The Goals are going in at long last

Rainworth went into today’s home game against fifth placed Barrow Town with a lengthy injury list and with the added worry that the bottom two teams were starting to pick-up points.

The result on the day was an emphatic 5-1 victory, with Rainworth MWFC inflicting only the second defeat in Barrow Town’s last ten games. The win was well deserved and in truth with a little more composure it could have been by a much greater margin.

Rainworth were quickly onto the attack and as early as the 2nd minute Will Spray’s snap-shot went just wide. Minutes later and Sam Dockwray’s free-kick from the edge of the area went over without testing Bradley Jones.

Rainworth were grateful to debutant keeper Mike Randall when he did well to save from Mark Foster after a defensive error.
In the twelfth minute Rainworth were forced in to a substitution with Josh Henry replacing the injured Joe Toon.

The next ten minutes saw the game drift with much of the play taking place in the centre of the pitch with no efforts of note on either goal. That almost changed in the 23rd minute when Ethan Wiesztort’s cross was almost met by Max Curzon’s acrobatic effort, but he failed to connect and when the ball found Wiesztort his goal-bound shot was blocked.

Rainworth thought they should have had a penalty when Liam Jepson was caught in the area and although he stumbled the referee waved play-on. Just as it looked neither side would score, the ball found Curzon in the area and his shot on the turn gave Jones no chance for the opener.

Barrow response was a great run and shot by Sam Beaver, but it was well wide and in the final minute Rainworth almost doubled their score, but Jepson’s effort was just over. Shortly afterwards the whistle went for half-time, ending an excellent performance by Rainworth who were leading 1-0 against the elements.

The second-half started as the first finished with Jepson rampaging down the flank but he put his effort well wide. Minutes later he beat three men only for Jones to just get to the ball before he could put the ball over the line.

Barrow then had a ten-minute spell when they got on top and Rainworth were grateful to Ben Copestake’s last-ditch tackle that denied them an equaliser in this period.

The game changed in the 63rd minute when Jason Dawson’s excellent free-kick was headed home by the diminutive Charlie Hardwick and a minute later it was 3-0 when Jepson’s excellent pass found Wiesztort who gave Jones no-chance with a first-time volley.

Rainworth made their second substitution bringing on Shomari Doyle for Curzon and a minute later they conceded. For the first time in the match Rainworth switched-off in defence and after having numerous opportunities to clear, the ball found an unmarked Ryan Kirk who made no mistake from six-yards.

Undaunted Rainworth once again made it a three-goal cushion when Dawson’s inch-perfect free-kick was emphatically headed home by Spray. Rainworth made their final substitution in the 82nd minute when Callum Pursglove replaced Wiesztort.

A minute later and a peach of a pass from Pursglove found the overlapping Henry and although Jones blocked his initial attempt he scored with the follow-up.

A sixth was on the cards when Doyle beat the cover, but he was brought down inches outside the area with what would have been a two on one with the keeper.

Deep into stoppage time Dockwray’s mazy run seemed to go on and on as he beat several defenders, but his goal-bound shot was blocked with Jones beaten.

At the final whistle Barrow Town could have no complaints at the score-line on a day Rainworth at last started to convert their chances.
The performance will have given the manager much food for thought, as injuries forced him into today’s line-up, one that especially towards the end appeared to have solved the goal-scoring dilemma.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Randall; Copestake; Toon (Henry); Fry; Spray; Dawson; Wiesztort (Pursglove); Dockwray; Curzon (Doyle); Hardwick; Jepson.
Sub (not used): Taylor.

Referee: Mr Kevin Guise.

Man of the match: Charlie Hardwick

Attendance: 51