Skipper sets Holywood on their way to derby win
NAFL DIVISION 1B
HOLYWOOD FC 2
BRYANSBURN RANGERS 0
NEIGHBOURS Bryansburn Rangers visited Spafield on Saturday afternoon in an entertaining game for spectators.
Holywood were lively from the start and created an abundance of opportunities throughout. Justin McCadden had a shot cleared off the line before the away ’keeper, who was outstanding on the day, made a great save from the same player to deflect his sharp effort onto the crossbar.
Stevie Anderson then struck the inside of the post following a slick move and the Bryansburn goal remained intact following a point blank save from the goalkeeper from Thomas Wilson and yet another goal line clearance.
The management demanded more of the same from the hosts after the break, however it was starting to look like one of those days when Calum James saw a 55th-minute penalty saved and Collie Crawford blazed over the bar from the resulting rebound only five yards out.
But as he has done so often over the years, captain Anderson calmed the nerves with an excellent side footed finish from the edge of the box. Holywood doubled the lead shortly after when Josh Craig delivered a great cross for Calum James to glance home.
The home side had many more chances but had to be content with the final score against a hard-working, resolute Bryansburn side.
Josh Craig was awarded the Holdfast barbershops Man of the Match, with JJ McKinley and Marty Cox also having strong performances.
NAFL 3C
HOLYWOOD II 9
BARN UNITED II 1
IT was a comfortable day at the office for the seconds.
A groggy first half for the men in green saw them leading 2-0 at the break, but they went through the gears in the second and in truth it could have been more.
The Holdfast barbershops Man of the Match was Aaron Herfield, a return to the fold in the left back berth and a well deserved accolade on the day.
A notable mention for Zac Dawson who scored a smasher on his return to the pitch after long term injury.
Five-star hosts turn on the style under the lights
NAFL DIVISION 1B
HOLYWOOD FC 5
COLIN VALLEY 1
AN evening league fixture under the floodlights at Spafield was the setting on Tuesday evening as Holywood saw off Colin Valley with an excellent second-half showing.
It was another extremely dominant first half from the home side, which nearly saw them opening the scoring after only a matter of minutes when Collie Crawford smashed a wonderful effort off the post from approximately 20 yards.
The men in green had perhaps 15 corners during the period but deja-vu to Saturday, half-time arrived with the game somehow goalless.
Nobody could have foreseen the second-half goal fest that ensued. Holywood opened the scoring through Justin McCadden with a stunning long distance strike and Calum James then had a header ruled out by the man in the middle.
The visitors equalised almost instantly after a glaring defensive mistake, much to the home team’s frustration. The response however was excellent and the lively Matty Andrews added a well taken, quickfire double to make the score 3-1. Shortly after, he was whiskers away from his hatatrick after another super effort whistled past the post.
Stephen Anderson added a fourth and it was fitting when Josh Craig saved the moment of the evening until the final few minutes of the game. Picking the ball up in his own half, he went on a macy run which resulted in a stunning solo goal. It was simply meant to be following an extremely difficult and emotional few days for him and his family, and unsurprisingly was to the delight and adulation of the home support.
FRANK MOORE SHIELD
HOLYWOOD III 2
COMBER STAR 0
ON a night where it all came together for the young Holywood thirds side, they cut out the defensive mistakes and highlighted the collective potential of the squad to progress to round three of the Frank Moore Memorial Shield, with a victory over high flying Comber Star.
Both of Tuesday’s goals came from Conor Burns.
The club puts on record its sincere thanks to Colin Valley and Comber Star for their impeccable observation of both minutes’ silence for Tommy Craig. It really meant a lot to all in attendance at both venues.
