Tuesday March 5 2024 · Division One
Following on from the Leicester St Andrews win Gedling were back in action three days later as they faced local rivals Clifton All Whites.
Gedling made three changes for the game with Ferdinand Bartley and Buba Ceesay unavailable Solomon Godwin and Josh Lawe came in as did Gian Ciuarro who came in for Felic Hogg who dropped to the bench with an injury from the previous game.
But just 68 seconds in Gedling found themselves a goal down after a cheap giveaway saw a through ball find Lord Marfo who smashed a first time effort past the helpless Josh Mitchell from 20 yards out to give the hosts a early lead.
Gedling set about trying to get back into the game and grew as the half progressed but only had half chances with Kieran Harrison hitting a effort from 25 yards and Josh Lawe having a effort well blocked.
Clifton could have doubled their lead but Josh Mitchell made a great save from a header from 8 yards out and that was the last action of the half as Gedling went into the break trailing 1-0.
Similar to the previous game Gedling came out for the second half very brightly and just 30 seconds into the half the Miners almost were back level, Jack Vipond played a great ball to Lawe who burst past his man and his cross shot deflected just wide of the post.
But on 49 minutes Gedling were back on level terms, Harrison hit a wonderful free kick from 25 yards that crashed the underside of the crossbar, but Gian Ciaurro was first to react and he put it into the net from 6 yards for his 8th of the campaign.
Like the first half it became quite scrappy with both sides getting to the final third without testing wither keeper but on 76 minutes the hosts retook the lead, Sam Burrows hit a free kick round the wall and beyond Mitchell who got a hand to it but it wasn’t enough to stop the ball finding the net.
However the Gedling response was immediate as a minute later they were back on level terms as Harrison burst away down the right and he hit a shot across the keeper and into the bottom left corner for Harrison’s 29th of the campaign. But the best goal was saved until last as on 86 minutes Gedling took the lead for the first time, substitute Darren Fotso played a great ball into Ciaurro who brought it down shifted it onto his right foot and hit a peach into the top right corner leaving the hosts keeper no chance for Ciaurro’s 9th goal in 13 games and Gedling held on for another superb 3 points.
Gedling team: Josh Mitchell, Solomon Godwin, Ross McCaughey, Daniel Momah, Steven Brett, Jack Vipond, Josh Thornton ©, Muta Eisa (Darren Fotso 73’) (Felix Hogg 90+1), Josh Lawe (Jack Jepson 73’), Kieran Harrison, Gian Ciaurro.
