HOLLAND FC maintained their promotion push with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against King's Lynn Reserves, at the Rush Green Bowl on Saturday.

It keeps them third in the Thurlow Nunn League first division table - three points behind Stowmarket and nine behind leaders Coggeshall.

However, Holland have a game in hand on the former and two on their Essex rivals.

Saturday's victory was their fifth in a row and came courtesy of a 78th-minute winner from Terry Rymer.

It was a fitting tribute to young player Jack Atkinson, who tragically died after going into cardiac arrest on the pitch while playing for Holland's under-18s on November 13.

"In the end it was a good win against an excellent opponent," said joint-manager Rob Batten.

"Sometimes you need to win without being at your very best.

"However, with the week the club had, maybe it should have been expected."

Both sides had chances in the first half.

Steve Eaton, back in the starting line-up after injury, beat the keeper but saw his effort strike the post and rebound to safety.

Goalkeeper Luke Banner then had to be at his best to deny King's Lynn.

Rymer beat the offside line and lifted the ball over the onrushing keeper - only to see it drop past the upright.

Banner then made a crucial save and this proved vital as, with just over ten minutes left, the ball was lifted into the Lynn area.

Their keeper and defender got in each others' way and the ball fell kindly for the alert Rymer, who smashed home in fine style.

Holland now have a weekend off, with no game scheduled for Saturday, before kicking-off December with a home match against Braintree Town Reserves.