Gedling Miners Welfare travelled to Derbyshire to face Graham Street Prims on Saturday afternoon looking to avenge their quarter final cup defeat to Holwell Sport 12 days ago.
They also come into the encounter on a loss in their last league match going down 2-0 at Plains Road to Dunkirk. Graham Street Prims hosted their opponents on the back of a retched 7-0 thumping in midweek, also against Dunkirk, however, did defeat Gedling’s cup conquerors Holwell 2-1 in their last game at the Raygar Sports Ground.
The game was only 2 minutes old when Kev Morrow, impressive all game, alerted away custodian Danny Brown, but the ‘keeper saved well. 3 minutes later and Dom Wilkinson tested his luck from distance but untroubled Brown as Prims sensed the initiative early on. At the other end, a looped high punt from Adam Morley fell kindly to Aboubacar Sylla who, after controlling well, fired an effort goalwards but was superbly tipped around by Andrew Fretwell.
Whilst combative, the game went quiet and each side shared only fouls and nothing else that threatened respective stalwarts. It took until the 25th minute for the next notable opportunity, but it was certainly worth the wait. After collecting the loose ball under pressure in the middle of the park, Sylla broke free and danced around 3 onrushing defenders and fire the ball left footed into the top right hand corner past the bewildered Fretwell – a superb effort to spark an otherwise uneventful affair to date. Prims, now deflated after their promising start, went immediately down the other end but again Wilkinson miscued his effort after good initial skill to evade Dwayne Brown.
Just after the half hour and the home side came close to equalsing after an innovative corner by Kurt Dallison nearly caught Brown out at his near post but the ‘keeper reacted well and saved with his feet. Despite the chances, Gedling were comfortable defensively and, for the most part, remained fairly unworried. However, Prims continued to press and shortly before half time they really should have levelled the scoreline.
After typical hold up play by Morrow, the home side’s best player on the day, his square ball found strike partner Josh Wright but, after being left all alone in the 6 yard box, his effort was straight at the scrambling Brown when he really should have scored. The rebound striking the young forward’s hand and his frustration was evident.
The second half began frantically but, as like the first, lacked any real early threat. That was until 5 minutes after the break when Gedling doubled their lead. Once again, after good work by Sylla dancing around two, his pass found Jack Jepson who took aim and delightfully curled his effort around the outreached Fretwell for 2-0.
At this stage, Gedling’s aim was to clearly see the game out without any further trouble. They were composed in possession and were by far the more comfortable of the two teams. They could have made it 3 on the 67th minute, however, substitute Ryan Plummer’s effort curled just over the bar when he had three teammates present.
Uneventful in the most part, Gedling saw the game out with efficiency and with a workmanlike ethic. Unnecessary to progress beyond second gear, they dealt with all attacking threat posed by Morrow and colleagues.
Following on from the recent resignation of Blaby and Whetstone from the EMCL, Gedling’s game next week (31st March) has been cancelled. We then travel to face Arnold Town on Bank Holiday Monday (2nd April) at Eagle Valley, kick off 3pm.
