'KW squad' make it back to back wins to celebrate staying up

RAINWORTH rounded off a bizarre fortnight by achieving their first back to back wins of 2013 and putting Stamford’s play-off qualification champagne on ice.

The lesson seems to be ‘if in trouble resign from the league, react with a win, withdraw the resignation, and win again’ for, having submitted their resignation letter prior to last Saturday’s home game against Leek Town they won that one 1-0 and, with the news of a change in financial circumstances prompting an about turn on Friday, this excellent win 24 hours later was a fitting celebration.
The depleted Wrens overturned a first half deficit from a soft Ricky Miller goal to take command in the second half and win it with goals in the last 15 minutes by Daniels old boy Kieran Watson and his partner in the Wrens’ ‘KW squad’ Kieran Wells.
The third member of that fraternity, Kieran Walker, was absent through illness along with suspended Ashley Kitchen and Damian Magee.
So manager Kevin Gee raided the Wrens’ reserve side to give starting shirts to Job Shaw and Jordan Claxton, with Adam Somes making a late appearance from the bench.
It was difficult in the first half to see where a Wrens goal would come from to cancel out Stamford’s soft seventh minute opener.
It came from Jordan Hempenstall’s long throw, the bounce in the box appearing to deceive keeper Neil West and his defenders, leaving Miller with the simplest of far post headers.
Two minutes later Wells’ looping header following an uncleared free kick was too high. But it was the Daniels calling most of the tune, although Shaw in particular looked to have a mature head on his young shoulders and, with skipper Mark Camm also well on top of his game to deny Stamford any further joy, despite Tom Byrne being a constant thorn in the Wrens’ side on the Daniels’ left.
However, it was Watson who had the last worthwhile effort of the first half for Rainworth, shooting straight at keeper Matt Finlay, just one minute after being harsly booked for a push.
Byrne shots cleared the bar twice early in the second half, Rainworth responding with Claxton aiming just wide.
Wrens’ hearts were in mouths in the 55th minute when Shaw marred his otherwise impressive performance by tripping Miller in the box on the left by-line, but when Andy Hall sliced his spot kick wide it injected a new lease of life into the visitors.
Hanson aimed his free kick from inside the ‘D’ way too high, but the Wrens were deservedly level in the 75th minute. Finlay clawed away Jared Holmes’ header onto Callum Lloyd’s troublesome cross but when the clearance was not completed Watson drilled a spearing low drive from the right of the box into the far corner.
Lloyd’s effort from distance just cleared the bar three minutes later, but Rainworth surged into the lead in the 81st minute. Robbie Maddox was booked for a deliberate trip on Wells out on the right and Ryan Goward’s free kick found the net with the slightest of touches from the head of Wells to help it in.
As Rainworth went looking for more goals Watson twice and Wells all saw shots blocked in the ensuing minute, and Wells saw another good effort well saved.
Stamford almost stole an equaliser in the 86th minute when West struggled to deal with a Byrne cross but then brilliantly tipped Miller’s vicious rising drive over the bar, after which the home side never really threatened again.
STAMFORD: Finlay, Wright, S. Saunders, Ozmen (Marshall 74), Maddox, Hall (Staff 85), Byrne, Hempenstall, Milller, B. Saunders, Richards. Subs not used: Atkins, Swales.
RAINWORTH: West, Hanson, Goward, Camm, Shaw, Claxton (Hollis 90+1), Lloyd, Bacon, Wells (Somes 89), J. Holmes, Watson. Sub not used: Jenkins.
REFEREE: Sean Richardson of Sutton-in-Ashfield.
ATTENDANCE: 310.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Job Shaw.