Gedling Miners Welfare hosted their namesake Kimberley on Saturday afternoon in what was the third encounter between the two sides this season with both teams each sharing a victory.
The visitors were out to seek the league double against Gedling after their win in September, but were comprehensively dumped out of the league cup by the home side a month later.
It was Kimberley who started nervy and within the first minute of the game there was evidence of uncertainty in the defensive ranks. As early as the 7th minute, after a fine piece of control and an equally impressive turn, Ryan Plummer stung a snapshot on goal, but his effort was saved well down low by away custodian Joss Hourd-Lee. The home side started well and were the better team in the earlier exchanges, but the next best opportunity fell for Kimberley and they really should have taken an early lead.
After a hint of offside, talisman Jordan Alls managed to break the defensive trap set by Gedling but, as he rounded the onrushing Danny Brown in the home goal, his innocuous stumble allowed Martin Holt the chance to recover and the defender superbly blocked the effort with the goal gaping. At the other end, Hourd-Lee was starting become a thorn in any Gedling attack as this time he thwarted a finely floated Joe Meakinfree kick which was headed for the top corner.
Gedling continued on top of the game and were, in the most part, untroubled by Kimberley’s threat. However, in a reflection of their league position this season and only losing 3 league games all campaign, they defended smartly and resiliently and their patience was rewarded as, after half an hour and arguably against the run of play, they took the lead. After a deep corner was delivered by Ellis Evans, Aaron Mitchell bundled his header goal bound and, via a deflection off colleague Alex Doyle, the ball nestled itself under Brown – the goal ultimately being awarded to the latter after minor deliberation.
The go ahead goal gave the travellers the impetus and they may have doubled their lead 9 minutes later but Alls’ effort, whilst certainly not lacking in power, was fantastically tipped over by Brown. However, from the resulting corner, and after being easily collected by the ‘keeper, Gedling went down the other end to equalise in a quite exquisite piece of play.
After sensing urgency since going a goal down, Brown superbly distributed to Aboubacar Sylla who broke forward at speed and after delaying his decision and teasing his full back, he then smartly placed the ball in front of the surging Connor Croft who fired the ball home first time past the stranded Hourd-Lee. A superb team goal that thoroughly deserved the accolades and one that, you could argue, wouldn’t be bettered all season.
The second half opened in very combative fashion, reflected in the loud claims to the officials at every opportunity. However, much was lacking in terms of attacking prowess. Gedling remained the better side and, much similar to the first, Kimberley panicked defensively, though whilst looking threatening, Gedling failed to capitalise.
With very little on show in a football sense, the game was starting to become dictated by referee Craig Hammond – much to the mutual frustration of both sides. The man in the middle guilty of halting the game unnecessarily, questionable decision making and his choice of talking to players and his assistants unnecessarily really did affect the flow of an otherwise creditable encounter.
Though, he couldn’t have been blamed for the decision that arguably turned the swing of things after 76 minutes. After sensing danger following a break, Martin Holt crudely hacked down Alls on the half way line and, after being cautioned earlier in the game, was duly given his marching orders after his second bookable offence. Now with the man advantage, Kimberley sensed a change in their fortune, and they were rewarded 8 minutes from time when, despite being on the back foot for the majority, they took the lead.
After a low corner from substitute Mason Frizelle managed to squirm its way across the face of the goal, through a whole host of bodies, an unmarked Aaron Mitchell tapped home into an unguarded net giving his side the lead ensuring that his name was on the scoresheet after the earlier consultation with Doyle – a real setback for the home side after controlling the game and looking unworried for the most part, whilst admittedly not at their best.
2 minutes from the end and the lively Jack Jepson may have equalised for his side, but his cross-cum-shot was easy pickings for Hourd-Lee as he, and his team, saw out the remainder of the game without further incident, much to the delight of his teammates and their supporters.
Gedling travel to reigning EMCL champions West Bridgford next Saturday (4th February) looking to rid of their inconsistencies they have experienced this season, 15.00 kick off.
