Hammers suffer first league defeat of the season

The well-organised home side took a 3-0 interval lead and reststed the attempted comeback of the under-strength visitors.

Hollins, who were following up a success against Top Club and have climbed to fifth in the Premier, took only four minutes to take the lead, Joe Gibson scoring from a corner.

Rob Laycock made a fine save one-on-one with Terriq Pervez and 10 minutes before the break Jake Shaw made it 2-0 from another set piece.

When Gibson smashed the ball from eight yards, some tough talking followed from Hammers’ stand in manager Kashif Mohammed.

His players came out with all guns blazing but found it hard to break down a stubborn Holmes defence. With 20 minutes left, Sameer Ahmed’s fine run put Pervez through to make it 3-1.

The visitors piled on the pressure. Irfan Afzal’s header hit a post and big defender Zohaib Iqbal had two great chances but Laycock made some fine saves.

Hammers pushed forward and left holes at back which George Bamford exploited to make it 4-1. Waleed Raja replied just before the final whistle.

In the only other Premier Division game of the day, Mount Tabor won 1-0 at Feathers FC.

In Division One, leaders Halifax Hammers Reserves beat Oddfellows 4-1, Beehive and Crosskeys won 3-2 at Halifax Rangers and Ryburn Valley were held 3-3 at home by Ryburn United.

In Division Two, leaders Fountain Head lost 4-2 at Halifax Amateurs, while Triangle thrashed Weavers 9-0.