Blidworth came away on the wrong end of a close 2-1 defeat to East Midlands Counties League side Kimberley Miners Welfare at their Digby Street facility this evening. First half goals from Sean Green and Jez Bailey gave the home team the advantage at the break with a Tony Edwards strike early in the second half nothing but a consolation for Blidworth.

Lewis Saxby chose to mix his opening 11 up for the fixture with his intentions to give the players with less playing time to date a chance to get more minutes as the season starts to rear it’s head.

The opening goal came just after 8 minutes when Bowen swung a long ball in from the left wing, it was met at the back post by his team mate who could only knock his shot onto the post. The ball bounced back into the path of Sean Green who tapped the ball home.

Jonathan Jenkinson was denied an equaliser with 14 minutes on the clock. A long ball across field was met by the defender at the back post but his shot was blocked by a last gasp challenge from the home side’s number 16.

Kimberley were able to double their lead just after the half hour mark. A long free kick was pumped into the box from the left side, no one was able to get a touch on the ball as it flew towards goal leading to Michael Ball tipping the effort up onto his crossbar. Eventually it was headed home by Jez Bailey.

Half time saw Saxby make a number of substitutions, a decision that saw his side improve following the break. The decision seemed to pay off after just 10 minutes as two substitutes linked up to grab a goal.

The move started at Blidworth’s back right corner as Rob Hardy played a long ball down the line which was chased down by Aidy Harris. The substitute was able to swing a ball across into the path of his fellow second half swapper Tony Edwards. The striker showed composure as he beat the tight offside line before racing round the keeper and then eventually tapped the ball home from a tight angle.

Both sides continued to push forward in search of another goal but neither keeper was properly challenged as a number of shots failed to find the target. Blidworth had a flurry of late corners but the best chance was blocked as the ball came out to Edwards on the edge.

Blidworth wrap their pre-season games up with a friendly at home to Shirebrook Town on Saturday in a 3pm kick off before the season starts with an away game at Linby Colliery on the 5th August.