SWPL PREMIER WEST

Sticker 0 Holsworthy 0

HOLSWORTHY earned a valuable point in their quest for a top eight finish as they drew 0-0 at mid-table Sticker on Saturday.

The Magpies had less than 48 hours to recover from their Torridge Cup semi-final victory over Bude Town at Torrington, and boss Ryan Hall made some changes to combat that as centre-half Ollie Moores, midfielder Aidan Slade and attackers Dean Hutchings and Elis Aldrich all came in.

He also switched to a 3-5-2 with Thursday’s hero Gavin Carter amongst those dropped to the bench.

The hosts had shocked title-chasers Dobwalls 5-3 seven days earlier at the same venue, but the Magpies have the second best defensive record in the division.

The Devonians were the better side going forward in the first half, getting plenty of joy from their right side with wing-back Callum Martyn to the fore.

However, despite their good play the closest they came was when centre-half Jedd Peschke shot wide from 30 yards.

At the other end, frontman Tom Guest should have done better at the far post, but his effort from eight yards was well pushed away by Ryan Chadwick.

Chadwick produced a superb save on 68 minutes to deny Guest again, this time getting down to tip his effort on to the post after initially going the other way.

A home defender nearly put the lively Aldrich’s cross into his own net, and despite Martyn hitting the bar from a corner and Sam Jago being crowded out in a one-on-one situation, it was not to be for the Magpies.

Reflecting on the game, Holsworthy assistant manager Richard Haydon said: “We were pretty pleased with how we played, particularly after they beat Dobwalls 5-3 the week before which meant they would have been confident.

“We’ve also got ten clean sheets from 26 league games which is something to be proud of and goes to show how well we defend right from the front.”

HOLSWORTHY: Ryan Chadwick; Jedd Peschke (capt), Sam Hill, Ollie Moores; Callum Martyn, Jay Thomas, Craig Penberthy, Aidan Slade, Kieran Jollow; Dean Hutchings, Elis Aldrich. Subs: Todd Peschke, Sam Jago, Gavin Carter.

Magpies’ man-of-the-match: Elis Aldrich.