Greenwood Meadows vs Gedling MW, Saturday 26 February
-- Match report
Special thanks to Mick Booth for writing the following match report.
The game got off to a lively start and Gedling took an early lead when Hudson took a throw in inside the Greenwood half. He took a return pass from Mawer and sent the ball over into the Greenwood box where SMITH met it by the back post and fired the ball into the net to give Gedling a 0-1 lead on 3 mins.
It was just the start Gedling had hoped for and they nearly went 2 up when Hudson headed a Wright free kick just wide. Epps then sent the ball over to McCaughey who's shot cannoned off Powells leg for a corner. McCaugheys kick was met by Mawer who's shot was parried by Powell out to Hudson who saw his shot put out for a corner. McCaughey then fired in a shot that went just over. Gedlings pressure was relentless and they went further ahead when Gedling got a free kick after Jason 'Boomer' Booth was fouled just outside the Greenwood box. HUDSON hit a rocket shot into the back of the net to make it 0-2 on 13 mins. Ball put over a good ball for Epps who's shot was deflected for a corner that was cleared and Irwin did well to break up the resulting Greenwood attack. Greenwood then broke in numbers and Beech had a good chance to get one back but he blazed the ball wide. Ball played the ball out to Mawer who went down the line and crossed for Hudson whose shot cleared the bar. Smith then put Mawer in with a chance but his shot was tipped over the bar by Powell. Epps, McCaughey, and Boomer all had chances before Greenwood pulled a goal back in controversial circumstances.
Staples was yards offside when he received the ball and, despite protests to the ref from the Gedling players, ran on to shoot past Bodkin to make it 1-2 on 25 mins. Boomer won the ball in midfield and played a good ball through to Nowak whose shot pulled a good save out of Powell. Boomer then broke up a Greenwood attack before the ref blew for half time. HT 1-2.
Gedling were soon back on the attack at the start of the second half as Smith played the ball into the path of Nowak who earned a corner that was cleared. Nowak was brought down by Shaw just outside the Greenwood box and Balls kick went just wide of the post. Boomer won the ball and found Epps unmarked in the Greenwood box but the flag went up for off side as he was about to pull the trigger. Epps took a pass from Smith, turned and let fly with a shot that skimmed the post. Gedling were coping well with the difficult conditions as the rain made the pitch into a mud heap and a nice bit of football led to another Gedling goal. Epps beat Pallet to the ball and went down the line before crossing hard and low into the path of Nowak who gave Powell no chance as he hammered the ball into the net to make it 1-3 on 60 mins. Minutes later there was a flare up between all the players after Beech made a bad tackle on Epps and he was duly booked by the ref.
Some thought he should have been sent off and Gedling wished he had been when minutes later he hit a shot from just outside the Gedling box that flew into the top corner to make it 2-3 on 68 mins. Boomer had a shot blocked and hit the rebound towards the top corner but it was well saved by Powell. Staples then ran into the Gedling area and his shot hit the post after being pressured by Ball. Nowak then did well to get a shot in that Powell saved and Boomer made a well timed tackle on Evans as he was about to shoot. Gedlings back four were soaking up some Greenwood pressure as they pushed forward looking for the equaliser and Bodkin made a great save as he tipped Shaw's effort over the bar. In the final minute Beech cut into the area and hit a shot into the top corner to make it 3-3. Gedling felt like they had been mugged but they must learn how to kill a game when they are 3-1 up like they were today instead of pushing on looking to score ten. Greenwood Meadows; Powell, Pallet, Shaw (C), McDermott, Leith , Beech, Allen,Stephens, Evans J, Staples, Burton , Evans M, Cheney, Taylor.
Gedling MW; Bodkin, Ball, Hudson , Irwin, Wright, McCaughey, Smith, Booth(c), Nowak, Epps, Mawer, Curtis, Hulme, Osborne. < Back |
NEWS ARCHIVE