Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division Holmer Green 3 Colney Heath 4 COLNEY Heath bounced back from two successive defeats to record a hard-fought win at bottom-of-the-table Holmer Green. Andy Shed opened the scoring in the 14th minute fo

Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division

Holmer Green 3

Colney Heath 4

COLNEY Heath bounced back from two successive defeats to record a hard-fought win at bottom-of-the-table Holmer Green.

Andy Shed opened the scoring in the 14th minute for the hosts, taking advantage of hesitant defending from the Magpies. Heath hit back 10 minutes later, when Nicky Winger poked the ball past the Holmer Green goalkeeper after the home side had failed to clear a corner.

Shed scored his second on 31 minutes with a surging run and shot that Blackman in the Colney Heath goal couldn't keep out.

The Magpies were awarded a penalty six minutes before the break after Richard Howard was fouled. Howard picked himself up and dispatched the penalty to send the sides into the break level.

The home side were awarded a penalty of their own five minutes after the interval when a Heath defender had handled. Shed scored from 12 yards to restore Green's lead and complete his hat trick.

The Magpies, eager to avoid their third straight defeat, drew level for the third time in the 63rd minute. The referee awarded another penalty after a Heath player was tugged back by a defender when poised to shoot. The Holmer Green defender was sent off and Howard dispatched the penalty calmly.

Things got even better for the visitors two minutes later when Trevor Stevens' shot was deflected over the goalkeeper's head and into the back of the net to give the Magpies the lead for the first time. It was a lead that they weren't going to relinquish and, playing against 10 men, they enjoyed their best spell of the game to hold on for a valuable three points.

Boss Scott Lacey was pleased his side got back to winning ways. He said: "We were a little bit nervous going into the game against Holmer, after going on a good run and then losing to Cockfosters who are another team at the bottom last weekend. We didn't start well and to be fair to Holmer they are one of the best passing sides we've played this year. Their red card was extremely harsh. We pushed on and got back to the Colney Heath of a month ago. It was a pleasing win and I hope we can go on another run like before."

The Magpies travel to Berkhamsted Town this Saturday with Heath looking to avenge a 5-4 cup defeat earlier in the season. Lacey said: "We'll go there to win. We won't go there and be negative. It's all about the attitude of the boys. It's all about hard work and strength. We haven't got any superstars, we're about a good bunch of lads and if we deviate from this then we'll get found out like we did against Cockfosters."

Colney Heath: Blackman, Teasdale, Paratusic, Winger, Muthusamy, Jordan, Eames, Gutzmore, Howard, Clarke, J.Parratt. Subs: D.Parratt, Gunning, Stevens, Gerber, Dowling.