EMCL - Selston FC 0-2 Gedling Miners Welfare

Miners win at the Parish

Selston FC…………….……….0
Gedling Miners Welfare …....2 (Jay Knight 61, Sylla 86)
(HT 0-0 )

Gedling back to winning ways in style

The Miners travelled north to the Parish ground to meet Selston FC, one of the surprise packages of the season. The home side sat proudly in 2nd place in the table boasting an envious home record with just one defeat at home. Gedling were still unable to pick from a full squad with 5 or 6 regulars unavailable.

Early exchanges were promising for both teams. Elliot Jones, spearheading the home attack, linking well with livewire winger Dom Airey. For the visitors, Abou Sylla started well backed up by some cute midfield probing from Joe Meakin and Jay Knight. Knight almost opened the scoring after 8 minutes but his shot flashed wide of Jake Balls post.

As the game wore on both sides squandered half chances but the homesters were particularly dangerous on set pieces. Carl Moore was proving a handful up top but skipper Jimmy Spiers and partner Charlie Roberts coped well enough and Scott Miles, in the Gedling goal, hardly had a meaningful shot to save, content with some hand warming catching practice.

The best chance of the half fell to Jay Knight whose thunderous shot was well saved by Ball, who quickly recovered to stop the rebounded goal-bound shot from Sylla. Roberts also fancied a piece of the attacking action as he strode out of defence on a mazy run to test Ball, who did well to save low down.

On the stroke of half time a blow for Selston. Centre forward Jones shown a second card by Mr Smith for a knee high challenge on Ross McCaughey. Jones had previously been booked in the 10th minute for kicking the ball away, the phrase “walking a tightrope” came to mind.

Goalless at HT and the game was nicely poised. In the second period Selston continued to try and find an opening and the visitors knew the game was up for grabs as they strode forward with purpose in search of a very welcome 3 points.

The opening came on 61. A long sweeping ball from Spiers out to the right wing found debutant and recently introduced substitute Lyam Webster. After skinning his full back his low shot across the box eluded Ball and Jay
was on hand to sweep the ball home for the lead. A fine goal and on his birthday to boot !

Tails now up and sensing blood, Gedling continued to take the game to their hosts and Sylla, on the left was having a brilliant game, as time and again, he bamboozled Shaun Farnsworth and company to produce chance after chance. Joe Evans tried his luck from distance as the whole Gedling team powered forward in an immense display of attacking football.

Some of the wing play from Sylla and substitute Carden Lubban left the home defence in knots and Meakin, Knight and the Gedling midfield held firm denying Selston any chance to build up any kind of forward momentum.

Four minutes from time and the game was sealed. Sylla picked up the ball on the left and danced his way past a hesitant defence. With the ball seemingly glued to his boots and almost at the bye line, he found room for a shot and swept the ball past the despairing dive of Ball. 2-0 to the visitors and fully deserved.

A tremendous Squad performance from Gedling. They showed guts, temerity, commitment and desire to win at a tricky venue against a competent tem. The back line and ‘keeper were rock solid all evening, the midfield blocked any forward threat from Selston and the front players caused panic all night long as they tormented the home defence.

Match Attendance – 122
Referee – Mr Daniel Smith
Assistant Referees – Mr Nick Lees and Mr Wayne Porter

Selston FC – Jake Ball, Jamie Renshaw, Grant Hackett, Ben Moore ©,
Shaun Farnsworth (Sean Gregory 70’), Dominic Airey (Tom Widdowson 82’), Perry Marriot, Kane Hempshall, Elliot Jones, Carl Moore, Kenan Layton
Unused Substitutions – Sam Weston, Lee Sutton and Darren Haslam.
Cautions – Jones (10’ dissent) Marriot (72’ foul) Moore (86’ foul)
Dismissal – Jones (2nd yellow foul)

Gedling Miners Welfare – Scott Miles, Joe Evans, Charlie Roberts, Jimmy Spiers (c), Ross McCaughey, Carey Knight (Lyam Webster 57’), Luke Smith, Jay Knight, Daniel Pass (Cardell Lubban 70’), Joe Meakin, Aboubacar Sylla.
Unused Substitution – Stuart Robinson
Cautions – Sylla (14’ foul) Smith (23’ dissent)