EMCL ~ Gedling 2 Birstall Utd FC 8

Gedling….2 (Joe Hopper 18, Whitehead pen 47)
Birstall…..8 (Young 6, Way 30, Marriott 45, Moore 54, Jelley 67, Bibby 71, 74, 80)

As if the scoreline wasn’t bad enough for Gedling after an hour played, substitute Ethan Bibby came off the bench to further rub salt into the Miners wounds with a hat-trick in 9 minutes.

Returning ‘keeper Lance Walker was alert enough in the first 2 minutes to deny Dan Jelley a decent chance but was beaten in the 6th minute when Charlie Young reacted quicker than the home defence to latch onto a long through ball to fire home for the opening goal.

The hosts were level on 18 when Joe Hopper struck from 18 yards after being fed by Francis, his shot talking a slight deflection off a defenders shin. Game on and for the most part the Miners were more than a match for their opponents.

Walker again was called upon to keep his side level with a super double save from Jelley but Gedling went behind again on the half hour when a direct free kick from full back Ash Way sailed over the defence and went in off the far post. With the last kick of the half Birstall scored their third as Tom Marriott fired home.

A glimmer of hope for the home side on 47 when Alex Clarson’s run into the box was halted illegally by Way. Skipper Whitehead made no mistake from the resulting spot kick. Two further goals from Jelley and Sam Moore effectively ended the contest as the visitors ran riot highlighted by Super Sub Bibby who went home with the match ball with a well taken hat-trick.

Once again the home sides display didn’t really reflect the scoreline and they have played worse and won games.

No-one gave up on the cause but on the day the better side prevailed.

Gedling Man of Match ~ Joe Hopper
He will be sorely missed when he departs on his Far East sojourn at the end of the month

Att ~ 92
Referee ~ Phil Carey
Assistants ~ Tim Gregory and Scott Anderson

Gedling ~ Lance Walker, Niall Williams (Mark Ballard 54) Tom Grady, Charlie Roberts, Jake Athorn, Chris Hall, Joe Hopper, Jordan Whitehead, Alex Clarson, Eugene Francis (Rob Houghton 63) Jack Hopper (Kadeem Brown 67)
Subs not used ~ Charlie Brown and Dom Bradbury)
Yellow card ~ Joe Hopper (25 foul)

Birstall Utd ~ Mann-Kier, Kee, Way (Green 63) Boulter, Dodd, Williams, Young, Dodd, Marriott (Bibby 63) Jelley, Moore.
Sub not used ~ Ballard.
Yellow card ~ Dodd ( 52 dissent)