UCL Divison 1
March 21, 2023
Much improved Gedling narrowly lose to Rainworth.
The miners were looking to put Saturday’s poor performance at Barrow behind them and started really brightly in the first 10 minutes.
The first clear cut chance came on 13 minutes, Kieran Harrison clipped a ball down the right channel and Fenn Davies whipped in a good cross that Gian Ciaurro got on the end of but his acrobatic effort went over the crossbar.
Gedling were playing some really good football and on 23 minutes they created another chance, Josh Thornton and Ross McCaughey did well in the middle and Davies layed the ball off to Courtney Hastings who fired an effort wide from 25 yards.
Rainworth, who had only lost 3 times in their last 11 games were on the back foot but on 26 minutes they grabbed the lead, a ball down the left saw a cross take a nasty bobble over Liam Corrigan’s foot and Nathan Benger tapped home from 3 yards out.
Rainworth began to create chances to extend their lead and the first came on 30 minutes when Ben Copestake went 1v1 with Louis Richardson, but Gedling’s number 1 stood tall to make a great save.
Just 6 minutes later Richardson again kept Gedling in it, Benger hit a sweet volley from the edge of the box that Richardson tipped up in the air but he reacted brilliantly to palm the ball away before it spun back into the net and the visitors went into the break with a narrow lead.
Gedling came out for the 2nd half in good spirits as they continued to push for a leveler and they had a glorious chance to do so on 65 minutes, Jahren Barrow slipped in Ciaurro but he rushed his effort and the ball flew well wide of the near post.
However, on 75 minutes Gedling got the goal that their pressure had merited, a deep free kick was sent into the box and Barrow flicked the ball on to debutant Zachary Hill who smashed a right footed effort into the top left corner from the corner of the area.
Gedling were searching for a winner, and they continued to push but they didn’t really test the keeper and on 86 minutes completely aginst the run of play Rainworth won it, Harrison and Richardson mixed up and Harley Butcher-Simpson nabbed the ball and slammed into the empty net to give the visitors all 3 points.
In the 4th minute of stoppage time Steven Brett was sent off for a high challenge and the ref blew the full time whistle. but Gedling showed real character in the game and look forward to a massive game against relegation rivals St Andrews on Tuesday at Plains Road.
Gedling Team – Louis Richardson, Kieran Harrison (Charlie Roberts 90+2), Liam Corrigan, Ross McCaughey (Danny Dixon 83’), Steven Brett, Josh Thornton (C), Fenn Davies, Jahren Barrow, Courtney Hastings (Exauce Nsiala 90’), Gian Ciaurro (Nathan Kelly 72’), Paolo Piliero (Zachary Hill 64’).
