Form Tables are Meaningless

Today’s fixture at Nostell Miners Welfare saw them at the bottom of the league and form table, whilst Rainworth MWFC were the league’s form side unbeaten in five.

For 15 minutes that rang true as Rainworth scored and came close on a couple of occasions, for the rest of the first half that side disappeared and it was Nostell who went into the break deservedly in front.

The second half meandered until Rainworth awoke from their slumber and late goals saw them take all the points.

Rainworth started the game on the front foot and almost took the lead in the 3rd minute when Jamie York’s cross was kicked off the line.

It was York again in the7th minute but his firmly hit shot beat the keeper but went just past the far upright.

They took the lead in the 9th minute when Matt Syke’s inch perfect cross found Liam Morris, who brought it under control and despatched it into the top corner for the opening goal.

It was almost two for Morris in the 15th minute when York’s cross appeared to be reaching Morris’s head and into the net, but it was cleared for a corner in the nick of time.

Then out of the blue Nostell produced a stunning passing move and when the ball found Fidel Mlholo he made no mistake for the equaliser.

Five minutes later they took the lead when a cross from the right found Billy Mole who gave Ben Townsend no chance putting it into the bottom corner.

It was all Nostell and they were unlucky not to get a third when Mlholo’s effort came back off the crossbar with Townsend a mere spectator.

Rainworth had to replace Brad Wilson (concussion) with Declan Brewin and shortly afterwards the referee blew for half-time, with Nostell deservedly in the lead.

The task got even harder when leading scorer Morris pulled up clutching his hamstring and he was replaced with Carter Widdowson.

The game slowly started to change with Rainworth getting more of the ball and when Brewin broke and found York, he put the ball over when well-placed.

Brewin was starting to trouble the Nostell defence and after another break he put his effort just wide of the upright.

The pressure on the Nostell goal was building as Matt Plant Liam Nelthorpe and York all went close. The equaliser came in the 78th minute when a Sykes cross was headed into the corner by Plant.

The question now was could Nostell survive until the final whistle before Rainworth scored again? The answer nearly came on 80 minutes when Widdowson found York and his driven cross was just put out for a corner as Plant bore down on goal.

With the pressure relentless it came as no surprise that Rainworth took the lead in the 90th minute when Jordan Edridge glanced in Sykes’s corner.

Nostell then won a corner but it was Rainworth who broke, Brewin outpaced the defence to easily score their fourth goal.
That was to be the final action of the match with Rainworth running out 4-2 winners.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Townsend: Hanson: Plant: Cheeseman: Wilson (Brewin): Clarke; Nelthorpe; J. Edridge; Sykes; Morris (C. Widdowson); York Sub (not used): Theakstone.

Man of the match: Matt Plant

Attendance: 68