MATCH REPORT | Gedling Miners Welfare 1 -v- 2 Teversal

Gedling's poor form continues as Teversal gain all 3 points.

Gedling Miners Welfare ……… 1 (Jepson, pen 80’)
Teversal ……………………………... 2 (Smith 20’, 58’)
(HT 0-1)

A late Jack Jepson penalty proved in vain as Gedling Miners Welfare succumbed to their 6th consecutive defeat in the East Midlands Counties League against 10-man Teversal at Plains Road on Saturday afternoon.

As assumed, with two sides battling it out at the foot of the table, the game opened in a scrappy manner but not without early opportunity. Only 2 minutes had passed when the lively Ben Agbakosi, down the Teversal right, fortuitously found himself in behind Ross McCaughey following the full back’s challenge, but his end cross was poor. At the other end, after Agbakosi had fouled Jimmy Spiers, Joe Meakin had away custodian Gareth Briggs scrambling from the resulting free kick but the effort sailed just wide.

Despite the chances, the quality on show was lacking and both sides found it difficult to retain the ball when in possession. After 15 minutes, Aaron Williamson audaciously tried his luck with an overhead kick but he failed to make proper contact from Ashley Bartle’s delivery. A minute later and Jake Payling, speculative from distance, tried his luck but the ball sailed over Danny Brown’s goal as the visitors enjoyed a decent early spell.

Teversal continued to push forward and looked to make their possession count. The excellent Agbakosi continued to cause trouble and, on 19 minutes, may have put his side in the lead but his snapshot amidst no pressure from Gedling’s defence fizzed wide.

In a reflection to their recent performances, Gedling, whilst not particularly poor, weren’t looking like they would trouble Briggs and his defensive four as they were limited to half chances in a very uninspiring first period. Their inability to thwart Teversal’s direct approach was their Achilles heel and so it was unsurprising when, a minute later, the visitors took the lead in such fashion with Agbakosi the architect.

After a gallivanting run from deep saw the winger carve through a series of tackles, his deft through ball to Joel Smith was perfectly placed and the midfielder slotted the ball around Brown for the deserved go ahead goal.

5 minutes later and Agbakosi turned creator again, this time setting up Matthew Wilkinson, but the talisman could only pass the ball into Brown’s hands as the ‘keeper set about the task of settling his team.

Irrespective of the scoreline, Gedling had their fair share of possession but were culpable of some questionable decision making and it seemed frustration was settling in throughout the ranks. They had their best chance to draw the scores level shortly before the half hour but Spiers’ arrowed effort after being found by Aboubacar Sylla, whilst struck cleanly, was pickings for Briggs.

The home side responded well to going behind and started to register some noteworthy efforts that would have the otherwise untroubled Teversal back line thinking. This time Spiers turned provider with a raking pass forward for Sylla who found himself one-on-one with Bartle, but his delightful cross was too high for the onrushing Jurgen Charlesworth at the back stick. 6 minutes before the half and Sylla again handed Courtney Hastings an excellent opportunity to send the sides into the break all square but, after controlling well, the striker lacked composure and dragged his effort from 8-yards out wide.

The game, now stretched, continued to offer ample opportunity for both sides to add to their respective columns on the scoresheet in the second half. 2 minutes into the second half and Agbakosi fizzed another characteristic cross to the late arriving Phillip Griffiths but the defender, up from an earlier set piece, couldn’t control and the attack was annulled.

5 minutes later and Jack Jepson, quiet throughout, cleverly shrugged off the committed Payling but, advancing on goal, the striker scuffed his shot wide from an angle with an inquisitive Hastings waiting unmarked on the penalty spot possibly the better option.

Gedling continued the better team throughout the second half and, contrary to their first half performance, may have sensed their earlier chances would spark a revival. However, on 58 minutes, and a sucker punch that typified their misfortune of late.

From the right, an in-swinging corner from Smith evaded everyone and, through the testing conditions, the ball nestled into the far corner as, rather sheepishly, the away side congregated in the corner to celebrate doubling their lead. Gedling incensed at the decision to award the initial corner as their protests that the ball trickled out of play via a Teversal player last fell on deaf ears.

To their credit, Gedling continued to push forward looking for that spark that would see them back into the game. Almost immediately after going behind by 2, Spiers superbly found Jepson with a delicate cross but his header under pressure skewed wide as Briggs and company moved slowly toward their first league clean sheet since August.

As the now-feisty affair edged toward its close, Teversal did all they can to preserve their cushioned lead. As expected, they were pushed more onto the back foot as Gedling set about ensuring the final stages were to be a difficult period for the away side and, 10 minutes before time, they were handed the opportunity to pull within one.

After Sam Mellor ventured down the right, his low cross struck the arm of Payling and, against very little protestation, Butterworth made no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Arguments were made, however, after Payling was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence after being carded for unnecessary dissent earlier in the game.

Jepson stepped up and slammed the ball straight down the middle to reduce the arrears as the game ticked toward the final 10 minutes. The forward notching his 5th goal in an East Midlands Counties campaign blighted by injury.

With even more reasoning, the visitors adapted the metaphoric shut-up-shop method and, predictably, adapted a no-nonsense approach to their defending. 3 minutes from time and Jepson, being found by Mellor, couldn’t make contact when turning and Briggs pounced on the loose ball with a sigh of relief.

Gedling continued to test Teversal’s resolve but, in their defence, the travellers defending commendably and were excellent in halting any further Gedling attacks.

With the last action of the game, deep into injury time, a dangerous free kick from Meakin found Jacob Tabreham and defender’s header, whilst firm, was straight at Briggs who, at the second attempt following a spill, managed to hold on as the final whistle blew to give Teversal their first win in 8 league games as Gedling slipped below their opponents in the table.

A disappointing return for Miners who continue their dismal run of form in the league. They are back on the road next Saturday (3rd November) as they make the short journey south of the city to face Radford at Selhurst Street, 3pm kick off. Gedling then entertain Arnold Town at Plains Road the following Tuesday (6th November) in the 2nd round of the Nottinghamshire Senior Cup, kick off 7.45pm.

Match Attendance – 42

Referee – Michael Butterworth
Assistant Referees – Lee Harrison and Sam Long

Gedling Miners Welfare – Danny Brown, Sam Mellor, Ross McCaughey (c), Jimmy Spiers, Felix Hogg, Jacob Tabreham, Jurgen Charlesworth (Will Bouwen 86’), Joe Meakin, Courtney Hastings (Abubakar Wadada 63’), Jack Jepson, Aboubacar Sylla (Reiss Coy 72’)

Teversal – Gareth Briggs, Ashley Bartle, Jake Payling, Phillip Griffiths (Chris Shelton 80’), Thomas Laister, Aaron Pride (c), Ben Agbakosi (Kyle Bacon 70’), Joel Smith, Aaron Williamson, Matthew Wilkinson, Lewis Brown (Alex Offless 66’)
Unused Substitutes – Jake Allen
Cautions – Agbakosi (foul 34’), Payling (dissent 68’), Smith (foul 90’)
Dismissals – Payling (second bookable offence 79’)