Bright Start, Poor Finish

In fairness the first half score line may have been different had Callum Brooks effort not been the subject of a debateable offside flag and lapses in concentration not ended in the concession of two goals. The second half however saw Kirby Muxloe grow in confidence and they deservedly ran out winners by five goals, cementing their top four standing.

Rainworth were forced into changes today with two players serving one match suspensions and Oliver Brown failing his pre-match fitness test. It also saw debuts for on loan Connor Dimaio and Mason Wilson-Rhiney. The Rainworth faithful were given hope when the opening exchanges were all in the Kirby Muxloe half.

That hope quickly disappeared when after defending the first Kirby attack a misplaced clearance was returned into the penalty area. The ball was part cleared by a Rainworth head, but it fell at the feet of Jack O’Brien whose cross was headed home at the near post by Adam Parry.
Rainworth regrouped and in the 9th minute Mason Gee broke down the right and as the defence came across drilled his cross along the six-yard box where Brooks knocked it into the goal. Rainworth’s euphoria was quickly dashed when a debateable offside flag was raised by the assistant.

Rainworth almost scored in the 19th minute when Gee’s inswinging corner was only just prevented from crossing the line by Charlie Andrews. A minute later and another injury meant Rainworth had to replace Reece O'Donnell (hamstring) with Blake Goucher.

The search for an equaliser grew more intense and Rainworth went close again in the 25th minute when Daimio’s effort struck a defender on the line. Three minutes later and Rainworth were inches away from that elusive equaliser as the ball came back off the crossbar and Dimaio’s follow up flew just the wrong side of the upright with Andrews beaten.

Just as it seemed parity would be restored Kirby’s Mark Foster broke down the left and hit a fierce drive into the top corner to double their advantage. Still Rainworth searched for a way back into the game and they almost achieved that in the 39th minute.

Brooks drove down the left evading a couple of tackles before pulling it back Dimaio, whose well hit effort was brilliantly palmed away by Andrews at the expense of a corner. The final effort of the half fell to Kirby’s Evando Sanches but it was straight at James Leverton.

Just as the first half had been competitive, the second was far from it as Kirby cranked up the pressure and Rainworth began to tire. The game ended as a contest in the 50th minute when Tom Carroll’s excellent ball found Parry who controlled and shot in the same movement giving Leverton no chance. It was a goal fit to grace any game and was applauded by both sets of fans.

Rainworth made their second substitution taking off Dimaio, who had an excellent debut but due to his lack of match fitness having just returned from a serious injury was replaced by Tom Berry.

Shortly afterwards Kirby scored their fourth goal with the goal scorer appearing to be offside but there was no flag and it counted. Sanches was the fortunate recipient of the decision, and it reinforced the saying ‘when your luck’s out you get nothing’.

Rainworth made their third substitution bringing on Ethan Wilkinson for Joshua Nettleship. The next ten minutes so Rainworth once again threatening the Kirby goal. Wilkinson’s long-range effort went just wide of the upright and Brook’s pull back was mishit by Gee an Andrews easily gathered.

Rainworth made their final substitution replacing Matt Goodwin with James Culf. Shortly afterwards Gee clashed with Callum Francis and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Parry stepped up sending Leverton the wrong way for his hat-trick and Kirby’s fifth.
After the goal the game settled into a non-event and at the final whistle Kirby Muxloe ran out deserved 5-0 winners. For Rainworth there can only be one response and that must start, weather permitting, on Tuesday at Clifton All whites with a 90-minute performance.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Leverton; Goodwin (Culf); Balayi; McKernan; Arnold; Nettleship (Wilkinson); O’Donnell (Goucher); Wilson-Rhiney; Gee; Dimaio (Berry); Brooks.