EMCL -v- Radcliffe Olympic FC (Home) Lost 0-2

Gedling MW…………...0
Radcliffe Olympic……2 (Kemp 85, Ryan Smith 93)

Radcliffe do a job on the Miners

The Gaffer quite rightly pointed out in his pre-match brief that playing a wounded football team could be a potential banana skin. And so it turned out…!

Olympic came to Plains Road smarting after 2 defeats within a week – by contrast the Miners were on an upward spiral in form after 2 fine results. Football’s a funny old game as one distinguished pundit once said, and how right he was.

Despite looking the livelier team in the first half, Gedling fell to the proverbial sucker punch in the last 6 minutes to lose a game that they should have well and truly wrapped up within the hour.

As usual, the home side started the brighter almost took the lead as Jazz Westcarr powered towards goal but shot wide. Olympic replied almost at once when Jack Smith tested James Mountain. Tom Watson then came close on 12, latching onto a cross from Jazz only to find Andy Green keeping out the goal bound shot courtesy of his outstretched knees. Watson again was denied a goal by a linesman’s flag on the quarter hour and it seemed only a matter of time before the Miners would open the scoring.

For their part, the visitors were forced into long range shots from Tommy Kemp and Ryan Smith, but rarely threatening the home goal. However after 25 minutes Wes Spencer had to be on high alert to keep out a fine effort from Ryan Smith. At the other end, Gedling continued to knock on the door and Carl Westcarr went close again.

Radcliffe suffered a blow on 33 after ‘keeper Green was carried off with a serious shoulder injury, play being held up for 5 minutes whilst he received treatment. Diminutive Sub Adam Whitehead took over between the sticks. From the resultant restart Watson headed over from close range.

Goalless at the break with both sides finding it difficult to break the others defences down. Early doors and Liam Thompson and Kemp going close for Olympic and Jazz Westcarr just failing to find the target after a fine turn and shot. Tom Macdonald also tried his luck after being slipped in by Dom Jones, but the Olympic defence, finely marshalled by Miles and Elliott, were holding firm and protecting the inexperienced Whitehead between the sticks. Very rarely did the Miners front line take advantage of a nervous stand-in keeper.

Both sides made substitutions midway through the half, but to no real effect and the game looked to be heading for the inevitable goalless draw.

On 85 the first goal arrived. A crossfield ball from Jack Smith found the unmarked Kemp in the box and his fierce shot whistled past Mountain before he could move a muscle. The joy was to behold on the Radcliffe bench, sensing a victory within their grasp in a game they never looked like dominating.

Worse was to come for the Miners in stoppage time. For some inexplicable reason home keeper Mountain decided to dribble out of his area, taking on the Olympic forwards on the ground. Ryan Smith dispossessed the Miners custodian and gleefully shot home for his sides second.

If Gedling are to climb the table and turn good performances into points gained they must learn to kill teams off early and assert their authority. The players are showing signs of gelling, getting to know each other better and playing some fine football at times. Skipper Robinson again held his defence together and, in midfield, Watson and Luke Stanley worked tirelessly in a game that could, and should have been put to bed long before Kemp’s settled goal. A lack of firepower could easily become our Achilles Heel. The team need to be more ruthless in the last third or the season could easily slip into oblivion.

Referee ~ Mr A.Giles
Att ~ 85

Gedling MW ~ Mountain, Bradley, Robinson (C) Spencer, Korol, Carl Westcarr,
Jazz Westcarr (Heath 78) Stanley, Watson, Macdonald (Neill 62) Jones (Mawer 69)
Subs not used ~ Durham, Evans.

Radcliffe Olympic ~ Green (Whitehead 33) Bee, Waddley (Price 73) Hartshun, Miles, Thompson, Elliot (C) Thomas (Plummer 62) Ryan Smith, Jack Smith, Kemp.
Subs not used ~ Shelton, Gamble.