EMCL ~ Gedling 2 Radcliffe Olympic 3

Gedling....2 (Jack Hopper, K.Mushambi)
Olympic...3 (Jack Smith, Sweeting, Kenton-Bradshaw)

This was a game that the Miners could have easily won, but were hit by 3 goals in just over a quarter of an hour midway through the second period as Olympic stamped their authority on the game.

The home side started brightly enough and Tom Watson went close on a couple of occasions testing Jake Hinchcliffe in the Radcliffe goal and grazing the bar with another decent effort.

For their part, Olympic had a couple of half chances but, all in all, it was a pretty even first half with hardly any goal mouth action to seriously trouble either ‘keeper.

Two minutes in ~ and the breakthrough. A Harry Simpson corner on the right was chipped back into the danger area by Watson. Jack Hopper was first to react and hooked the ball over his shoulder and into the net via the far post. Felix Hogg, on as a second half substitute, had a fair chance to add to the home lead with a fine run and shot which Hinchcliffe just about dealt with.

Radcliffe stepped up their game in response and equalised through Sub Jack Smith whose header found the net with the Miners defence all at sea. Another Sub added a second, Sweeting netting with a fine volley with his first touch of the ball.

Chasing the game now and Gedling continued to create chances without that necessary killer touch in front of goal and it was no surprise when the visitors third came 10 minutes from time. Tricky Kieran Kenton-Bradshaw finishing off a slick move down the right flank.

The home team still battled away without much success until a few minutes from time when a Hogg free kick just outside the box seemed to take a deflection off the defensive wall flatfooting Hinchcliffe and finding the back of the net. Mushambi Senior claimed and was credited with the goal.

Once again, not for the first time this season, a cutting edge was the Miners achilles heel. A striker or strikers are what is urgently needed.

Gedling's Man of Match~
Joe Hopper ~ worked tirelessly in midfield

Att ~ 65
Referee ~ Will Murray
Assistants ~ Peter Craggs and Colt Simpson

GMWFC ~ Miles, Taylor, (Willetts 84) Brett, Moran, Simpson, K.Mushambi, Jack Hopper (Ballard 71) Joe Hopper, Brown, Watson, Fry (Hogg 45)
Subs not used ~ Broderick, TK Mushambi.

ROFC ~ Hinchcliffe, Durham (Jack Smith 59) Moore, Smallwood, Spence, Perkins, Kenton-Bradshaw, Marley (Sweeting 69) Yeomans, Ryan Smith, Norris (Hegarty 45)
Sub not used ~ Towers.
Yellow card ~Smallwood (68 foul)