Trophy Cabinet for Sale

Tuesday night’s defeat by AFC Emley in the League Cup saw Rainworth’s last chance of silverware for the season end.

Rainworth started the game on the front foot and took the game to AFC Emley, when in the 5th minute Jack Weatherall’s header was blocked but the ensuing goalmouth scramble ended with a free-kick to AFC Emley.

A minute later and it was Ben Townsend to the rescue as he blocked a goal bound effort and it was cleared.

Minutes later and Kieran Ryan’s header was blocked on the far post as AFC Emley began to get on top.

Rainworth had another close call when in the 10th minute Townsend was relieved to see Matthew Jackson’s effort go behind the goals.

It was the start of a period of dominance by AFC Emley which was only repulsed with a combination of desperate defending and poor finishing.

Rainworth did threaten in the 28th minute when a great ball by Tomas Poole found Declan Brewin and Graham McLachlan in the AFC Emley goal was relieved to see it graze the top of the crossbar when well beaten.

The game began to become a midfield battle with both sides struggling to create any clear-cut chances in the final third.
In the final minute, Brewin’s long range effort went wide as the referee blew his whistle for half-time.

AFC Emley started the second half quickly and in the opening minute it took a double save from Townsend to prevent them opening the scoring.

Their opening goal came in the 50th minute when after a great passage of play Kieran Ryan’s fierce shot arrowed into the corner.
Rainworth responded when Poole’s long range effort was deflected for a corner. In the 66th minute McLachlan came to AFC Emley’s rescue rushing out and blocking Matt Harris’s goal bound effort.

Any hopes that Rainworth had of getting back into the game were all but ended in the 69th minute when Jackson’s effort seemed to go under Townsend for AFC Emley’s second.

On 76 minutes Rainworth made a double substitution bringing on Nick Langford and James Munson for Brewin and Matty Sykes.

Two minutes later and they were nearly three down as the League’s leading scorer Ashley Flynn had two shots blocked at the expense of a corner.

Rainworth made their final substitution bringing on Steve Mansell for the injured Ryan Herbert.

In injury time Poole was denied a consolation goal when McLachlan blocked his goal bound effort.

That wasn’t to be the end of the scoring and deep into injury time a quick AFC Emley break ended with Flynn putting the ball into the net.

At the final whistle Rainworth could have no complaints as AFC Emley ran out deserved winners on the night.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Townsend; Ludlam; Claxton; Goodwin; Griffin; Weatherall; Brewin (Munson); Herbert (Mansell); Harris; Poole; Sykes (Langford). Sub (not used): Parkin

Referee: Mr Paul Tomes

Attendance: 81