All’s Well that Ends Well

Although billed as ‘A bottom of the table clash’, in truth both sides produced enough in the ninety minutes to suggest that no-one will find either a push-over in the coming weeks. In truth Rainworth’s biggest problem was themselves, as they proved recently against Clipstone, gifting them three penalties and an assisted open goal. Whilst today it was an own goal and something keeper Warren Squires will have nightmares about for some time to come.

Rainworth started the game at a fast pace and in the second minute Ethan Knowles’s looping effort went just over. Minutes later Declan Brewin won the race to the ball but was unable to pull the ball back enough and Marcell Monori easily gathered.

Borrowash’s Charlie Goodwin’s long-range effort failed to trouble Squires and easily cleared the crossbar. Callum Lytham’s header from Joe Toon’s free kick met with the same fate at the other end. A couple of minutes later and his goal bound effort was deflected into the side-netting for a corner. Rainworth continued to create chances but lacked the killer finish with both Ryan Herbert and Brad Cox’s efforts easily blocked.
Borrowash continued to carry a threat, but after good build-up play White skied the ball well over. Toon and Brewin combined well and Borrowash were relieved to block Brewin’s cross at the expense of a corner. From the resultant corner Brewin dragged his effort just the wrong side of the post with Monori beaten.

The opening goal came route-one Squires’s long clearance bounced and Lytham outpaced the defence to head it past the onrushing Monori for the opening goal. This was the start of a period of Rainworth pressure and Knowles was thwarted twice by Monori as the Borrowash defence began to creak.

In the final minutes of the first half saw Rainworth relax and Borrowash were gifted an equaliser as a firmly struck corner went into the net off a Rainworth defender. Although there were claims for a Borrowash headed goal the muted celebrations of their players would suggest it had come via a Rainworth body.

The final minutes of the half saw Rainworth push hard to retake the lead as Aiden Harris’s effort is kicked off the line and Knowles follow-up was saved by Monori. At the half-time whistle it was Rainworth who went in knowing they had surrendered their hard-fought lead to yet another basic error.

If Borrowash’s first goal had been a little fortuitous it was nothing compared to the comical goal conceded from the restart. A hoof up field looked to be easily covered by Squires as White advanced but as the ball stood up Squires found himself outside the area. Instead of putting it into the stands he attempted to play the ball back over his shoulder into the area but White managed to get his foot to it and push the ball towards the goal, all that remained was to put the ball over the line for the lead.

The goal seemed to inspire Rainworth and they were unlucky not to equalise in the 59th minute when Monori did well to tip Lytham’s effort around the post. A minute later and Borrowash almost punished Rainworth when Travis Comery was inches from scoring their third. A minute later and Brewin emphatically scored the equaliser giving Monori no chance from just inside the area. Two minutes later he was on hand again to convert Herbert’s great run and cross.

The game moved up a gear and another excellent passage of play between Brewin and Lytham saw the Borrowash defence grateful to block the incoming cross for a corner. From the corner Brewin was denied a hat-trick when his effort was kicked off the line. Borrowash’s chances got much harder seconds later when Jack Smedley was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Rainworth replaced the injured Knowles with Blessing Adeleye in the 76th minute as the pressure began to build, Harris beat three defenders before hitting his effort inches the wrong side of the upright. Adeleye combined with Cox, but Cox’s effort was blocked, and Chris Timmons was inches over with the follow-up. At this stage it was all Rainworth and Lytham was only denied by an incredible last-ditch tackle by Travis Munn. He went even closer minutes later only to be denied by a brilliant one-handed save by Monori.

In the final minutes Brewin and Adeleye combine, but Adeleye’s deft flick is inches the wrong side of the upright. Rainworth make their final two substitutions bringing on Cameron Davidson and Shomari Doyle for Cox and Brewin. At the final whistle it was Rainworth who had taken the spoils in what had been a hard fought but well-deserved victory.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Squires; Herbert; Toon; Drake; Timons; Wright; Knowles (Adeleye); Cox (Davidson); Brewin (Doyle); Harris; Lytham.
Subs (not used): Spencer; Radzynski

Referee: Gareth Carlile

Attendance: 66