Holbeach United beat Holland FC in the Thurlow Nunn League Division One North

A different approach to the game helped Holbeach United net a crucial win in the Thurlow Nunn League Division One North on Saturday.

The Tigers were 3-1 winners at Carter's Park against play-off rivals Holland with Kyle Compton, Cal Davies and John Yambasu all on target.

Joint managers Danny Clifton and Simon Roberts had called for their side to improve their decision-making after the 3-3 away draw at Haverhill Borough last weekend.

And their young charges provided the perfect response with a disciplined display after Clifton had spoken with Lincoln City's chief scout Marc Tracy ahead of the game.

He explained: "We approached the game differently because the good thing about football is that everyone, including the management, learns from it.

"I went to school with Marc and he's a really good friend of mine and I know he's been in the game a long time.

"We had a chat on Friday about how you get across to young players to make the right choices and it does come with experience from games.

"There are some things which you can use though and we came up with something which seemed to go across to the players.

"We wrote the word 'Win' on the board before the game which stood for 'What Is Necessary'.

"When you get your noses in front, you have to do what is necessary to stay in front and we worked the game in stages.

"We had to earn the right to get ourselves in front and then it kicked in. We started using that pattern and we were more proactive on the touchline with instructions.

"The team was fantastic. The performance levels weren't any different, but suddenly we were making the right choices to slow the game down at the right times, the defenders were playing territorially while the front three were really on it.

"The midfield picked up balls in dangerous areas and we won free-kicks, throw-ins or corners in dangerous areas rather than losing possession.

"If you don't concede when you're in front then you win the game and, if you get a second goal, then that's a bonus.

"It really worked and, although it was frustrating for the opposition, it had to be done to win matches."

Compton had put the Tigers ahead in the first half with Davies then doubling the lead after the break with a close range finish.

Holland cut the deficit midway through the second period to set up a tense finish to the game for the Tigers.

However, their game management was top drawer and a breakaway goal late on from Yambasu sealed the success.

The win keeps the Tigers in seventh spot, just four points outside of the play-offs, although they are without a game this weekend.

Clifton added: "It felt good to have won a football match. We deserved it and managed to keep hold of the game but we won't be getting carried away.

"We have won matches in the past and you think that we're going to kick on now and we haven't so we just need to focus on winning the next game.

"It was hard graft on Saturday but everyone was fully focussed to ensure we won what was a very tough game.

"We had to earn everything we got and it felt good to come away with the win."

Tigers: Rigby, Nicholson, Robertson, H Henderson, F Henderson, Barnes, Bilicz, Wirkowski, Davies, Compton, Yambasu. Subs used: Oldham, Johnson, Carter. Not used: Millinson, Blake.

Attendance: 95.