Rainworth Regain Fans Faith

Rainworth MWFC show their pride, with battling display.

After the previous Tuesday’s capitulation against Handsworth Parramore, where the hosts were gifted all four goals in a 4-0 defeat, the manager and fans needed a passionate display to regain their faith in the side.

Today at home against a very good Garforth Town side, only one defeat in last eight, in a game that was anything but plain sailing, they earned it with a very passionate and gutsy display, gaining a well-deserved point.

Trailing as early as the second minute, they were in front by the tenth, only for Garforth to equalise by the eighteenth. The equaliser came at a cost with keeper Ben Townsend being carried off, after sustaining a serious injury, diving at the feet of an onrushing forward. This resulted in key defender Max Pemberton having to go in goal and worse was to follow when they were reduced to ten men in the 63rd minute, when Steve Wankiewicz was dismissed for a professional foul.

Rainworth started the game on the front foot when Wankiewicz’s well directed through ball found Kyle Jordan, but his 35-yard effort was just wide of the upright.

With one minute nineteen seconds on the clock Garforth took the lead when Mark Simpson beat the offside trap and gave Townsend no chance for the opener.

Rainworth regrouped and when Max Pemberton found Ross Goodwin his header gave Peter Lawrie no chance for the equaliser.

Two minutes later and Goodwin once again scored with a header this time from Jack Waddle’s through ball.

The game was end-to-end with both sides going close, Garforth did have the ball in the net on 14 minutes, but Simpson’s effort was ruled offside.

The equaliser came in the 18th minute when after a slick passing move Townsend dived bravely at the Garforth forward’s feet and the ball diverted across the goal where Dan Coupland had the easiest of tasks, putting the ball into the empty net.

After receiving extensive treatment for four minutes it appeared Townsend would be able to continue. However just before the restart he went down again and after more treatment had to be helped off the field, with what appeared to be a serious leg injury. This resulted in Danny Booth replacing Townsend and Pemberton taking over in goal.

The game continued at a breakneck pace with Simpson just unable to get an excellent through-ball under control whilst at the other end Tomas Poole’s shot cum cross was inches wide of the far upright.

On 32 minutes Pemberton did well to block Callum Ward’s effort and it was cleared.

Poole continued to be a threat and on 35 minutes Garforth had Lawrie to thank as he blocked his fierce drive before regathering the ball as Kyle Jordan bore down.

In the final minute of the half, Ward was allowed to run into the area, but his attempted chip failed to test Pemberton, going well over.

That signalled the end of what had been a very entertaining half, one in which both sides had had periods of dominance, the 2-2 scoreline being a fair reflection of how close it had been.

Rainworth started the second half just as they had the first and in the opening minute Jack McMurrough did well to head Poole’s cross out for a corner as Jordan waited to pounce at the far post.

Two minutes later and Lawrie did well to tip Poole’s fierce drive over for a corner.

Then disaster for Rainworth as Wankiewicz mistimed his tackle as Ward bore down on goal and the referee had no option but to show him a red card, deeming him to be the ‘last man’.

Rainworth brought on Brad Wilson for Luke Walker in order to bring the defence up to full-strength and then brought on Nathan Modest for Alex Nightingale.

A great run by Modest had Lawrie gathering his shot at the second attempt, as Rainworth continued to threaten.

Garforth pushed hard for a winner but a determined Rainworth denied them producing an excellent rear-guard action when required, with only ten men and an outfield player in goal.

No-one epitomised that more than Ross Goodwin, whose two goals and non-stop action deservedly saw him awarded the man of the match award.

Rainworth MWFC: Townsend (Booth); Ludlam; Pemberton; Goodwin; Adams; Wankiewicz; Poole; Waddle; Walker (Wilson); Jordan; Nightingale (Modest).
Subs: Bennett; Knowles.

Man of the match: Ross Goodwin

Referee James King

Attendance 75.