The match attendance was boosted today as it always is against Radford FC by a large contingent from the Nottinghamshire Referee’s Assessors keen to voice their opinions, right or wrong. It was a game of few clear-cut chances and Rainworth came out victorious from the penalty spot and a well finished move. Rainworth had started the day in the bottom position, whilst Radford Fc had sat in 10th position.

The early exchanges didn’t look promising for Rainworth when they conceded a free kick on the edge of the area in the opening minute. James Leverton did well to push Conor Moore’s effort out and when Craig Meakin struck the follow-up it went wide of the target. Two minutes later from their own free kick Rainworth almost conceded but Musa Jawara’s inviting cross had no takers.

The home fans must have been fearing that Rainworth had reverted to their old ways. They soon were reminded of the ‘new look’ one that had only lost once in the last six matches. An excellent interchange between Callum Brooks and Ethan Wilkinson saw the ball fall at the feet of Tommy Bedford, however, his effort was inches wide of the upright.

There was a lot of effort from both sides during the middle period of the half without either able to find the decisive pass that would break the stalemate. That was until in the 30th minute when inexplicably from a Rainworth corner Callum Fletcher’s flick-on was handled by Nelson Aideyan. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and whilst there was some dissent from a number of the Nottinghamshire Assessor’s in truth it was an easy decision to make. Fletcher took the responsibility and made no mistake to open the scoring hitting it straight down the middle.

The only other action of note in the half came when James Reynolds snatched at the ball when well placed and put his effort over. Rainworth went into the half time break holding a precious 1-0 advantage.

After a quiet start to the second half Radford sprung to life and Rainworth were grateful to James Leverton who did extremely well to tip Grant Tobin’s fierce drive over the crossbar. A minute later and Jawara’s effort was straight at Leverton. The pressure mounted and Moore’s free kick flashed just past the upright.

Rainworth made their first substitutions of the match replacing Josh Nettleship and Wilkson with Mason Wilson-Rhiney and Reece O’Donnell.
The game started to be stretched and Bedford was guilty of snatching at his opportunity, putting it well over. Whilst at the other end Jawara puts his attempt on goal the wrong side of the upright.

The balance of the game changed in the 80th minute when Aideyan was shown a send yellow for a late challenge on Gee and was sent off. A few of the Assessors were incensed saying he got the ball. Now I’ve seen a few Achilese in my time but at no stage would I have ever referred to them as a ball.

Three minutes later Rainworth doubled their lead Kamua Balayi played the ball out to Brooks on the left, after a run to and cross from the byline Fletcher drilled the ball into the bottom corner. Rainworth continued to press and when Brooks fed Harley Butcher-Simpson only a defender’s block denied his cross-reaching Bedford at the far post.

Radford threw away any chance of recovering the deficit when in the 86th minute Jevon Seaton was sent to the sin bin. Rainworth replaced two of their key strikers replacing Brooks and Bedford with debutant Sashan Pekin and Tom Rose. Pekin went close in the third minute of added time when Fletcher set him up, but his effort was straight at the keeper.

At the final whistle Rainworth had deservedly got the points and moved up to 16th and out of the relegation spots. They travel to Selston FC on Wednesday, weather permitting for another ‘Six-Pointer’ Cup Final.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Leverton; Wilkinson (O’Donnell); Butcher-Simpson; Allcock; Arnold; Balayi; Gee; Nettleship; (Wilson-Rhiney); Bedford (Rose); Fletcher; Brooks (Pekin).
Sub (not used): Culf.