Holt United 0, Hempnall 2FOR the second week running Holt entertained the team holding second place in the Premier Division, this time Hempnall being the visitors.

Holt United 0, Hempnall 2

FOR the second week running Holt entertained the team holding second place in the Premier Division, this time Hempnall being the visitors.

Holt were without Neale and Lindon-Ball with Justyn Goff getting the nod over Finbar O'Brien for the goalkeeper spot. On the bench was new signing from Sheringham Matthew Jordan, back at the club for a second spell.

Both teams struggled to string any passing moves together in the early stages. Holt were guilty of constantly giving the ball away.

The visitors were a well-organised side and began to look dangerous. First Brown shot wide, followed by a header from Franklin that just went over the bar.

For Holt, last week's hat-trick hero Toby Blowers made a good run but was unable to trouble Cudden in the visitors' goal. Just before the break Goff was forced into making a good diving save to prevent Hempnall taking a half-time lead.

Manager Jason Hawkins was forced into making three changes at the break with Alan Gravenor, Matthew Sanders and Kevin Moore being replaced by Jordan, Luke Williamson and Colm McGilway.

As they so often have this season, Holt seemed much sharper in the second half. It looked like the sort of match where whoever scored first would go on to take all three points.

On 60 minutes Holt had a great chance to go in front when McGilway broke clear, but with Cudden closing him down he put his shot wide of the target from 12 yards.

The visitors made the Owls pay for this when from a right wing cross Flint put them ahead with a close-range effort.

Five minutes later the home team very nearly drew level but Steven Thompson's header came back off the bar.

Soon after a clearance from Cudden rebounded off Williamson but was cleared before it crossed the line. With David Thompson outstanding at the back very little was seen of the visitors' attack.

But with six minutes to go out of the blue Flint latched onto a through ball and scored with a brilliant 25-yard shot.

Holt still found time to create another chance and after a great dummy by Blowers the impressive Jordan blasted well over the bar.

Despite losing, once again Hawkins would have taken many positives from the game, with competition for places hotting up for Saturday's first match with local rivals Sheringham at Weybourne Road, ko 2pm.