UCL Divison 1
March 28, 2023
Gedling slip into the relegation zone following St Andrews defeat.
This game was massive for both clubs as a win for any club would boost their survival hopes and Gedling got off to a dream start. Just 5 minutes in Zac Hill played a brilliant through ball to Courtney Hastings who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner from 16 yards for his first goal in 2023 and a 7th of the season.
Gedling were really building momentum and on 8 minutes Hastings had a glorious chance to double the lead, but he couldn’t quite sort his feet out from Niall Hylton’s perfect cross.
This proved costly as on 17 minutes the Drews were back on level terms, a cross from the right saw Jurelle Philip run across the front post to dispatch a brilliant header into the top corner.
On 26 minutes the visitors hit the front, again Philip made room for himself and he volleyed a low effort into the bottom corner from 18 yards to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
On 44 minutes the visitors task was made harder, Tawanda Mangondoza was shown a 2nd yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Ruben Wiggins-Thomas, but Gedling went into the break trailing.
The Miners immediately searched for a leveler pinning the 10 men back and had 2 good chances in quick succession. First Kieran Harrison played a brilliant 50 yard pass to Hylton who fired an effort into the side netting and just a minute later Jahren Barrow headed a Greg Tempest corner just over the bar.
On 58 minutes though St Andrews snatched a 3rd of the night, a deep free kick was not delt with Shimron Thompson-Isaac prodded the ball past Richardson from 2 yards to give the 10 men breathing space.
Gedling still continued to press and on 69 minutes they were back in it, Josh Thornton whipped in a brilliant cross and Hastings headed home from 10 yards for his 2nd of the night on to give the miners hope again.
The hosts were really pressing but St Andrews remained resolute at the back, and they grabbed a vital 3 points to leapfrog Gedling who slip into the drop zone with 5 games remaining.
Gedling Team – Louis Richardson, Jahren Barrow (TK Mushambi 82’), Josh Thornton (C), Kieran Harrison, Ross McCaughey (Paolo Piliero 74’), Greg Tempest, Niall Hylton, Zac Hill (Gian Ciaurro 64’), Courtney Hastings, Ruben Wiggins-Thomas, Fenn Davies (Adrian Hawes 59’)