Rainworth Sleighed at the Town Ground

In the early minutes there was no sign that Rainworth would produce their worst performance under manager Lewis Saxby, one that left him tearing his hair out at the end. Despite Heanor having the advantage of a strong breeze it was Rainworth who almost opened the scoring in the 5th minute when Charlie Hardwick found Sam Dockwray on the edge of the area, but his goal bound effort was blocked on the line. A minute later and Joe toon’s effort flashed inches over the crossbar.

From the goal kick Heanor counter-attacked and Rainworth had Josh Hollis to thank as he made an excellent one-handed save from Sleigh. The pressure built on the Rainworth goal and in the 11th minute Kyle Daley saw his shot deflected for a corner. From the resultant corner the unmarked Sleigh punished Rainworth putting his shot beyond Hollis for the opening goal.

Three minutes later and another lapse in the defence allowed Daley all the time in the world to double Heanor’s lead with a simple tap-in. In the 17th minute it could have been three when Jordan Ball’s attempted lob from the halfway line beat Hollis but bounced off the crossbar to safety.

Rainworth briefly began to come to terms with the elements and they were unlucky when Dockwray’s goal bound effort in the 25th minute was deflected for a corner. Two minutes later and only a remarkable acrobatic save by Wayne White denied Dockwray.

The comeback was short-lived, and Sleigh almost scored when his shot on the turn went only inches over the crossbar with Hollis beaten. Just when it seemed Rainworth would end the half only trailing 2-0 yet another defensive lapse of concentration left Daley with a simple tap-in for the third.

Rainworth made two substitutions for the start of the second-half bringing on Liam Jepson and Ben Copestake for Ed Heginbotham and Nick Fry. The changes seemed to have little impact as Ball’s fierce shot flashed inches wide of the upright.

Josh Asuman almost pulled one back for Rainworth in the 56th minute but his curling shot that looked destined for the top corner was brilliantly tipped around the upright by White.

Just like in the first-half when Rainworth appeared to be getting back into the game they were hit on the counter-attack by Heanor. Ball drove into the Rainworth penalty area and pulled the ball back into the path of Sleigh who gave Hollis no-chance for the fourth.

Rainworth made their final substitution in the 65th minute bringing on Aiden Harris for Ethan Wiesztort. A minute later and they were five down as Scott Taylor slipped and Sleigh hit his effort over the head of Hollis from 35 yards.

Rainworth did have another period on the front foot and White did well to keep Hardwick’s inswinging corner from crossing the line. He did even better three minutes later when he tipped Asuman’s effort around the upright at full-stretch.

Heanor almost got a sixth in the 88th minute when Daley was unlucky not to record his hat-trick when his header cannoned off the crossbar with Hollis beaten. There was still time for chances at both ends but it was Rainworth who were the happiest when the referee blew for full-time.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Hollis; Heginbotham (Copestake); Toon; Fry (Jepson); Taylor; Dawson; Wiesztort (Harris); Holmes; Asuman; Dockwray; Hardwick.
Sub (not used): Henry.

Referee: Karl Bainbridge

Attendance: 120