Football is an Unforgiving Game

It wasn’t all bad news for Rainworth in a spirited second half performance and a goal from an excellent piece of interpassing.
Clifton started the game on the front foot and Jack Cratchley did well to deny Ben Sandhu, saving with his feet. Rainworth almost conceded in the 10th minute when Aboo Younis’s effort, who was a danger all game, was cleared off the line.
The opening goal for Clifton in the 17th minute when Younis was left unmarked and his run and shot just inside the area gave Cratchley no chance.
Clifton continued to have the better of the exchanges, but Rainworth were starting to carry a threat and a great cross from Callum Brooks was headed clear. A couple of minutes later and Nathan Benger found George Simpson, but his effort flew wide of the far post.
The final minutes of the half were more promising for Rainworth As Brooks put his effort wide after good build up play and Maso Gee’s curling effort was always going wide.
Rainworth attacked from the kick off in the second half, but Brooks’s effort was straight at Jake Frestle. Brooks continued to carry a threat, but his cross had no takers as it flew across the goalmouth.
There was a great piece of interpassing by Rainworth on 61 minutes between Benger and Simpson. When the ball reached George Johnson, he drove into the area clipping his shot into the far corner for the equaliser.
Rainworth continued to probe and a great mazy run by Brooks ends in a corner from which Benger forces Frestle into a diving save.
Rainworth made their first substitution in the 73rd minute when debutant Harley Butcher-Simpson replaced George Scott.
Frestle was called into action in the 79th minute when he tipped Liam Arnold’s header over from Dan Grierson’s free-kick. At the other end Ricco Spencer beat the offside trap but Grierson’s last ditch tackle defused the situation.
Butcher-Simpson’s header from Johnson’s cross was blocked and a minute later the injured Simpson was replaced by James Culf.
The decisive moment of the half came in the 86th minute and brought joy for Clifton and heartbreak for Rainworth. A delayed clearance saw the ever dangerous Younis dispossess the defender and hit an unstoppable effort past Cratchley.
The final minutes saw Rainworth push forward seeking the equaliser and Cratchley did well to prevent any further scores.
At the end of the game Rainworth once again had contributed to their own downfall in the final minutes of the match.
RAINWORTH MWFC: Cratchley; Grierson; Cook; Harvey; Arnold; Scott (Butcher-Simpson); Simpson (Culf); Johnson; Benger; Gee; Brooks.
Sub (not used): Magee.