Central Midlands Alliance League Premier South – August 12
Linby looked to return to winning ways on Saturday afternoon in their second, successive, local affair of the new, Central Midlands Alliance South campaign, Matt Peberday’s side welcoming Mansfield Hosiery Mills to Church Lane.
Signs were good for the hosts in the opening quarter of the match, Linby racing into a two-goal lead despite a tight, opening exchange between the two sides; a handball from the visiting full-back, after just seven minutes, saw the official, Kevin Bridges, point to the spot, Sanousi Ibrahim stepping up to beat Ethan Brown from twelve yards out (1-0; 7 mins).
The second goal for the hosts arrived some fifteen minutes later when a good moving involving both Ashdon Bernard, and Sean Craven, saw the latter go one-on-one with Brown in the visiting goal, the hosts’ number ten finishing off well (2-0; 22 mins); there was several chances to add more to the lead before the half hour mark as well, Josh Wass and Connor Gillan both seeing headers cleared off the line from successive corners.
Shortly after the latter of those Linby chances, the visiting number nine, Henry Brookes, found himself shooting on the break, however, his effort went wide of Jack Walker’s goal; minutes later at the other end and Bernard, saw his one-on-one with Brown, saved well by the ‘keeper.
As the contest headed towards the interval, Craven fired an effort wide from fully 25-yards, before the visitors pulled one back, against the run of play, via Brooks, his effort from the edge the box beating Walker (2-1; 45 mins).
HT – Linby CW 2 Mansfield HM 1
Substitution, Linby CW – Tom Coupe on, Ethan Fells off (46 mins)
A change for the hosts at the restart as Peberday brings on Tom Coupe for Ethan Fells whilst the visitors’ Stef Brown fires a half volley over Walker’s bar; Bernard then has two chances in quick succession moments later, Brown pulling off a pair of smart saves to keep the score down.
Substitution, Mansfield HM – Aiden Ordidge on, Henry Brookes off (54 mins)
The hosts found themselves reduced to ten men for the second week running, this time Jamie Thomas saw red following a high challenge just after the hour mark.
Substitution, Linby CW – Alex Paterson on, Dylan Walker off (63 mins)
Substitution, Linby CW – Brad Gregory on, Connor Gillan off (64 mins)
Substitution, Linby CW – Ewan Gibson on, Mason Moore off (64 mins)
Substitution, Mansfield HM – Elliott Nunn on, Luke Smithson off (67 mins)
Substitution, Linby CW – Rory Smith on, Sean Craven off (85 mins)
A quiet, second period did however see around a dozen minutes of added time at the end as Linby hung on for a narrow, 2-1 win, and their first, three points of the season, and jump into the top half of the South division.
Next up for Matt Peberday’s side, it’s another home outing as Cromford & Wirksworth Town visit Church Lane on Sat, 19 August.
Linby CW – Jack Walker, Tom Williams, Ethan Fells, Sanousi Ibrahim, Jamie Thomas, Josh Wass (capt), Dylan Walker, Connor Gillan, Ashdon Bernard, Sean Craven, Mason Moore
(subs – Rory Smith, Ewan Gibson, Tom Coupe, Brad Gregory, Alex Paterson)
Mansfield HM – Ethan Brown, Matt Phillips, Max Denton, Tom Turrington, Alex Sennett, Jack Riley, George Simpson (capt), Luke Smithson, Henry Brookes, Stef Brown, Marcus Gordon
(subs – Aiden Ordidge, Elliott Nunn, Aaron Carrington, Matt Dickinson)
Linby MOTM . Tom Williams
Att: 76
Match Officials – Kevin Bridges, Andrew Harland, Anthony Harland
