Spot-on Saberi is Hollinwood hero

HOLLINWOOD 4, ATHERTON 3

NOT for a long time will Hollinwood’s Jamie Saberi feature in a more remarkable match on a personal level as his side won by the odd goal in seven in Division One of the FBT Manchester League at Chapel Road.

Saberi won no fewer than THREE penalties, and the fact that he only converted two of them should not detract from what was a good afternoon’s work.

Saberi was unmoved by his spot-kick miss – in between the two he scored after 14 and 57 minutes – and duly completed his hat-trick with a 20-yard strike as the game moved into its final quarter.

That third goal really did put Hollinwood in the ascendancy, coming back as they did from 2-1 down.

Rubin Abreu’s 18-yard strike made it 4-2 to Hollinwood in the closing stages of the game, but plucky Atherton struck back to make it a nervy finish for the home side.

Hollinwood assistant manager Steven Holt, standing in due to the absence through injury of manager Rick Lees, said: “I reckon we are nine points off where we should be as we have been dominating games that have not been reflected in the scorelines.

“If we had an out-and-out goalscorer we would be higher up the league than where we are now.’