Nomads knocked off the horse!!!

Nomads lose 4-2 to Holwell Sports 

Nomads travelled to face Holwell Sports on the back off some great form, a win in the week prior at home to Arnold saw us easily sink the eagles with 4 goals and no reply. It would be a tougher game against the mid-table Holwell though, we never seem to come back with too much from the North Leicester side, but Nomads would be looking for revenge after the defeat at home earlier in the season.

The game gets on the way, both teams out the gates looking to score early, Nomads having some ambitious chances but struggling to find the goal early on. Holwell are dispossessed often by our defence and the cycle starts again, on the occasion that either side put together a play that finds them through on goal the keepers manage well and save the shot.

Nomads were starting to nose a bit in front in terms of possession of the ball, we had the majority of the chances so Holwell started to press us quicker, forcing us to play the ball around, a long ball was picked up by the Nomads defence but the lone defender was indecisive with the ball as the keeper shouts to tell him to get rid, a striker for Holwell comes in with a well timed and cleanly executed slide tackle to steal the ball and marches a few steps towards the box as Stef Joyce dances back to the line, the striker wastes no time and fires it past him to secure the first goal for the hosts.

Nomads didn’t dishearten though, still kept trying to break through and still looked the better side, a free kick was given but we didn’t use the place kick well as the shot sails over the bar.

Nomads attacking presence grew and grew, Mark Foster with a shot but former Nomads keeper Jamie Witham pulls off a save. Nomads kept attacking and attacking with plenty of shots, at one point a sitter for goal but again the Holwell keeper earning his bread with fantastic saves.

Nomads best chance of the half came as Joe Hartopp got on the end of an aerial ball and hit a strong volley towards goal but it was hit too close to the middle of the goal and at easy to save height.

Holwell doubled their lead on the brink of half-time, a quick run down the left hand side before a beautiful shot at goal puts them 2-up but luckily so according to both sets of fans. 

Nomads would continue how they left off, still with some good attacking presence but Holwells confidence was boosted and they were tackling strong now. The hosts passed the ball around well and found themselves once again through on goal, a well hit effort sees Nomads at a 3-0 deficit.

However luck would turn for Nomads and we pounced forward looking for a goal, a ball over the top into the box again looking for Joe but this time the young striker heads the ball perfectly past the keeper who did get a slight touch on the ball before it hits the inside post and into the net, the fight had been restored.

Daryl Russell would be pushed upfront as we change things around, the defender turn striker couldn’t seem to keep his shots down as he ran up the pitch in the first half but with a good run down the sideline and breaking inwards towards the box he’d have an ambitious pop at goal, this time keeper the ball low where the keeper couldn’t get down quick enough and Nomads were just one behind the hosts.

Joe Hartopp almost made it all even with a long shot of his own it beat the keeper by surprise but his shot went just over the bar. Holwell had their chances too but Nomads defended well, Stef Joyce sweeping the ball out of the strikers feet after Holwells best chance since their goal, appeals were made for a penalty but the ref waves on.

Nomads had yet another quick attack but two saves from the keeper and one block by a defended kept things how they were, another shot arcing towards goal was cleared off the line by the defender as the action intensifies. Holwell must of saw something in that style of play as they mimic it at our end with a ball from out wide coming towards the goal line, it had beaten the keeper as it fell towards the goal, Luke Day tried honourably to head clear the ball but only managed to get his name on the score sheet.

After that Nomads had a couple more chances but it would have been for little more than goal difference at this stage of the game. A decent performance from Anstey who were the better side in possession for most of the game, but Holwell with so few chances compared to us had a better conversion percentage and at the end of the day the team with the most goals wins.

Fulltime Holwell Sport 4-2 Anstey Nomads