Frustrating Times

For the second match running Rainworth MWFC had been on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline, albeit against the more established teams in the Division.

Both Pickering Town and Hemsworth MW have been built over the years, whilst Rainworth are still in their infancy and still learning.

It is a frustrating process for both management, players and fans alike as last night’s result proved, in a match were both teams had periods of dominance. Hemsworth capitalised on their opportunities whilst Rainworth didn’t, helped in part by defensive lapses.

In the opening minute Rainworth almost opened the scoring when Luke Walker set up Tomas Poole, but his fierce shot hit Danny Rusling on the line and it was cleared.

Hemsworth responded in the 3rd minute but Nash Connolly’s effort was easily gathered by Andy Francis. Both sides were testing each other and on nine minutes Matty Sykes’s effort went just over the crossbar.

Hemsworth continued to press, and Samuel Jones had two efforts in quick succession, the first easily saved by Francis, the second went well wide. At this point it was end-to-end in an entertaining match and in the 16th minute Walker’s goal bound effort was blocked at the expense of a corner.

The opening goal came in the 19th minute when Rainworth failed to cut out a cross from the left and Chris Ovington reacted the quickest and placed it into net past the stranded Francis. Rainworth had another close call in the 25th minute when Jones’s shot cum cross was blocked on the line by Francis.

Rainworth thought they had equalised in the 29th minute when Kyle Jordan beat the offside trap, he put the ball past the advancing Rusling, but it went agonisingly inches the wrong side of the upright.

The second goal came in the 36th minute when Rainworth conceded a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Richard Collier, who was a thorn in Rainworth’s side all evening, stepped up and hit a superb free-kick, which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

The second goal forced Rainworth to throw caution to the wind as they dominated the final minutes of the half. In the 43rd minute from Max Pemberton’s long throw the ball was flicked into Walker’s path but his header was straight at Rusling. On the stroke of half-time Jordan’s shot on the turn was brilliantly turned over the bar by Rusling.

Hemsworth started the second-half on the front foot and Connolly put his effort over when well-placed.

In the 53rd minute Rainworth made their first substitution bringing on Nathan Modest for Walker. Shortly afterwards Poole’s snatched effort was well off target.

On 57 minutes Rainworth made a second substitution bringing on Gareth Curtis for Poole and a minute later Rainworth pulled a goal back as Ross Goodwin’s cross from the left was helped over the line by Jordan.

Rainworth were now pushing for an equaliser but Goodwin’s effort was well over and worse was to follow when Hemsworth scored a third after Rainworth went to sleep at the back. There seemed no danger but when Collier was allowed to cross the ball Chris Ovington reacted the quickest, stabbing the ball over the line.

Rainworth continued to press and Modest’s effort was deflected for a corner. Rainworth made their final substitution bringing on Charlie Dawes for Jordan.

Rainworth almost conceded an identical goal to the third but Sykes managed to intercept the cross and put it out for a corner. The play was mostly in the Hemsworth half and Goodwin went close with a header from Pemberton’s long-throw. They went even closer minutes later when Rusling pulled off an excellent one-handed save to prevent Sykes pulling a goal back.

The final goal came in the 84th minute when Rainworth were caught on the break, Bradley Dockerty rounded Francis and with a defender desperately trying to get back he casually tapped the ball over the line.

Still Rainworth came forward and Sykes’s shot cum cross was inches away from being converted by Curtis and minutes later Dawes’s effort was deflected for a corner.

At the final whistle, although Hemsworth had deserved the victory, the score-line gave a distorted look to an entertaining game in which their clinical finishing had been the difference.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Francis; Booth; Ludlam; Goodwin; Adams; Wilson; Poole (Curtis); Pemberton; Walker (Modest): Jordan (Dawes); Sykes.
Subs (not used): Bennett; Knowles.

Referee: Mr Aaron Bannister

Attendance: 95