Last Gasp Winner, But Deserved!

In a game that was more like ‘The Big Bad Wolf & the Three Little Pigs’, Rainworth huffed and puffed and did everything but score in a match for the most part they dominated.

Rainworth had the better of the early exchanges and as early as the 5th minute Connor Smythe’s overlapping run and cross was put out for a corner. From the corner Luke Weaver hit his shot straight at the keeper.

In the 10th minute Matthew Thompson put his effort just wide of the far upright with the keeper well beaten. He should have opened the scoring in the 13th minute when with only the keeper to beat he put his effort wide.

In the 15th minute Matthew Sykes’s long range effort went well wide.

Then in the 16th minute, Parkgate got a piece of good fortune when Alex Lill broke clear and after a double rebound the bounce favoured him as it ended up in the net.

The 24th minute saw Rainworth waste another chance as Liam Morris set up Lewis Bingham, but his effort flew over the bar.

Parkgate continued to play on the counter-attack and Rainworth were thankful to Luke Weaver’s timely interception at the expense of a corner.

Rainworth continued to press for the equaliser but they were thwarted by a combination of poor finishing and good last ditch defending by Parkgate.

They came very close in the 37th minute Morris’s cross was laid into the path of Smythe by Bingham, only for the keeper to make a great save.

Another good Rainworth move saw Bingham’s goal bound effort deflect into the keeper’s arms.

In the final minute of the half it was Rainworth who heaved a sigh of relief when Liam Kerry saved at the onrushing Parkgate player’s feet.
The half time whistle went with the score 1-0 to Parkgate in a half when the ball was rarely out of their half.

Rainworth continued to press and after another excellent Rainworth move Jack Andrews long-range effort was well held by the keeper.

It was becoming a game of attack verses defence as Rainworth continued to bombard the Parkgate goal.

Bingham should probably have done better in the 52nd minute when through on goal but the keeper blocked his effort.

Rainworth must have thought it wasn’t their night when in the 59th minute Morris’s header was cleared off the line.

Rainworth had a penalty appeal turned down when Morris was brought down in what appeared to be the penalty area, but the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Parkgate were now hitting long balls and Kerry did well to thwart the centre-forward as he tipped his effort over the bar at the expense of a corner. A couple of minutes later the same player hit his shot just wide of the far post.

In the 70th minute Rainworth brought on Jamie Yorke for Bingham and his first effort on goal was blocked for a corner.

Yorke went even closer in the 74th minute when through on goal he flicked it over the on-rushing keeper only to see it flash past the wrong side of the upright.

It was Yorke again in the 80th minute but this time as provider as his cross was headed wide by Smythe.

Time was running out for Rainworth and then in the 88th minute they produced an absolute stunning goal as Andrews thunderbolt found the far corner with the keeper well-beaten. It was no more than Rainworth’s play deserved, but it seemed they would have to settle for a draw.

In the final minute of normal time Parkgate almost stole it when they beat the offside trap but Kerry was equal to it and tipped it over the bar.

Rainworth brought on Thomas Pereira in the 90th minute for a limping Thompson.

Then deep into injury time the ball found Andrews and his fiercely driven cross was turned into the net by Morris.

That was Andrews last contribution to the game as he limped off and was substituted by Ben Bowring.

Although it had taken Rainworth until the final minutes to overhaul a disciplined Parkgate defensive display, they always looked the most likely to score after the opening goal.

RAINWORTH: Kerry; Hanson; Smythe; Andrews (Bowring); Plant; L. Weaver; Thompson (Pereira); Dockwray; Morris; Bingham (Yorke); Sykes.

Man of match: Jack Andrews.

Attendance: 67