Rainworth put on a show

By Paul Fryer

This was more like the Rainworth of earlier in the season.

Armthorpe Welfare had thrown the form book out of the window the previous Saturday with a 6-0 victory at Retford United.

Rainworth on the other hand had been held to a 1-1 draw at home by Bridlington Town and a Twitter poll on who would win on the Cup-Tie on the night was split fifty–fifty.

With the majority of their squad available and whilst not perfect Rainworth easily ran out 4-1 winners on the night and the margin of victory could have been much greater.

Rainworth were soon on the front foot and in the 8th minute they deservedly took the lead when Liam Theakstone’s fierce cross was driven home by Liam Morris.

Indecision almost allowed Stuart Preston a rare chance to put Armthorpe level but his effort cleared the bar when well placed.

That was to be as close as they would come to parity, when in the 23rd minute another Theakstone cross was met by Liam Nelthorpe for the second.

At this stage Theakstone appeared to be everywhere and from yet another one of his crosses in the 36th minute Morris’s header was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

On 41 minutes Theakstone was unlucky not to score himself, when his fiercly hit 30 yard shot beat the keeper only to rebound to safety off the post.

A minute later Theakstone cross was met by Morris, but his effort just flashed past the wrong side of the upright.

Theakstone was to score the goal his play deserved in the 44th minute, when a great run and pass by Matt Sykes to Morris was laid into his path and he gave the keeper no chance for the third.

In the final minute of the half there were chances at both ends as Ben Townsend made an excellent save to deny Armthorpe a goal. Whilst at the other end a Sykes’s free-kick was just headed wide by Steve Wankiewicz with the keeper well beaten.

Rainworth led 3-0 at half time in a half they had totally dominated and in which Theakstone had been outstanding.

The second half started with Armthorpe on the front foot but the nearest they came in this opening period was from a free-kick hit straight at Townsend.

The 65th minute saw the game effectively end as a contest when Theakstone stole the ball in the Armthorpe half, he found Morris who played it into the path of Sykes and his powerful shot gave the keeper no chance as it found the bottom corner.

Armthorpe eventually did get on the score sheet when Stuart Preston’s 73rd minute fee-kick appeared to take a deflection off the wall as it beat Townsend and found the bottom corner.

Rainworth firstly brought on Nathan Clark for Matt Thompson and shortly afterwards Declan Brewin and Carter Widdowson for Liam Morris and Ricky Hanson.

The changes had no effect on Rainworth’s dominance as they continued to threaten the Armthorpe goal and they were unlucky not to increase their lead in the 86th minute when Nelthorpe’s effort struck a defender and rebounded off the post.

A minute later and this time it was Nelthorpe’s cross that was put just over by Theakstone. Then as Brewin found Theakstone it was the goalkeeper’s outstretched leg that prevented a goal.

The onslaught continued to the final whistle as Brewin’s cross was put wide by Nelthorpe and then with virtually the last kick of the match Brewin’s goal bound effort struck the keeper and rebounded to safety.

It had not been a perfect performance by Rainworth as there are still a lot of areas to work on but on the night with a little better finishing and luck they could well have reached double figures.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Townsend; Wilson; Andrews; Hanson (Widdowson); Plant; Wankiewicz; Thompson (Clarke); Nelthorpe; Morris (Brewin); Theakstone; Sykes.

Referee: Mr I Johnson

Man of the match: Liam Theakstone

Attendance 58