Just Like the Big Bad Wolf

The week hadn’t started well for Rainworth when striker Tommy Marshall moved to Step 4 side Stocksbridge Park Steels. One of Rainworth’s weaknesses this season is converting chances, some gilt-edged, and the loss of Marshall just helped to exacerbate the problem.
The match started promisingly for Rainworth when in the 2nd minute after good build-up play between Callum Fletcher and Harley Butcher-Simpson saw Freddy Tracey’s header clear the crossbar.
Then after 6 minutes they found themselves on the back foot when Tye Simpson’s ‘wonder goal’ opened the scoring for West Bridgford. They are called ‘wonder goals’ for a reason, some are unstoppable while most threaten high flying birds. Unfortunately for Rainworth Simpson’s effort was inch perfect and although James Leverton got a glove on it, he could only help it into the top corner.
The game ebbed from end to end until in the 16th minute Rainworth produced their ‘trade mark’ kamikaze defending, and they were thankful for Butcher-Simpson’s block at the expense of a corner.
Butcher-Simpson almost created the equaliser when Essa Shah sent him on an overlapping run down the left wing and Ryan Howes was grateful to take it off the toes of Tracey.
Shah almost created a goal for Callum Brooks in the 30th minute but his effort from the right edge of the area found the side netting. Six minutes later Ryan Krause’s curling effort had Leverton scrambling as it went past the far upright.
Rainworth continued to probe without seriously threatening, Henry Curry put his effort from Ethan Wilkinson’s cross inches wide of the upright and in the final minute of the half Mason Gee’s dangerous free kick was eventually cleared.
Rainworth made a substitution at the beginning of the second half bringing on Curtis Birchall for Curry. In the 50th minute they were relieved to see Simpson’s effort come back off the upright.
Rainworth made a double substitution I the 61st minute, bringing on James Culf and Kieran Blanksby for Butcher-Simpson and Wilkinson. The changes almost paid off in the 67th minute but Howes just beat Culf to the ball.
Rainworth continued to press for an equaliser and Gee’s 75th minute free kick had Howes scrambling, gathering it at the second attempt. Minutes later Fletcher’s header flashed past the far upright with Howes beaten.
Rainworth made their final substitution in the 82nd minute when Ryan Faulconbridge replaced Shah. In added time West Bridgford failed to capitalise when they broke from a Rainworth corner with Leverton up in the opposing penalty area. The final chance of the game fell to Rainworth when Liam Arnold’s volley flew inches over the crossbar.
The final score reflected a game were defences were on top and also Rainworth’s plight in front of goal.

RAINWORTH: Leverton; Wilkinson (Blanksby); Butcher-Simpson (Culf); Fletcher; Arnold; Nettleship; Gee; Essa (Faulconbridge); Tracey; Brooks; Curry (Birchall).