EMCL - Gedling Miners Welfare 1-1 Birstall FC

Honours even at Plains Road

Gedling Miners…..1 (Robinson 85’)
Birstall FC………….1 (Young 44’)

Super Sub Gaffer salvages a point

Both teams came into this contest in good spirits but, for the first 40 minutes, it was a dour encounter contested almost entirely between the penalty areas with very little action to trouble either ‘keeper.

The opening 10 minutes were promising enough with Joe Meakin going close following good work down the left by Abou Sylla and Tom Marriot providing some catching practice for Danny Brown in the home goal.

The first half became a cat and mouse affair with both teams probably giving their opponents too much respect for each other. The game came alive a minute before the break when Birstall took the lead. A fine threaded ball from midfield by Ash Way found Charlie Young sprinting towards and into the box with the Gedling defence looking very square. Young showed great composure and waited for Brown to commit before lifting the ball over the prone ‘keeper into the net.

0-1 at the break in a very tight game with the visitors just about shading proceedings.

The second half began with the home team firmly on the front foot and they began to stamp their authority on the game but failing to take their chances in front of goal. Both Meakin and Jack Jepson had decent efforts but Connor Jordan’s goal remained intact. The visitors, although tiring, continued to go about their business with aplomb with midfielder Way controlling things in midfield.

On the hour Sub Errol Campbell was just wide with a great turn and shot as Gedling pushed for the equaliser. They were also indebted to custodian Danny Brown for a brilliant tip over save after 78 minutes. He done well to keep out a thunderous effort from Marriott.

The game was slowly but surely slipping away from the Miners when came the inspired substitution.

Joint boss Stuart Robinson had only been on the pitch for 4 minutes when Birstall’s defence was finally breached. After some concerted pressure in the visitors box Jepson headed the ball towards Jordan’s net through a crowd of defenders. Robinson’s knee deflected the ball over the line to send the home crowd home happy.

A well deserved gained by Gedling in a game when neither side deserved to lose. The home side never gave up and battled to the very last ball, three home games to go now before the season draws to a close on the 5th of May

Match Attendance – 65

Referee – Mr Will Murray
Assistant Referees – Mr Mark Bancroft and Mr Fanran Meng

Gedling Miners Welfare – Danny Brown, Adam Morley, Charlie Roberts, Dwayne Brown, Luke Smith (Errol Campbell 61’), Ross McCaughey, Joe Meakin, Jimmy Spiers (c), Jay Knight (Stuart Robinson 81’)
Aboubacar Sylla, Jack Jepson .
Unused Substitute – Chris Marks
Cautions – Smith (15’ foul) Knight (52’ foul)

Birstall FC - Connor Jordan, Angus Gentlemen, Dom Watts, Ryan Foster, Adam Boulter, Charlie Young, Ash Way, Mitch Williams (c) Dan Jelley, Tom Marriott, Chris Aycott.
Unused substitutes - Kris Nurse and Tom Burton.
Cautions - Gentlemen (27' foul) Jelley (39' foul Watts (68' dissent) Foster (90' foul)