Gedling MW 6-2 Saffron Dynamo

Gedling Miners Welfare secured their first victory of 2022 with a thumping 6-2 home victory over Saffron Dynamo in a hugely entertaining match.

A Rhys Harbottle hattrick, Paolo Piliero penalty, Liam Corrigan header and Buba Ceesay goal ensured The Miners claimed all three points at Plains Road.

Gedling raced into an early lead when Harbottle opened the scoring three minutes in. He received the ball 25 yards from goal, and with the visitors’ goalkeeper way off his line he produced an accurate lob that sent the ball over him and into the back of the net.

The hosts continued their positive start and Craig Meakin went close to adding a second goal, just over ten minutes in. His shot from the edge of the area, just cleared the crossbar.

Just over twenty minutes in, Gedling were presented with a fantastic opportunity to double their lead when they were awarded a penalty. Niall Hylton rolled the ball to Greg Tempest who beat the defender to the ball and was brought down in the area. Piliero duly stepped up and smashed the penalty into the net via the post.

The visitors hit back almost immediately and reduced the deficit. Elliot Butler slipped the ball past an onrushing Matthew Simpson after a fine team move.

On the half hour Simpson made a vital save to maintain Gedling’s lead. A defence splitting pass created a one on one opportunity but Simpson spread himself impressively to block the shot and deny Saffron Dynamo an equaliser.

Before half time, Gedling had an opportunity to extend their lead. Tempest teed up Hylton who cut in from the wing and fired a shot narrowly wide of the target.

The second half began, very much as the first half had ended, in a cagey, tight manner with few clear cut opportunities.

Just after the hour mark, the game burst into life as the visitors’ captain Ben Tye was rightly shown a straight red card for a rash challenge and aggressive reaction.

Gedling immediately capitalised on their man advantage from the resultant freekick. Josh Thornton’s pinpoint delivery picked out Corrigan who firmly nodded the ball into the back of the net.

Five minutes later Gedling had a fourth. A wonderfully flowing passing move culminated in Piliero crossing for Harbottle who headed in his second goal of the game.

Harbottle completed his hattrick five minutes from time. Ruben Wiggins-Thomas’ determined burst into the box created the opportunity and he picked out an unmarked Harbottle who slotted the ball past the ‘keeper to make it 5-1.

As the game ticked into injury time substitute Isaiah Romeo Ojo grabbed Saffron a consolation to reduce the deficit to three.

Gedling however, had the last word as Buba Ceesay tapped in their sixth of the afternoon following great work from Wiggins-Thomas.

The only blemish on Gedling’s afternoon was when Niall Hylton was sent off in the last few seconds for an angry reaction following a challenge on him by an opponent.

The win lifts Gedling to within striking distance of the top ten in the league table.