Honiton start season on a positive

Honiton Town v Holsworthy AFC

Town welcome their first away team of not only the new season, but the first in the post Covid lockdown.

As Roger Doble said in his programme notes things are a little different at the moment as the necessary measures have been introduced at Mountbatten.

Those spectators that came down to watch The Hippos were welcomed to both the sun shine and also a good display of passing football early on by the homes side. The home team created two quick chances and took the lead after the ref had pointed to the spot after a foul in the box. Ben Ede stepped up and easily beat the keeper.

Town thought that had doubled their lead just 2 minutes later when a glancing header was well cleared off the line by the away defender.

Again Town came close after Pete Knox hit a sweet volley that bounced clear off the post.

Town were certainly in control and while he wasn’t all one way traffic, the threats from the away team were few and far between. It was only surely a matter of time before Town added to their tally, and Jack DeWinton was the man who slid the ball home on the stroke of half time.

So the home side went in at half time leading by two goals to nil.

Holsworthy came out in the second half and thought they had pulled a goal back, as their player slid into a ball played across the box, however the ref saw that it was actually his hand that made contact with the ball and ruled it out for the infringement.

Debutant Finley Rooke found himself in an excellent position as the ball was float over the defence, but as he stretched for the volley, he could keep the ball down and it went inches wide over the crossbar.

Ede almost added to his tally in the 75th minute went one of his trademark shots from just outside the box flew past the keepers right hand post.

Town look comfortable with 10 minutes left, but Holsworthy didn’t give, a superb tackle from Joe Dixon stopped the striker in his tracks when he would of been one on one with Luke Ashford in the Honiton goal.

In the 86th minute an away player ended up on the floor during a set piece, the Lino flagged for a penalty and after consulting his assistant, the ref pointed to the spot. The penalty was duels dispatched, sending Ashford the wrong way.

This set up a frantic end to the game as the visitors pressed for a point.

However a Town held on to bring home the 3 points of the season.

Player manager Aaron Doble will be delighted with how his new signings played and how the team performed, especially as Elliot Dyer was out with an injury