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Clifton All Whites
Rainworth
Sat 9 Mar 15:00 - League Full time Attendance 55

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After throwing at least a point away the previous Saturday Rainworth were in no mood to repeat that generosity at Clifton All Whites.

Clifton had a strong swirling wind at their backs in the first half, but it was Rainworth who had the first attempt on goal when Kurtis Bamford’s effort from range went over in the 5th minute.

The game was end-to-end but Tom Maddison’s effort for Clifton was easily gathered by Josh Hollis. Rainworth almost took the lead a minute later but Nick Fry’s goal-bound shot was blocked, and Ed Higginbotham’s follow-up hit a defender and was cleared.

The game continued a break-neck pace when Nathan Lawrence’s effort bounced on top of the crossbar and out of play, whilst Aidy Harris beat the last defender only for Jason Kirk to save at his feet.

An excellent Liam Jepson break saw him find Harris on the edge of the area, but his goal-bound shot was blocked and cleared. Clifton weathered the Rainworth storm and gradually got back into the game. Lawrence should have scored when he had the goal at his mercy, but he failed to connect with the ball.

Rainworth were still creating chances and Kirk did well to save Harris’s effort at full-stretch. Whilst Hollis had to reciprocate with Darryl Thomas’s goal-bound effort. A mix-up in the Rainworth defence almost gifted him a goal minutes later but they recovered the situation and cleared the ball.

Just as Rainworth looked like going in at the break level an innocuous floated ball reached Craig Meakin and he placed his header past Hollis and into the top-corner. There were no further chances for either side and Clifton went into the half-time break leading 1-0.

Rainworth wasted no time in equalising within 26 seconds of the restart when Ethan Wiesztort’s through ball was clinically hit over Kirk by Harris. A minute later they almost took the lead when Will Spray’s shot flashed past the upright with Kirk a mere spectator.

Rainworth were forced into making a substitution in the 57th minute when Josh Henry replaced the injured Ben Copestake. Shortly afterwards Rainworth took the lead when an excellent Jepson cross found Bamford and although his fierce volley was blocked on the line Harris put the rebound in the back of the net.

Shortly afterwards Maddison was fortunate to only receive yellow when he brought Jepson down from behind as he advanced on goal. If that infuriated the visiting fans it got even worse minutes later when yet another bad foul by the same player only resulted in a lecture from the referee. Clifton had Kirk to thank when he made an outstanding save from Bamford’s free-kick.

Poor defending in the 67th minute resulted in Clifton’s equaliser when the ball was allowed to reach the far post and Abdul Ferej needed no second invitation, blasting the ball into the roof of the net.

As Rainworth began to tire they brought on Josh Asuman for Jepson and minutes later had to replace the injured Harris with Charlie Hardwick.
The pressure began to build as the home side pressed for the winner and Meakin’s effort went just past the upright. In the final minute Hollis kept Rainworth in the game making a brilliant ‘Banks-like’ save from Lawrence at the expense of a corner.

At the final whistle both sides could put up an argument that they should have won but it would probably been an injustice for either not to have got something from a very competitive game.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Hollis; Copestake (Henry); Toon; Fry; Heginbotham; Spray; Wiesztort; Holmes; Harris (Hardwick); Bamford; Jepson (Asuman).
Subs (not used): Taylor; Curzon.

Referee: Imran Khan

Attendance: 55

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