Arnold Town...4 (K.Mitchell 7, Hayes 54, Clarson 72 and 73)
Gedling............3 (Evans 17, Athorn 41, K.Brown 83)

No joy at Eagle Valley

This eagerly awaited local derby didn’t disappoint in the proverbial game of two halves. In front of a large enthusiastic crowd the home side took an early lead through speedy winger Kaylum Mitchell whose pace took him clear of the visitors defence in the 7th minute to fire low and hard across Scott Miles for the opener. Prior to this Eugene Francis and debutant Raul Garcia had decent efforts on the home goal. Mitchell also saw a fine effort rebound back into play after hitting the post after 11.

Gedling then went on to boss the remainder of the period and hit their hosts with 2 goals, both from cross come shots. Aaron Evans powered home the first after 17 with a shot which completely deceived Ross Cherry and went in off the far post. In between the Gedling goals Charlie Roberts almost scored with a header which Mason Frizelle cleared off his own line.

Defender Jake Athorn produced a carbon copy 4 minutes from the break from an identical position out wide right to ensure his team went in at 2-1 at the break.

A fine game was ensuing with no quarter given by either side in a typically hard fought Miners/Arna game.

A minute into the second period the referee adjudged that Grant Walton had bought down a home forward and awarded a penalty. Miles kept his side in front with a fine save from Ruben Mitchell’s spot kick.

The equaliser came ten minutes in. Danny Hayes was quicker to react to a Payne free kick to scramble the ball home from close range for 2-2.

Still Gedling probed with good efforts from Francis, but slowly but surely Arnold were getting on top of the contest. Ex Miner Alex Clarson scored the go ahead goal after 72 following Mr Walker overruling his assistant who had flagged for offside. The Referee had quite rightly allowed the goal after spotting that the final pass to Clarson had come off a Gedling boot.

A minute later and it was 4-2. Clarson rose highest at the far post to head home a right wing corner. His team were coping very well with the Gedling attacks and mounting some counter attacks of their own with Mitchell and Joe Butler proving a handful.

The Miners got some reward with a third when Kadeem Brown’s corner kick eight minutes from time evaded defenders and attackers alike to drift over Cherry for the games seventh goal.

Visiting ‘keeper Miles pulled off a super save a minute later to deny the dangerous Butler and the homesters held on to gain the first bragging rights of the season.

A good game to watch for any neutrals and on another day Gedling may have nicked at least a point from the encounter. Onwards and upwards ~ the display was a lot better than in recent weeks. Areas need to be strengthened soon to gain some consistency though.

Gedling Man of Match ~ Jordan Whitehead

Att ~ 105

Referee ~Adrian Walker
Assistants ~ Derek Spray and Alex Smith

Arnold Town FC ~ Cherry, Frizelle (Price 45) Leggitt, Charles, Hayes, Smith, Ruban Mitchell (Millward 68) Clarson (Meakin 79) Butler, Kaylum Mitchell, Payne.
Subs not used ~ Littlewood andCoy
Yellow cards ~ Meakin (84 foul) K.Mitchell (90 foul)

Gedling ~ Scott Miles, Charlie Roberts, Grant Walton (C) Kadeem Brown, Ricky Gardner (Kelvin Mushambi 81) Aaron Evans, Eugene Francis, Raul Garcia (Chris Hall 45) Liam Corrigan (Dwayne Brown 68) Jordan Whitehead, Jake Athorn
Subs not used ~ Stuart Lewis and Luke Peters
Yellow cards ~ Roberts (10 foul) Evans (90 foul)

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