Happy Holder purring as Hadleigh's new boys find finishing touches
By Derek Davis
4th Sep 2022 | Football
Fortune often favours the brave and Steve Holder's decision to shake up his squad paid dividends with a 3-0 home win against local rival Brantham.
Regan Pelling, a former Brantham player, netted twice, along with an Ethan Mayhew goal to push Hadleigh into the top 10 of the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division leaving manager Holder was purring at his side's overall performance and how the new relatively new players complemented his core team.
Holder said: "We have a good team and no disrespect to the likes of Long Melford and Walsham but if we have all the play and possession but can't put the ball in the net, we needed to change that.
"We have done and it has worked today..
"That is football, we are not going to win every game but you have better chance of you have payer that can hold the ball up and keep it in their half longer."
Pelling's first for Hadleigh was sublime finish when he spotted keeper Matt Walker off his line and hit a half volley from outside the box, his second on the strike of half time was helped by more good work from Sands.
Holder said: "Regan's second goal was superbly taken and the third just on half time came at great time because at 3-0 it was always going to be hard from them to come back.
With Joel Glover on his way to Ipswich Wanderers, Sands has been been brought in and out in a good shift as the big man up front and weighed in with assists for Mayhew and Pelling.
Holder wished Glover well but added: Hadleigh is not as blessed with the budgets some clubs enjoy so if our striker is not doing it then we have to get another one in."
Sands tweaked his groin in the warm up but insisted he wanted to play and got two assists and headed the ball into the danger area fort Mayhew to finish following good work down the right from attacking full back Lloyd Clark..
"Sands did very well." said Holder. "We have missed that point at the top to hold the ball and feed players in.
"You could see that in the first half, even with one leg he was playing players in and got two assists."
Brantham struggled to deal with Hadleigh's intensity and although they huffed and puffed, never really troubled Nick Punter.
George Bowman hit a post from a set piece and Walker in the Brantham goal ensured the scoreline was not even more embarrassing.
Holder said: "We knew they would come at us second half but the game was pretty much won by then. We had to stay organised as we were first half.
"They had half chances, but so did we and hit the woodwork late on."
Brantham boss Pip Boyland pulled no punches as he slammed his side's lack of passion.
"If you have no passion then it is pointless playing.
"Hadleigh wanted it more than us and were better than us."
Pelling and Sands are doubts for Hadleigh's clash with Woodbridge on Tuesday, but Holder is confident his strengthened side can cope.
He said: "We had more points at this stage last season and even though we are a new team, one we get going I'm sure we will do well."
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