Boss left to rue shock red card

Hollinwood 3, Hindsford 6
AMATEUR FOOTBALL: A REFEREEING blunder hit Hollinwood’s battle to avoid the drop from the Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League, as they lost 6-3 to Hindsford at Chapel Road.

The old saying ‘it never rains but it pours’ was never more true for the hosts, despite the sunny weather on a balmy spring afternoon.

Two successive triumphs gave hope that a miracle could happen and that Hollinwood could avoid relegation.

But the turning point came just before the hour mark, when their pivotal centre-back Louis Green was given his marching orders for a second yellow-card offence.

In a tussle with an Hindsford opponent, it was clear that Green himself had been fouled, but an early bath was the outcome.

At that stage, Hollinwood led 2-1 courtesy of a looping header from Lee Wolfenden and a neat finish from Paul Booth, with the prospect of a third consecutive win very much on the cards.

Hollinwood manager Fred Hardicre said: “It was a case of mistaken identity and it has cost us the game.

“The referees’ assessor who was at the match has told Ken Evans (Hollinwood secretary) to get in touch with the league about this.

“The sending-off took its toll on a hot afternoon, but we did have chances to increase our lead.

“This was probably our best performance of the season against a strong Hindsford side, even though we lost. We have to keep going in our last three matches.”

Hindsford pulled level with 20 minutes to go, but plucky Hollinwood, even with 10 men, edged ahead in the 73rd minute when Booth confidently slotted home.

Four goals from Hindsford in the time that remained, however, condemned Hardicre’s side to an almost certain demotion.

After tomorrow’s trip to Atherton, Hollinwood’s final two matches are both against title-chasing Avro.