EMCL ~ Gedling Miners 0 Arnold Town 2

Gedling MW......0
Arnold Town....2 (Hore 57, Spiers 64)

A pretty even first half with the Miners just edging it in front of a bumper crowd in the early Spring sunshine.

All the best chances fell to the home team early on but Courtney Hastings was proving troublesome with his pace and movement. Gedling suffered an early blow when Alex Clarson had to be replaced by Dan Gleeson due to injury. Their rhythm was not interrupted however and Gizz Brett went close with a header and Joe Hopper shot just wide after good work by skipper Mushambi. Luke Stanley had the ball in the net after half an hour but the offside flag denied the lead.

The home defence looked pretty solid and were dealing competently with the Eagles counter attacks. At the other end ex-Miners Hatfield and Nightingale were proving a tough barrier to penetrate.

The second half was much of the same and Tony Law went close but all was undone 12 minutes in. James Price swung over a free kick from the left which was not dealt with by Max Danby. The ball ran loose to skipper Simon Hore who hooked the ball fortuitously over his shoulder into the corner of the net.

Another Price free-kick seven minutes later Danby elect to push the ball away rather than catch it. Unfortunately the ball fell to Hastings at the far stick and when it was played back across the goal, Jimmy Spiers was on hand to fire home from close range. Somewhat cruel on the home side as they were more than matching their opponents from Eagle Valley.

Jack Hopper was introduced soon after and almost had an immediate effect. Racing onto a Law through ball he fired just over. For the visitors Reggie Royes had a couple of decent efforts but the game was over as a contest with Arna content to settle for the bragging rights.

All in all a fine spectacle of football with no quarter asked or given from two old rivals.

Gedling Man of Match
Courtney Bartley ~ always on the front foot with some storming runs into the heart of Arnold’s defence.

Att ~ 217
Referee ~ Eddie Cook
Assistants ~ Derek Spray and Andy Harland

Gedling MW ~ Max Danby, Courtney Bartley, Harry Simpson, Steve Brett, Anthony Brown, Kelvin Mushambi (C), Joe Hopper, Luke Stanley (Rod Maveso 71) Tony Law, Mitchell Slawson (Jack Hopper 65) Alex Clarson (Dan Gleeson 16)
Subs not used ~ Martin McCardle, Scott Miles.
Yellow card ~ Stanley (40 foul)

Arnold Town ~ Ross Cherry, Craig Meakin, Josh Hanley, Corey Nightingale, Warren Hatfield, James Price, Reggie Royes (Barry Payne 87) Simon Hore (C) Courtney Hastings, Jimmy Spiers, Steve Cox (Tian Walton 45)
Sub not used ~ Sam Peters.
Yellow card ~ Nightingale (60 foul)