EMCL - Gedling Miners Welfare 4 -v- 2 Ingles

Gedling edge newcomers Ingles in 6-goal classic at Plains Road

Gedling Miners Welfare ………….... 4 (Harrison 25’, Jepson 32’, Brown 36’, Hastings 89’)
Ingles …………………………………........ 2 (Woolley 53’, Hammond 77’)
(HT 3-0)

Gedling Miners Welfare survived a second half comeback to ensure they took home their first points of the new campaign against league newcomers Ingles at Plains Road. Goals from Joe Harrison, Dwayne Brown and Jack Jepson gave Miners a comfortable half time lead before debutant Courtney Hastings rounded things off in the final minute following an in vain fightback from the visitors.

The game was only two minutes old when the lively Laithan Hammond had an opportunity to find strike partner Adam Smith but his pass was under hit and the retreating Liam Corrigan partly annulled the threat. Hammond’s rebounded effort was fired straight at Danny Brown. At the other end, Jack Jepson found himself behind a sleeping defensive line but he never really had control of the ball and the danger was eventually cleared. The match was open and really enticed any attacking football with both sides in no mood to adapt a defensive mind set. Smith then went close to putting his side ahead but his shot was pickings for Brown in the home goal.

Whilst they started brightly, the away defence were extremely nervous, contrary to their opening two fixtures where they didn’t concede and Gedling often found themselves in behind; unexpected prior to the game. Despite this, Ingles continued to threaten and Hammond nearly put his side ahead in spectacular fashion but his audacious volley from all of 30 yards was superbly tipped over the crossbar by the alert Brown who was proving a thorn in the visitors’ attack.

The match continued to provide ample opportunity for an attacking approach and both sets of rear guards were always on the back foot and after 25 minutes played it was Ingles who were exposed first. After Dwayne Brown, starting up front on the day, found himself in acres of space behind a questionable defence, his square pass found the onrushing Joe Harrison who calmly slotted the ball past Oliver Buchanan for the lead. The midfielder’s first goal since joining from Basford United in the summer.

Gedling sensed the impetus after going in front and they began to take control of the encounter. Their application to the game was commendable and Ingles found it difficult to combat their physical, yet impressive, approach and things got even better for them 7 minutes after going in front when they doubled their lead. After another superb through ball, supplied this time by Joe Meakin, split the lethargic Ingles defence, Jepson controlled superbly and fired across Buchanan into the far corner to put Miners in a comfortable position.

At this stage, Gedling were dominant and they looked in little danger despite Ingles threatening early on. The away side, on the other hand, were becoming frustrated with how things were panning out and their constant appeals to the officials were starting to fall on deaf ears.

The hosts looked a far cry from their opening fixtures of the season and were starting to look like a team that would find themselves at the higher end of the table come May. They battled well defensively and the midfield rearrangement, implemented after last weekend’s defeat at Eastwood, was beginning to stamp their authority on the game.

Whilst Ingles always looked a worry going forward, with Hammond and winger Sean Woolley looking promising from their perspective, the away back line always looked precarious and Gedling took complete advantage of such when, 9 minutes before the half, they made it 3.

After finding space, Sam Mellor’s delightful over-the-top chip found the clever movement of Brown and the striker volleyed the ball over a stranded Buchanan, after controlling well, to give Gedling an unassailable lead going into the break. A superb effort from Brown that left the away custodian with no chance as his reaction in questioning the whereabouts of his colleagues was more than evidential.

Three up at the break and no doubt Gedling’s best 45 minute performance seen at Plains Road in a long time. Only 2 minutes after the restart and Jepson may have put the game out of sight but, amidst more hesitant defending, his shot was saved well by Buchanan who deflected wide via a knee.

Despite the defensive frailties, Ingles always posed a worthy threat going forward so their frustration in the first period was understandable. Gedling were always aware of ability they had in their attacking ranks but couldn’t do anything to prevent what happened in the 53rd minute. In a game where the long ball approach was paying dividends, Dean Copson’s 40 yard strike into the path of Woolley was collected well and his fierce strike across Brown nestled into the far corner to give his side a sense of hope. A great effort by the winger who deserved to get on the scoresheet.

The visitors sensed a comeback was viable and Woolley’s goal really encouraged them to come out and make a game of it. 10 minutes later and they may have really thought their trip to Nottingham might not have been wasted but Smith’s effort from just outside the area was held well by Brown who got down well. 6 minutes later and an in-swinging corner by Billy Blackshaw managed to travel all the way through a crowded area but Ross McCaughey, defending the far post, headed off the line and the ball was thumped clear.

At the other end in the 74th minute, in a carbon copy to Blackshaw’s effort, McCaughey’s dangerous set piece was cleared off the line at the far stick, this time by substitute Bryce White who kept his side in with a shout and his defensive efforts was rewarded when, 3 minutes later, Ingles pulled within one.

After attempting to find his strike partner, Hammond’s through ball was intercepted but, with fortune, the striker picked up his own loose pieces on the edge of the area but there was nothing lucky about his effort as his thunderous left-footed strike found the top corner much to the delight of the travelling fans and his colleagues.

As the last ten minutes approached, nervousness started to become apparent in a Gedling side that looked more than comfortable for the majority of the afternoon, but Ingles failed to produce any further noteworthy attacks as the game ran toward its conclusion. Pushing for the equaliser, they became more exposed and 2 minutes before the final whistle, the home side added a fourth that put the game to bed.

When Brown collected the ball with time, his delicate round-the-corner pass, aimed for Courtney Hastings, was seemingly dealt with by Dan Tuck but his pass inside to his ‘keeper fell short and Hastings, on his debut, delightfully curled his effort in the far corner via a post that confirmed Gedling would take home all 3 points, their first of the new campaign.

A solid home performance from the Miners saw off a spirited comeback by the Leicestershire side in what was an extremely end-to-end and exciting affair. A thoroughly deserved 3 points should certainly kick start their season and they will look for another victory next week (25th August) when Belper United visit Plains Road, kick off 3pm.

Match Attendance – 86

Referee – Thomas Hales
Assistant Referees – Tim Gregory and Roland Smith

Gedling Miners Welfare – Danny Brown, Charlie Roberts, Ross McCaughey (c), Sam Mellor, Steven Brett, Liam Corrigan, Joe Meakin (Tristan Comery 82’), Joe Harrison (Courtney Hastings 72’), Jack Jepson (Jack Millward 90’), Jimmy Spiers, Dwayne Brown
Unused Substitutes – Liam Towle, Bijan Pakrouz
Cautions – Spiers (foul 61’)

Ingles – Oliver Buchanan, Lloyd Tapper (Dan Jelly 61’), Dan Tuck, Brad Brailsford (Bryce White 45’), James Brooks (c), Adam Boulter, Sean Woolley, Billy Blackshaw (River Hardy 75’), Adam Smith, Laithan Hammond, Dean Copson
Unused Substitutes – Michael Tuck
Cautions – Woolley (persistence 58’), Smith (foul 82’), Tuck (foul 85’)

EMCL Results -
Friday 17th August
Sherwood Colliery 4 - 2 West Bridgford

Saturday 18th August
Arnold Town 1 - 6 Graham Street Prims
Ashby Ivanhoe 2 - 0 Rainworth Miners Welfare
Barrow Town 0 - 4 Selston
Eastwood CFC 1 - 1 Belper United
Kimberley Miners Welfare 2 - 1 Clifton All Whites
Newark Flowserve 4 - 1 Heanor Town
Radford 7 - 0 Borrowash Victoria
Teversal 0 - 1 Clipstone Welfare