‘An experience the boys won’t forget’
Holyport FC: Sam Lock’s young side wins on penalties at Lindsey Field
The Holyport FC coach was rocking on the way back from Lydd Town on Saturday evening as the players cranked up the tunes and enjoyed a few beers following the side’s penalty shootout win in the FA Vase.
Goalkeeper Matteo Giacobbe was the hero of the hour, saving two penalty kicks in the shoot out after a goalless draw to help Port through to the second round for the first time in 12 seasons.
Having overseen the club’s bestever run in the FA Cup earlier this season, manager Sam Lock is now desperate for his players to do the same in the FA Vase, with Southern Combination Division 1 Montpelier Villa standing in the way of a place in the third round of the competition.
Saturday’s match against a more experienced Lydd Town outfit will have been a great learning experience for Port’s players. The hosts, and their supporters, created a hostile, intimidating atmosphere throughout the tie, and Lock felt some of the Lydd players handled their exit quite poorly afterwards.
But he was also full of praise for his young players, who handled the occasion brilliantly and thoroughly enjoyed themselves on the way back to Berkshire.
“I felt that we were the better team over 90 minutes and when we’ve been up against it, that’s when we’ve tended to perform our best this season,” said Lock. “It’s not easy for a young team to travel around the country, playing against teams you don't know, going to places you don't know and being taken out of your comfort zone. The Lydd team we played must have had an average age of early 30s whereas our average age is late teens, so there was a big difference. But they handled it well, we had a game
plan and we played good football.
“They bullied us a bit in the second half and made life very difficult but it felt inevitable it would go to penalties. They are always a lottery but we have had a habit of getting through and I’m delighted we did. Matteo hadn't played in four or five weeks but first game back he was the hero.
“It was a hostile environment and, I’m not going to lie, there were a few incidents with their fans on the pitch. It became a bit aggressive but that's a good learning opportunity for the boys.
“Their players also didn't handle their exit the best, but credit to the Lydd management team they calmed things down after the game.”
Lock added: “I told the boys beforehand it's a long way to go to lose a cup match, but we didn’t and the coach on the way home was so loud, songs all the way and it was an experience these boys
will never forget.”
They’ll visit Montpelier on Saturday, November 12, however, before that they must find a way of getting back to winning ways in the league, having dropped to third from bottom of the table ahead of Tuesday’s (October 25) home clash with North Greenford United and Saturday's trip to Ascot United.
“It’s difficult to take anything from it (Montpelier's win), because we know nothing about them,” Lock added. “They’ve only lost one out of the last six.
“They play at Lancing, which is a 4G surface, which our boys like playing on. It’s a fantastic opportunity for the boys. We had our club’s longest run in the FA Cup and I’m desperate to do it in the FA Vase as well.”
Holyport moved a spot above the bottom three following their 2-2 draw with North Greenford United on Tuesday.