EMCL - Aylestone Park FC 3-1 Gedling Miners Welfare

Miners lose on the road

Aylestone Park ………………….. 3 (Aycott 34’, Foster 35’, 70)
Gedling Miners Welfare ………. 1 (McCaughey pen 90’)
(HT 2-0)

Miners lose in Leicestershire

Gedling Miners Welfare visited Saffron Road on Saturday afternoon to face an Aylestone Park side that, at the start of play, sat below the visitors and were thumped 5-0 away to Radford last time out. Meanwhile, Gedling travelled to Leicester looking to build on arguably their most impressive result this season, a 2-0 midweek win away at Selston 10 days ago, having not played last weekend.

The home side started the better of the two, but both teams exchanged early chances in the opening minutes. Abou Sylla, starting very lively on the left, looked to trouble his marker early as his direct pace and trickery carved open a chance for debutant Eroll Campbell but his effort was tame. At the other end, the quick Chris Aycott looked to trouble fill-in ‘keeper Dave Green but, after good work from Luke Dalby, his shot was superbly blocked by Dwayne Brown.

Aylestone continued to probe with their very direct long ball approach looking early for the lively Aycott, but in truth the game was scrappy. At the other end, Campbell may have been rewarded with a debut goal but his effort crept wide after a deft flick by Jay Knight allowed him the opportunity. Despite this, Gedling started slowly primarily and were mainly on the back foot aiming to thwart any long passes.

Danny Pass, starting well, registered his side’s first shot in anger on Edward Cavezial’s goal but his effort cleared the crossbar by quite some distance. However, at this stage, Gedling were slowly coming into the game and by the time Campbell had an effort ruled out for offside on the 21st minute, they were in complete ascendency of the game. The striker adjudged already ahead of the play as Brown’s effort was parried by Cavezial.

The football on display by the visitors was commendable and very easy on the eye at times. Contrarily, the lengthy passing on show by Aylestone was slowly starting to frustrate them as very little was paying off. However, their best opportunity came when the tricky Aycott found himself in behind Dwayne Brown and his delightful cross found the outstretched Ryan Foster but, leaning back, his effort was spooned over the crossbar. Though, they didn’t have to wait long for their opener as, in a matter of minutes, all of Gedling’s hard work and intricacy in possession came completely undone.

Just after the half hour, the customary long ball by Cameron Laywood found the space of Aycott who fired his effort low past Green, arguably deserved for the frontman who started well, but completely against the run of play and a minute later and the game was all but sealed just before half time. Direct from Kick off, Gedling lost possession and Aycott, this time turning provider split the defence with a pinpoint cross for the unmarked Foster who tapped home.

A 2-0 scoreline at the interval that flattered Aylestone and 7 minutes after the break Gary Vizzard really could have placed the cherry on the metaphoric cake but his thunderous effort from all of 35 yards crashed back off the woodwork

5 minutes later and Gedling really should have been back in the game at what was the start of a period of domination from the men from Mapperley. A chipped Ross McCaughey free kick was deflected and found its way to the unmarked Sylla who, poised for a diving header, could only direct his effort onto the crossbar and the danger was eventually cleared. 2 minutes after, McCaughey, this time finding himself on the right, danced his way into the area evading two tackles and cut the ball back for Carey Knight but his effort ballooned over the bar as Gedling sensed the impetus.

Just before the hour and they were given their best chance to pull one back and make the final half an hour very interesting. Sylla, still continuing to cause panic in the home defence, was inexplicably hauled down in the area sparking angry protests from Aylestone who thought there was a foul in their favour in the build-up. In the melee, home ‘keeper Cavezial inexcusably shoved referee Dave Bullen during his enquiry and he was duly given his marching orders for violent conduct.

However, Sylla, waiting a lengthy amount of time whilst Aylestone adjusted their now shorthanded team, dusted himself off but stroked the spot kick wide of the mark with sub ‘keeper Adam Pettit beaten - retribution from an Aylestone perspective.

The travellers got the sense that their trip to county neighbours was in vain as nothing fell their way as the game wore on and on the 70th minute their afternoon was compounded by going three down. An innocuous forward punt out the hands by Pettit beat everyone, albeit wind assisted, and Ryan Foster in on goal composed himself to fire past Green to seal the three points for Aylestone.

As the second half wore on, Gedling, to their credit, continued to push forward in an attempt to at least find themselves on the scoresheet and they were rewarded with almost the last kick of the game. A wide cross, this time by Jake Wholey, was handled in the air by Luke Dalby and a second penalty of the game was awarded. On this occasion, McCaughey stepped up to dispatch Gedling’s consolation effort sending Pettit the wrong way.

A bad day at the office for the away side as, through their own admission, their inconsistency continues to be their Achilles heel this season. They host Borrowash Victoria at Plains Road next Saturday (6th January) with a 3pm kick off.

Everyone at Gedling Miners Welfare Football Club would like to wish their supporters, readers and everyone associated with the East Midlands Counties League a happy and prosperous New Year.

Gedling Miners Welfare Man of the Match – Ross McCaughey

Match Attendance – 50

Referee – Mr. Dave Bullen
Assistant Referees – Mr. Nigel Marriott and Mr. George Markou

Aylestone Park – Edward Cavezial, Pearce Fox, Liam Donaghy, Luke Dalby, Cameron Laywood, Jack Blanksby, Ryan Foster (Sam Nicolello 75’), Shaun Hunt, Chris Aycott, Joel Earps (c) (Andy Fell 68’), Gary Vizzard (Adam Pettit 58’).
Unused Substitutes –Jouel Potter, Glody Kutumbuka.
Cautions – Donaghy (foul 80’).
Dismissal – Cavezial (violent conduct 58’) Donaghy (dissent 90')

Gedling Miners Welfare – Dave Green, Dwayne Brown, Ross McCaughey, Charlie Roberts, Jimmy Spiers (c), Danny Pass (Stephen Brett 53’), Carey Knight (Cardell Lubban 61’), Jay Knight, Eroll Campbell, Jake Wholey, Abou Sylla.
Unused Substitutes – Jack Jepson, Chris Marks, Stuart Robinson.
Caution – Wholey (foul 49’) McAughey (unsportsmanlike conduct 90')

Match report compiled and edited by Marc Williams
(marcusa.williams5@hotmail.co.uk; marc.williams@nottingham.ac.uk)