A great performance from the lads ended with a deserved 3-2 victory over Gedling Miners Welfare.
We started the game well and coped better than GMW with the wind as we looked dangerous in attack and solid at the back.
Our wingers were causing all kind of problems and we deservedly took the lead on 20 mins when a defence splitting pass let Lewis Hillier run on goal and he cooly finished to make it .
EIBS 1-0 GMW 20 mins
Gedling were shocked into life but a well organised defence kept them at arm's length. They got back into the game when on 30 mins a wind assisted shot from Jordan Whitehead looped over the goalie's head and into the back of the net.
EIBS 1-1 GMW 30 mins
Could we pick ourselves up and go again. Yes was the answer but not before Gedling took the lead when on 35 mins Jordan Whitehead scored his 2nd with a fine curling shot from 20 yards.
EIBS 1-2 GMW 35 mins
We re-grouped and you could see the determination in the team not to concede again.
From this point forward we took control and the only question was could we equalise before half-time. The answer was no but you could tell going into half time there was only going to be one winner.
HT
EIBS 1-2 GMW
We got straight into Gedling after the break and were creating chances, this left us open to the counter but this was a risk worth taking.
We played some of our best football of the season in difficult conditions as we pinged the ball around with confidence. We huffed and puffed and blew the house down on 60 mins when Lewis Bentley shot home from inside the box.
EIBS 2-2 GMW 60 mins
We went in front in strange circumstances when on 65 mins, Gedling could not clear a corner and two defenders slammed the ball against Connor O'Grady and the ball flew into the net.
The crowd went wild as we smelt a victory.
EIBS 3-2 GMW 65 mins
We needed to hold on and nick a 4th. Did the team panic no, did the crowd panic yes as shouts of "don't panic" rung out as the tension built and grown men were reduced to nervous wrecks.
As expected GMW piled on the pressure and some world class saves and last ditch defending saved us on more than one occasion.
We were tiring but the clock was against GMW. Every decision in our favour was cheered by the crowd and as the game entered injury time GMW should have equalised but they could not find a way through 11 men defending for their lives in the penalty box.
We deserved to win this game and to our relief the ref blew the final whistle to make the final score.
EIBS 3-2 GMW
Summary
The Chairman's message that we are a match for most sides in the league came true today as we battled for and got 3 points.
Today was a team effort from everyone connected with the club and after recent results we deserved this win.
Today was special and while we won't win every game, I believe we have turned a corner and will start picking up wins to pull us away from the relegation zone.
This win keeps us in 18th place on 15 points from 24 games. We are twelve points above Greenwood Meadows and 4 points behind Holwell Sports.
We travel to St Andrews next week in good heart and ready to give it a good go.