Gedling MW vs Pelican, Tuesday 5 April -- Match report

Special thanks to Mick Booth for writing the following match report.

Gedling got the game under way against a Pelican side who were having a good season and lying second from top. The first chance of the game fell to Gedling when Hogg went down the left and played the ball to Epps who volleyed the ball just past the post. The ball was played upfield to Henson who's shot was blocked by B. Smith who played the ball out to Curtis. He played a nice ball to Hogg who put Epps through on goal but Barker came out to gather at the strikers feet. Gedling had started the game well and worked the ball through to Hogg who shot just over the bar. Pelican went on the attack but Irwin was there to clear the ball to safety. Good play by Hogg enabled him to play a nice ball through to Epps who was fouled just outside the Pelican box. Epps hit a fierce shot on goal from McCaugheys free kick but his shot was blocked and started a quick break by Pelican whose progress was halted by a great tackle from Irwin. Pelican were putting the pressure on Gedling at this point and Ball had to make a fine tackle to break up an attack and he split the Pelican defence with a lovely through ball to Epps but Barker raced out to clear. B. Smith went down the right flank and played the ball over to Epps in the Pelican area but the ball wouldn't come down quickly enough and the chance was gone. McGinty hit the loose ball just over the bar. Pelican were always looking dangerous on the break and McCaughey made a clearance from Boulton who had made a run into the Gedling box. Pelican wasted a good chance to take the lead after Sharp played a great ball to J. Russell but, with the goal at his mercy, he blasted the ball wide. Epps then ran through into the Pelican box and brought a fine save out of Barker. It was turning out to be a terrific game for the supporters as the game flowed from one end to the other. Henson went down the left and put a good cross over that was headed out by Wright. The ball fell to Allen who put his shot high over the bar. McCaughey put a cross over to Hogg who saw his header saved by Barker. That was the last of the action as the Ref blew for half time. HT 0-0.

Pelican were the first to show at the start of the second half as Henson ran into the Gedling box but pressure from Wright forced him to shoot wide. A good shot from Hogg was well saved by Barker and then Nowak did well to earn a corner that was headed just wide of the post by Wright. Pelican went back on the attack and the ball was played into the crowded Gedling box where A. Russell put a shot just wide of the post and then minutes later J. Russell did the same. Nowak, who had played well, went off with a head injury and was replaced by M. Smith. Some good play between M. Smith and McGinty gave McCaughey a chance on goal but he blasted the ball well wide. A Pelican free kick fell to Henson in front of the Gedling goal and Bodkin got down to make a fantastic point-blank save from Hensons shot. It was tremendous goal keeping and kept Gedling in the game. Pelican were again pushing forward and Henson put a good cross over that was met by Irwin who headed clear and Boulton put a ball over to Henson in the box but Wright got a great saving tackle in. Hogg, who'd played well throughout the game, vied for the ball with Littlewood and got the ball to Epps who hit his shot first time but unfortunately it went just over the bar. McCaughey lost the ball in a dangerous area and it was played in to Henson who hit a shot that came back off the base of the post but Ball was alert to the danger and cleared the ball upfield. M. Smith went in for the ball and came out with blood pouring from a cut eyebrow and had to go off with five minutes remaining. Pelicans final assault on the Gedling goal was halted by Ball who had once again been solid at the back alongside Wright and Irwin. The midfield had slugged it out with Pelican and, despite a few cut heads, had been equal to the task and the Gedling attack had prodded and probed but just couldn't get that final ball into the net. A good performance from Gedling against a strong physical side who look certainties for promotion. FT 0-0  

GMWFC; Bodkin, Ball, Irwin, Curtis, Wright, McCaughey (C), B. Smith, McGinty, Nowak, Epps, Hogg, M. Smith, Oaks, Richards.
Pelican; Barker, Boulton, Frawley (C), Littlewood, Beck, Allen, J. Russell, Hinton, Sharp, Henson, A. Russell, Gunn, Daykin, Hawes.

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