Marvin hopes to break 38-minute hoodoo in FA Cup

By Gordon Foster

RAINWORTH MW will go into Saturday's FA Cup extra preliminary round tie against Midland League Dunkirk looking to lay an early season bogey.

In both of the Wrens' East Midands Counties League games so far they have had a player sent off in the 38th minute, albeit in contrasting circumstances.
Manager Ben Marvin had no complaints about Saturday's dismissal of Nick Labbate in a 2-0 home defeat by Heanor Town.
But Tuesday's red card for young goalkeeper Warren Squires was controversial, to say the least.
Had Rainworth kept 11 players on the field on Saturday they probably would have earned a point, but Heanor made the extra man count in the second half, having snatched the lead with virtually the last kick of the first period. Then an unfortunate own goal saw the Lions go home with maximum points.
But at Kimberley on Tuesday night, with Squires sent off following an incident which led to a penalty for the home side, Rainworth battled back for a point which could well have been three.
Skipper Jacob Lowe donned the jersey, and although his brave attempt to keep out the resulting spot kick only just failed, Blessing Adaleye levelled from a Rainworth penalty with less than two minutes of the second half on the clock - having headed against the post right at the end of the first half.
Marvin was full of praise for the character shown by his troops after the match, but admitted his mixed feelings.
He said: "I was proud of the way the boys responded to losing Warren, and really pleased that they kept their energy levels, pressed them high, and could easily have won the game on balance."
On the sending off itself, he added: "It was hard to tell why he was shown red. I believe the law is that if the keeper is trying to get the ball and make a save, and fouls someone in the process, then the correct decision is a yellow card and a penalty, but if he cynically takes a man out it's red.
"I spoke to Warren and he insisted he was trying to get the ball, and if that's so then it's a bad decision. I couldn't see it clearly enough myself, and would love to see video evidence bfut unfortunately the game wasn't recorded."
Now the Wrens lay aside their quest for their first EMCL victory when old rivals Dunkirk visit the Tomlin Personnel Stadium in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Marvin predicted a tough test, saying: "They went up as champions of this league last season, but on the back of our performances so far we will go in with a strong belief.
"We've not won yet this season, but the performances are getting better and better, so we will be going for a positive result - and hopefully keeping 11 men on the pitch."

Updated 14:20 - 30 Aug 2019 by Gordon Foster

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