UCL Divison 1
January 28, 2023
Gedling produce another spirited comeback against Blackstones.
The Miners were playing their first game in 3 weeks due to multiple postponements but inside 5 minutes the hosts hit the front, Paolo Piliero played the ball to Greg Tempest who found Jahren Barrow who hit a thunderbolt from 25 yards that flew into the top left corner for his second in as many games and Barrow’s 4th of the season.
Blackstones, who sit 8th in the league and have playoff aspirations should have drawn level on 12 minutes, Ryan Lennon beat the offside trap and only had Louis Richardson to beat but Lennon dragged his effort wide of the target from 10 yards.
Gedling did not learn from this and 4 minutes later the visitors were back on level terms, Josh Randall beat a couple of defenders before slotting a left footed effort into the bottom left corner.
On 22 minutes the hosts spurned a good chance, Barrow found some room following a Tempest corner but he couldn’t control his effort from 16 yards that went wide.
On 34 minutes the visitors were awarded a penalty, Randall caused more chaos as he again beat multiple challenges before he was bundled over by Josh Stevenson and Lennon stepped up at dispatched the penalty to give the visitors the lead.
On 39 minutes it got even better for Stones, a long ball over the top saw Richardson and Adrian Hawes collide and the ball was rolled into the empty net by Randall to give the away side a 3-1 lead
Gedling’s troubles continued in the first half as on 44 minutes they were reduced to 10 men, Courtney Hastings was sin binned for throwing the ball away but Hastings continued his protest which saw the ref upgrade his punishment to a red card and the miners went into the break with an uphill task.
Gedling came out the traps fast in the 2nd half pinning the visitors in their own half but they struggled to create a clear-cut chance up until the 70th minute, half time sub-Tyrell Shannon-Lewis was fouled and Tempest whipped in a brilliant free kick which Hawes headed against the crossbar and the ball crossed the line to give the hosts a lifeline.
Just 3 minutes later the miners were given a golden chance to draw level, Josh Thornton whipped in a superb cross which Shannon-Lewis controlled and he was being held leading the ref to point to the spot and Thornton stepped up and he slotted his penalty beyond the visitor’s keeper to draw the host’s level.
The 10 men continued to search for a winner but they couldn’t quite find it but Gedling earned another point against Blackstones with 10 men and being down and out just like they did at their place in august.
Gedling Man of the Match- Tyrell Shannon-Lewis
Gedling Team : Louis Richardson, Liam Corrigan, Ross McCaughey. Jahren Barrow (Takunda Mushambi 82’), Josh Stevenson (Tyrell Shannon-Lewis 46’), Adrain Hawes, Josh Thornton (C), Greg Tempest, Courtney Hastings, Ruben Wiggins-Thomas (Sol Miller 79’), Paolo Piliero (Fenn Davies 87’)
Cautions- Barrow (61’), Corrigan (68’)
Dismissals- Hastings (44’)
Next Game- West Bridgford (A), 04/02/23, UCL Division 1, 3:00PM Kick Off
