Linby responded to their heavy defeat last time out by beating Blidworth Welfare 3-1 away from home this afternoon.
An impressive first half performance resulted in Linby going in 3-0 up at half time thanks to goals from Aidy Harris, Gaz Atkins from the penalty spot and a deflected Mitchell Slawson shot. James Scothern gave his side some hope with a 52nd minute consolation goal in a much more even second half.
There had only been two minutes played when Linby got the opener. Josh Brentnall was able to break down the left side, the attacker swung a ball across which was pushed away by keeper Michael Ball before Linby captain Aidy Harris reacted quickest to put the ball in the net.
The team in blue continued to push forward with striker Mitchell Slawson causing issues through the middle for the defence and young wing back Cameron Jones showing pace and enthusiasm down the wing.
Less than a quarter of an hour was gone when Mitchell Slawson was bundled down in the box and the referee showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Gaz Atkins calmly stepped up and smashed the ball down the centre to double his side’s lead.
Blidworth’s best chances of getting back into the game fell to striker Dave Bullock. The number 9 could only drag a shot wide from inside the area before seeing a diagonal shot skip inches past the post minutes later.
It was a case of Linby’s attacks quite literally starting from the back after the half hour mark when two of their defenders had good opportunities to score. Jonathan Jenkinson headed just over the bar from a corner before Steve Johnson-Fikula narrowly missed connecting with a pass on the edge of the box after roaming forward.
When the two sides met in the reverse fixture earlier this season, Linby were 3-0 up at half time, a scoreline they matched today. In the 44th minute, striker Mitchell Slawson finally got a reward for his hard work when he saw a shot deflect up over the outstretched reach of keeper Michael Ball.
Josh Brentnall nearly made it four for Linby in first half added time. The attacker was unlucky to see his 30 yard thunderbolt rattle off the post and away from danger.
The woodwork came to Blidworth’s rescue again early in the second half. Wing back Stef Cobb was played in down the right side but his shot was deflected onto the post and out for a corner.
The second half was a much more even affair as Linby seemed to relax and Blidworth looked to get back into the game. They gave themselves a lifeline through James Scothern after 52 minutes. A well worked corner routine resulted in Scothern receiving the ball on the edge of the box from which he fired home.
Scothern had another golden opportunity for Blidworth just after the hour mark as Linby let the home side back into the game. The number 5 could only watch as his free kick glided high over the goal from 25 yards out.
Linby’s two substitutes linked up in the 82nd minute as Tremere Lindo showed some trickery to beat his man before playing in Lewis Weaver. The fast paced youngster was able to turn and race into the box before shooting wide.
Lindo continued to cause problems in his cameo appearance and was unlucky not to have claimed an assist in the dying minutes. Unfortunately, teammate Gaz Atkins couldn’t quite connect with the winger’s cross to the back post.
After the game, Linby manager Lewis Saxby said: “We played some excellent football in the first half but then we seemed to go to sleep in the second half.”
“We might have been better not to have grabbed that late third goal in the first half as it would have forced us to be more alert and competitive in the second half.”
