Combined Counties review: Dzimba's red turns tide as Holyport crumble to 5–0 defeat at Hilltop

Kickie Dzimba. Credit: Jonathan Bowker

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Kickie Dzimba’s first half dismissal preceded a dismal second half showing from Holyport on Friday night as Lee Ovens and Dan Rapley’s side collapsed to a 5-0 defeat at Hilltop.

It’s been a challenging start to the campaign for what is a much-changed Holyport side under new management, and they couldn’t live with hosts Hilltop once Dzimba was given his marching orders late in the first half.

By that stage, Port were already 1-0 down after Hussein Mahdi had fired the home side in front after only 12 minutes. Dzimba’s second yellow card left the visitors a goal and a man down for the entirety of the second half, and seventh placed Hilltop took full advantage.

Mahdi crashed home his second of the game from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute, before goals from Shuaib Ali (62'), Michael Panford (69') and Nadeer Kahssay (79') completed a comfortable evening’s work for the home side.

The result was another reality check for Port after they’d collected a couple of useful results at home to Windsor & Eton (0-0) league and away to British Airways (3-1) in the Premier Challenge Cup.

Ovens’ and Rapley’s side are back on the road this evening (Tuesday) at 11th placed Wokingham Town. They then visit fifth placed Kidlington on Saturday as they look to lift themselves away from the lower reaches of the Combined Counties Premier Division North. They’re currently 17th with only seven points from 10 games.

At the top of the division, leaders Burnham and fourth placed Windsor & Eton both suffered unwelcome results at the weekend.

They went into Saturday’s league fixtures sitting first and second in the table, however, Burnham suffered an agonising 1-0 defeat at Amersham Town with the hosts’ winner coming in second half stoppage time.

The game looked to be headed for a goalless draw until Shane Johnson popped up with the winner for Amersham in the 92nd minute.

The result leaves Burnham top of the table by a point, but Broadfields United closed the gap to a point with their 2-1 home win over North Leigh and Wallingford & Crowmarsh rose to third after they defeated British Airways 2-0 at home.

After losing five of their last seven matches in all competitions, Mo and Omz Bakali’s Burnham will be hoping to get back to winning ways at home to Edgware & Kingsbury on Saturday. They then host Sandhurst Town in the second round of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup on Wednesday (7.45pm kick-off).

For the second league game in a row, Windsor & Eton played out a goalless draw, this time at home to Reading City.

The Royalists have been struggling for goals a little since the departure of prolific striker Pawel Kowalkowski, and the outcome could have been worse for Rob Webb’s side as Stefan Brown missed a second half penalty for City after Bakai Manneh handled the ball in the box.

Webb’s side sit fourth ahead of their next match at Milton United on Saturday.