UCL Division 1
July 29, 2023
Last minute drama sees new look Gedling lose opening match.
The Miners came into the new season looking to improve on last year’s disappointing year and lots of changes have occurred with long term manager Andy Clerke moving to Carlton Town meaning Ruben Wiggins-Thomas has taken the reigns as manager and on the opening day saw 6 new player’s feature.
The game started like a typical opening day with both teams finding each other out in front of a crowd of 364 boosted by the UCL ground hop.
On the 13th minute Gedling had the ball in the net, Kieran Harrison whipped in a brilliant free kick which was flicked on by Jack Koczalski and Josh Thornton slid the ball into the net, but the celebrations were short lived as the linesmen deemed Thornton to be in an offside position.
Gedling began to grow into the game and on the 20th minute the hosts created another chance, debutants Muta Eisa and Stuart Hendrie combined well, and the ball fell to Courtney Hastings who couldn’t quite get his feet sorted and his effort from 16 yards was easily saved.
Blackstones who came into this season after finishing just outside the play-offs last year struggled to break down a resolute Gedling backline and the teams went into the break level at 0-0.
The 2nd half was much of the same as Gedling were on the front foot most of the half but struggled to create a clear cut opening with most efforts going off target.
The final 10 minutes however was very frantic with both teams looking to break the deadlock and on the 83rd minute the Miners has a chance to do so. Eisa did well to spin his man in the area and his shot from a narrow angle was palmed away and Buba Ceesay fired the rebound over the bar from the corner of the penalty area.
On the 85th minute the visitor’s keeper kept them in it, substitute Jack Vipond hit a cracking volley from 25 yards out that looked destined for the bottom corner, but the Stones keeper got down brilliantly to tip it wide of the left-hand post.
But in the 91st minute the visitors snatched all 3 points, debutant goalkeeper Richard Stainsby mishit a clearance which fell to the visitors captain Kieran Duffy-Weeks who rolled the ball into the empty net from 25 yards and to send the visitors back home with a winning start.
Manager Wiggins-Thomas said post-match “it’s the worst way to lose a game but we have dominated overall and if we play like that every week, we will pick up wins but it’s a long season and the lads have brought into the philosophy which could be seen in today’s game we have created good chances and I’m sure the goals will come as seen in pre-season”
Gedling MOM – Kieran Harrison
Gedling team – Richard Stainsby, Exauce Nsiala, Buba Ceesay, Ross McCaughey, Jack Koczalski, Adrain Hawes, Kieran Harrison, Josh Thornton (Victor Somoye 17’), Courtney Hastings (Jack Vipond 81’), Stuart Hendrie, Muta Eisa
