The early signs were promising with Callum Fletcher’s effort just going over in the opening minute. Rainworth went one better in the 4th minute when Harley Butcher-Simpson’s effort found the back of the net for the opening goal.
West Bridgford’s best efforts came from Tom Batterham, but his effort in the 8th minute was off target, whilst the one in the 16th minute was straight at Luke Chadwick.
Rainworth continued to probe without threatening their opponent’s goal. Max Cook’s 23rd minute free kick found the head of Nathan Benger but it was straight at Anthony Nunez. A minute later He did well to clear Fletcher’s effort at the second attempt.
The only other attempt of note, in a half where the wind was posing both sides problems was when George Scott’s cross was just behind Benger and his effort went over.
Rainworth made their first substitution at the beginning of the second half replacing Ben Rossiter with George Simpson.
The opening exchanges saw both sides go close, Fletcher put his effort just over from Benger’s header when well-placed and Isaac Morledge cleared the crossbar at the other .
Rainworth’s second came from a period of sustained pressure in the 52nd minute. Nunez did well to push Callum Brook’s excellent cross out at the expense of a corner. From the resultant corner Brook’s fierce effort struck the underside of the crossbar and appeared to cross the line before it came back into play, however, Benger made no mistake with his point-blank header.
Rainworth made their second substitution bringing on Liam Arnold for Dan Grierson and Shadrach Onwubiko for James Culf.
Two minutes later and Arnold had two chances to add a third, but Nunez did well to push his powerful header out for a corner. From the corner his glancing header was inches wide.
Rainworth continued to make substitutions bring on Josh Nettleship for Scott and Damian Magee for Benger.
Rainworth had a scare in the 84th minute when Klaudio Marqueshi went close with his header from a corner. Three minutes later and Rav Jackson put his effort into the side netting.
In added tim Arnold exhibited his defensive qualities when he took the ball off Andrew Tsolakis’s toe as he was about to shoot.
The final action of the match fell to Brooks when Nunez pulled off a finger-tip save from Brooks’s free-kick. At the final whistle Rainworth ran out deserved winners 2-0.
RAINWORTH MWFC: Chadwick; Cook; Harvey; Grierson (Arnold); Culf (Onwubiko); Fletcher; Brooks; Scott (Nettleship); Benger (Magee); Butcher-Simpson; Rossiter (Simpson).