Routine home win puts Holyport in contention
Holyport 2, Hilltop 0
Holyport claimed a comfortable 2-0 home win over relegationthreatened Hilltop to move to within two points of the play-off places in the Combined Counties Premier Division North.
Port backed up their away wins over Wembley and Burnham by beating second bottom Hilltop to move up to eighth in the table and only two points behind fifth-placed
North Greenford United.
However, the fifthplaced side have four matches in hand over Sam Lock’s team, while fourth placed Burnham – who are four points above Port – have two matches in hand on them.
With only eight matches left to play, catching either of those sides still looks a long shot, but Holyport are one of the form sides in the division right now with four wins from their last seven matches.
They were also deserved 3-1 winners over Burnham at the 1878 Stadium this weekend and may just have enough about them to reel in their local rivals if they can maintain their current form through to the end of the season.
Port had Tuesday’s clash with Hilltop done and dusted well inside the first half.
Leonardo Carvahlo Pedro made a late run into the box to slide home Holyport’s first goal from a cross in the 17th minute and
Rahman Ajibola got on the end of another fine cross to make it 2-0 in the 25th minute.
The home side’s attacks were relentless in
the first half but somehow, they failed to add to their advantage before the break.
Hilltop had their moments as well, blazing one attempt over the bar in the 40th minute before Edwards acrobatically cleared another of their efforts off the line in the early stages of the second half. Holyport took the sting out of the game in the latter stages to see out a thoroughly professional victory.
Port are back at Summerleaze Park on Saturday when they host 16th placed Edgeware & Kingsbury and they’re also set to entertain 14th placed Harefield United on Tuesday evening (March 26). Win both of those and Lock’s side will keep themselves right in the mix for a top five finish.