MATCH REPORT | Gedling Miners Welfare 0 -v- 2 Rainworth Miners Welfare

Gedling lose battle of the Miners at Plains Road

Gedling Miners Welfare …………....… 0
Rainworth Miners Welfare …………... 2 (Harris 28, pen 67’)
(HT 0-1)

A double from Ady Harris gave Rainworth Miners Welfare their third win of the season after they beat Gedling Miners Welfare 2-0 at Plains Road on Saturday afternoon.

Looking to avenge their 2-1 defeat to Gedling in mid-September, Rainworth travelled to Mapperley after some resurgent results recently. Both sides exchanged early opportunities as the signs suggested that this clash at the bottom of the table would be an open one.

After only 3 minutes, Jurgen Charlesworth found Jack Jepson with a clever pass on the left but he could only drag his shot wide of Josh Hollis’ goal. 2 minutes later and Max Curzon found himself in behind but Rainworth’s encouraging attack was nullified by the linesman’s flag on the far side. Shortly after and, following a dangerous Connor Wright free kick, Johnathan Drake's flicked header sailed just over the crossbar as the visitors looked to set the tone in the opening stages.

Despite the chances, both sides often stuttered when in control and failed to capitalise on their share of possession. With 9 minutes played, Courtney Hastings broke the offside trap but his effort lacked conviction and Hollis comfortably saved down to his right.

Soaking up any early pressure, Rainworth started to get a foot hold in the affair and often looked for the pacey approach of Liam Jepson down their left for any success. Their best chance of going ahead came after 20 minutes when Jepson’s cross, fired in with speed and precision, wasn’t anticipated by his teammates and the opportunity went begging.

This spurred the visitors and they began to dominate the midfield areas as Gedling struggled to cope with the combative approach in the centre of the park. Any venture forward emanated from the central positions as the home side failed to tie their opponents down.

Just before the half hour, Nick Fry found acres of space to pick his pass looking for his colleagues but the ball was put around for a corner. However, from the subsequent set piece, Drake’s accurate corner found an unmarked Ady Harris who powered his header home to give his side the go ahead goal.

Not long after, Harris had another chance to double his personal tally and extend his side’s lead but after an excellent Joe Toon free kick found its way all the way through, the ball hit the surprised striker, unaware of his actions, and Danny Brown had to be alert to tip the ball around the post as it headed toward the corner.

Gedling, to their credit, reacted well to going behind and ended an otherwise uneventful half the stronger team. 5 minutes before the interval and Reiss Coy’s cutely lofted pass found Jepson but the talisman, starting out in an unfamiliar wide role, was always stretching to get his shot on target as Hollis caught with ease. A minute later and Jepson found himself between Toon and Joe Copestake but, after being found this time by Charlesworth, his stinging volley was wayward as Hollis scrambled to guide the ball wide.

Looking to go into the break all square, Charlesworth had an excellent opportunity to level the scoreline but after Mason Coy had played the wide man in, a superb last ditch tackle from Toon thwarted the goal bound effort and the ball was cleared. In the last venture forward of the half, a late handball shout from the visitors was waved away by Stephen Davis as the inquest continued as the players trundled off.

The home came out of the traps the brighter and looked to take some encouragement from how their first period had ended.

10 minutes after the restart, Charlesworth’s deep and dangerous cross evaded everyone including the late arriving Dwayne Brown who could only toe his effort wide on the stretch. At the other end, Josh Asuman, favouring the more direct approach, escaped all attention around him but his shot lacked power as Brown collected.

Following a flurry of substitutions either side of the hour, Gedling began to show promise and started to slowly get back into the affair and they had their best chance to level the arrears on the hour mark.

After Aboubacar Sylla found Brown with a superb cross field pass, Brown’s equally exquisite cross from the right found Hastings but the striker couldn’t keep his header down and his effort floated over the bar.

The opportunity sparked Gedling and they began to take control of the second period but, in truth, Hollis and his defensive four were rarely troubled and managed to deal with all thrown at them.

Jepson, however, wasn’t without trying and he registered the home side’s next effort on 65 minutes but after being wonderfully found by Jimmy Spiers, displaying his typical passing abilities, he was halted by Hollis who was performing amicably to preserve The Wren’s leading position.

Despite the continued pressure, Gedling couldn’t find a way through the determined resolve of the visitors and things got even worse for them when, only 2 minutes later, Rainworth had a chance to go two up.

Following a hopeful attack down their left and some good build up play between Harris and substitute Blessing Adeleye, the former fired a shot toward Brown’s goal which was handled by Charlie Roberts and Mr. Davis, after minor hesitation, pointed to spot to give the travellers a chance to all but seal the game.

Harris stepped up and calmly passed the ball into the corner sending Brown the wrong way to take the plaudits as he was mobbed by his teammates.

Time was running out for the home side who were disappointing throughout following some encouraging performances of late including an important win at West Bridgford in the week.

11 minutes from time and Charlesworth went closest again to getting his side back into the game but, after not initially challenging McCaughey’s high cross, he reacted well to the clearance but could only hook his shot over from 6 yards out.

The chance came and went for Gedling and despite some positive attacks late on, ultimately resulting in nothing, teamed with a combative and wholehearted approach by the late arrival of Luke Smith, Rainworth ran out worthy winners and reduced the gap between themselves and Gedling to 2 points in the latest standings.

The home side, meanwhile, were left to ponder where it all went wrong as they suffered their 12th league defeat. They welcome Belper United to Plains Road on Tuesday (20th November) in the East Midlands Counties League Cup, 7.45 kick off, before travelling to Riverside Park on Saturday (24th November) to face Barrow Town, kick off 3pm.

Match Attendance - 98

Referee – Stephen Davis
Assistant Referees – John Sansum and Mr Jack Layzell

Gedling Miners Welfare – Danny Brown, Dwayne Brown, Ross McCaughey (c), Reiss Coy (Joe Meakin 65’), Charlie Roberts (Luke Smith 75’), Liam Corrigan, Jurgen Charlesworth, Jimmy Spiers, Courtney Hastings, Mason Coy (Aboubacar Sylla 57’), Jack Jepson
Unused Substitutes – Sam Mellor

Rainworth Miners Welfare – Josh Hollis, Ben Copestake, Joe Toon, Johnathan Drake, Will Spray, Connor Wright, Max Curzon (Blessing Adeleye 60’), Nick Fry, Josh Asuman, Ady Harris (c) (Shomari Doyle 85’), Liam Jepson (Josh Henry 75’)
Unused Substitutes – Scott Taylor, Cameron Davidson
Cautions – Asuman (kicking the ball away 84’)