HOLSWORTHY are through to the next round of the Devon St Luke’s Bowl after beating Crediton United with the help from a Ben Sharpe hat-trick.

The Magpies were back in action after a couple weeks off, including the cancellation of last Saturday’s game at Liskeard Athletic.

On a difficult pitch, the away side started slowly and looked like they’d had a couple weeks without a game.

The visitors did open the scoring though after an unfortunate mistake from Crediton’s goalkeeper which gave the Magpies a free kick just inside the penalty area. Craig Duff smashed the ball home for his first goal for the club.

From then on, Holsworthy started to take control the game all over the pitch and the second goal came after a good corner from Will Harris found Ben Sharpe at the back post who scored with a tidy finish to make it 2-0 going into the break.

The second half started with more of the same and the Magpies scored a further two goals, both from the impressive Sharpe with two outstanding finishes, the second of which saw him take it around the goalkeeper and calmly slotting it home.

At 4-0, manager Kevin Squire made a few changes to give the squad some much-needed minutes. More chances came and Duff hit the post from a free kick and brought a good save from the home custodian with another free kick.

Other chances fell to Duff, Sharpe, Ben Grech and Joe Barker but the away side couldn’t rub further salt into Crediton’s wounds.

The home side did have chances of their own from free kicks and a cross-come-shot that hit the crossbar. A dubious penalty was then given on the edge of the box when Sam Hill was adjudged to have handled the ball after a cross with Crediton making it 4-1.

Creddy then changed their tactics and sent forward their big centre back and played every ball into the box. That brought a second goal for the home side after a good cross but following that the game petered out with Squire’s men recording a pleasing 4-2 win.

Holsworthy: Ryan Chadwick, Callum Martyn, Sam Hill, Jedd Pescke, Aiden Slade, Jay Thomas, Elis Aldrich, Will Harris, Gavin Carter, Ben Sharpe, Craig Duff.

Subs all used: Joe Barker, Ben Grech, Josh Down, Chris Wildern, Rob Pearce