Ian Williams Match Report Vs Holwell Sports
EMCL Premier Division Saturday 23rd January 2010
GEDLING MW..........................2 (Hatfield, Payne)
HOLWELL SPORTS....................1 (Rob Pitman)
Miners grab all three points.
After an absence of six weeks, football returned to Plains Road and in a dour encounter, the Miners grabbed the spoils from a determined Holwell outfit to extend their unbeaten run to seven.
On the front foot from the off the hosts could have taken an early lead as a Baz Payne point blank header was well save by Richard Cragg in the visitors goal. However the opening goal did not take long to arrive. On 9 minutes a Craig Boulton free kick on the left was swung into the box and the only player to react was Warren Hatfield who stooped low and finish with a fine header. The first twenty minutes was all Gedling and following fine play by Hatfield, Sean Clarke went mighty close as the home team looked to erase memories of the reverse fixture back in September where Sports gained a 4-1 victory.
Holwell are a dogged outfit and they had their moments, none more so than when Joe Williams tested Lance Walker with a fine effort from a free kick. The hosts, however, were enjoying a fine first half hour and could have added to their lead but for some fine defending by Cragg and his defence. After 27 minutes, Holwell’s persistence paid off with a fine equaliser. Rob Pitman exchanged passes with Niall Prenderville and shot home from 20 yards with an effort that may have deceived Walker in flight as it whistled into the far corner.
1-1 at the break and all to play for with Gedling continuing to surge forward in an attempt to gain the upper hand. Hatfield again went close on a couple of occasions in the opening 5 minutes and Hesham Ramadam almost scored from successive corners as the home side bombarded the visitors goal. Not to be outdone, defender Grant Walton tried his luck from long range, but still Holwell’s defence would not be breached. After 69 minutes the effort was rewarded. Great play down the right by Walton and Dave Marlow resulted in the ball being swung into the area and skipper Barry Payne arrived at precisely the right time to sweep in the go-ahead goal. The game now became a war of attrition with the Miners determined to grab the win and Sports equally determined to get something from the game. They were desperately unlucky after 81 minutes when a great effort by Russ Pitman struck the angle of upright and bar and bounced back into play with Walker beaten, but, in all, their efforts were of the long range variety while Gedling continued to threaten, Boulton and Hatfield again going close with efforts that could have extended the lead.
The Miners held on for a deserved victory and a return to second place in the table. A gritty, if not spectacular performance from the squad in a game that was far from pretty to watch but every single player played an immense part and the points will be welcome in the coming months as the chase for the title hots up.
ATT: 102
Referee: Mr M.Senior
Gedling MW: Walker, Ramadam, Nightingale, Walton, Russell Marlow, Payne (C) Hatfield, Ison, Boulton, Clarke (Hall) Subs: Martt, Westwood, Clarson, Brown.
Holwell Sports: Cragg, Teare, Russ Pitman, Cooper, Saddington, Prenderville, Whatley, Williams, Rob Pitman, Bitmead Knightly (Fox) Subs: Smith
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