move from Torridegside.

Home keeper Ryan Chadwick had to be alert to keep out Martin Sleeman’s drive from 18 yards, before the Devonians nearly doubled their lead on 20 minutes, only for Jedd Peschke’s header to be cleared off the line.

Chadwick got down to well to parry away Josh Margetts’ effort on 25 minutes, and almost straight away the hosts missed a glorious chance to double their advantage.

Good pressure by Hutchings and Jago set up Carter six yards from goal, however he missed it completely and the chance had gone.

St Day then levelled matters on 33 minutes when Cleverly found Chadwick’s top left corner with a thunderbolt that had every supporter inside the ground applauding.

From then on, the rest of the half was a quiet affair.

Holsworthy regrouped at the break and penned St Day in for long spells after the restart.

A third man run from Jay Thomas ended with him hitting the top of the crossbar from 18 yards, before he turned provider as Ollie Moores headed over from a corner when well placed.

Peschke then shot wide on the hour following another Thomas delivery.

St Day’s Tyler Oliver tried to chip Chadwick from just inside the Holsworthy half with 20 minutes to play, and from the resulting ball down field, sub Blake Shapland lobbed Harry Salmon, only for it to go agonisingly wide.

But the hosts didn’t have to wait long for the winner as it arrived five minutes later.

Moores played the ball out to Shapland and his driven cross was slid home by Carter.

The visitors were on the end of some controversial refereeing decisions and ended the match with just nine players due to two separate sin-bins and a red card, the latter as a result of a foul and kicking the ball away.

But despite playing over ten minutes of injury-time, Chadwick wasn’t tested as Holsworthy ended a rotten run of one win in 11 league matches.

Reflecting on the afternoon, Magpies boss Ryan Hall said: “It was great to return to winning ways and it’s been a long time coming.

“But it goes to show what happens when we have a near full-compliment of players to choose from. To be honest the only thing that disappointed me was the fact we didn’t score more goals.

“In the second half we were absolutely relentless and if it wasn’t for some bad luck and fine saves from the keeper, it would have been five or six which would have been more than deserved!”

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Callum Martyn, Jedd Peschke (capt), Ollie Moores, Mark Horn; Toby Martyn, Sam Hill, Jay Thomas; Gavin Carter, Sam Jago, Dean Hutchings. Subs: Jonny Lang, Jacob Nosworthy, Blake Shapland, Aiden Slade, Jake Cartwright.

Holsworthy man of the match: Sam Jago.