One Day Perhaps the Goals Will Come?

When you’re down at the bottom, football can be such a cruel game and today’s match against Goole AFC highlighted that ten-fold.

Rainworth have created enough opportunities in their last three games to have won all three, but all they have to show for it is a solitary draw.

Goals win matches and sadly Rainworth’s ratio to chances created is simply not good enough!!

From the kick-off today both sides worked to gain supremacy and although Goole’s Chris Adam had the first chance in the 11th minute his weak effort was easily gathered by Jake Turner.

Rainworth went straight down the other end as Theo Brown’s ball found Romaine Graham and when he set up Gino Kelleher on the edge of the area, he made no mistake as shot found the far corner.

It was the home side again in the 18th minute when Kuwesi Ofushine found Brown, but his cross was hit over by Graham when well placed.

In the 20th minute Alex Ford’s goal-bound shot was somehow kept out by Ryan Musselwhite and it only seemed a matter of time before Rainworth increased their lead.

The onslaught was persistent and as Kelleher ran onto a ball in the area only a last ditch tackle at the expanse of a corner prevented another effort on goal. From the resultant corner Dean Freeman put his effort over when well-placed as the pressure mounted.

The pattern continued and Rainworth went even closer in the 26th minute when Ford’s goal-bound shot was kicked off the line.

There was a penalty appeal in the 28th minute when Brown was brought down by a desperate tackle in the area but the referee felt he had got the ball first.

The 37th minute saw Ofushine’s goal-bound shot blocked by Musselwhite which left the home fans wondering if after a half when they should been out of sight, Goole would make them pay.

There was still time for a couple more Rainworth chances by Dan White and Ofushine, but ominously for the home side Goole were starting to come into the game and Steven Woolley and Adam both had opportunities before the half-time whistle.

The second half saw Goole straight on the attack and from a corner in the 46th minute they headed over when well placed.
Rainworth were no longer dominant but in the 52nd minute Emeka Nwadike had a chance but put his effort wide.

A lapse in concentration was to prove costly as a needless foul was conceded on the edge of the Rainworth penalty area and free-kick specialist Andy Gascoigne placed it around the wall and into the far corner for the equaliser.

In the 58th minute Rainworth brought on Darren Mansaram for the injured Ford as Goole started to get on top.

Muhammed Sabo should probably have done better for Goole when his effort went over as het met a driven free-kick.

Rainworth came back into it when in the 68th Kelleher’s goal-bound shot was deflected and the keeper could only watch as it just went the wrong side of the post. They had another opportunity in the 74th minute when Mansaram found Graham and as he turned in the six yard area his shot was blocked.

A minute later it was Goole’s turn as Danny South’s effort was well wide.

Rainworth brought on Steve Robinson for Ofushine as they began to tire in a match that was becoming stretched.

Rainworth had another scare in the 82nd minute, but this time Gascoigne’s free-kick was wide, and Rainworth made their final substitution bringing on Oliver Brock for Brown.

In the final minute both sides had chances but Mansaram’s just went over and Goole’s South put his header agonisingly wide.

On the final whistle it was yet another game that promised so much for Rainworth and their only solace was they had at least got a point from a game that with better finishing should have yielded much more.

RAINWORTH: Turner; Raven; Freeman; Hannigan; White; Ofushine (S.Robinson); Kelleher; Nwadike; Ford (Mansaram); Graham; T.Brown (Brock). Subs (not used): Sibenge; Kenlock.

Referee: Mr. Oliver Bickle.

Man of the match: Gino Kelleher.