Uhlsport United Counties League (Division 1) – November 18
The sides had only met six weeks before this meeting with Gedling running out comprehensive 6-0 winners and form suggested that Gedling once again were heavy favourites, but this was far from the case on a difficult afternoon.
Rainworth, who were second bottom after a tough start to the season dictated the early proceedings and the visitors struggled to get a foothold in the game but on the fourth minute the miners created their first opening as Buba Ceesay set Zac Hill away down the left but his effort which looked goal bound was brilliantly blocked.
Hill was looking Gedling’s main threat after his double in the previous outing and on 18 minutes he had the ball in the net after he headed Kieran Harrison’s corner in but the referee deemed there was a foul in the build up even though it looked soft.
This proved decisive as just two minutes later Rainworth took the lead, a long ball forward was missed by Steven Brett allowing Callum Brooks to race clear and smash the ball past Josh Mitchell from 12 yards.
Gedling then put pressure on the hosts and on 28 minutes they were level, Muta Eisa beat the offside trap and he burst clean through and his effort was saved but Gedling’s and the league top scorer Harrison was on hand to smash the ball into the roof of the net from 15 yards for his 21 st of the campaign and to make the score 1-1.
The game entered a dull period with both sides not enjoying much possession in a scrappy game but in the first minute of stoppage time the hosts were awarded a penalty. Another long ball caused havoc for Gedling and Ross McCaughey’s attempted header back to Mitchell went past him and the Gedling keeper brought down his man and saw yellow despite the host’s protests. Brooks scored the penalty to give the hosts a 2-1 lead.
There was very little to report in the 2nd half with the miners not playing their fluid football of late and on 77 minutes the hosts extended their lead as Ceesay lost possession and despite Gedling’s best efforts to block, it fell to debutant Joel Phythian who slotted his effort into the bottom left corner from 12 yards.
The away day got worse for Gedling as on the 90th minute it was 4-1 after Josh Thornton was caught out and it allowed Callum Fletcher to bundle the ball in to complete a miserable day for Gedling.
Gedling have a week off now and their next game is against Ashfordby FC on November 28 at Plains Road.
Gedling Team : Josh Mitchell, Charlie Roberts, Buba Ceesay, Ross McCaughey, Steven Brett, Josh Thornton ©, Jack Vipond (Ruben Wiggins-Thomas 78’), Kieran Harrison,
Jack Jepson (Semilore Kassim 65’), Muta Eisa, Zac Hill.
