Who doesn't love a clean sheet and a win on the road...

We travelled to Gedling Miners Welfare to face a team in 4th position in the league, the 4th team in our last 6 league fixtures who have been in the top 4 when we come to face them. For the second time in those 4 fixtures we take a deserved 3 points and also kept a clean sheet.

We had a strong squad available and again had 4 players on the bench who stepped up from the reserves on the day. Players missing Orange/Howes - Suspended, Rafferty's - travelling, Walsh - injured.

The game started at a fast pace with both sides looking to get forward quickly on the counter and take an early foothold on the game, I felt we won our early battles well and took an early lead through George Harrison with a great hit from outside the box on 12 minutes the movement on the ball taking it past Gedlings goalkeeper. We seemed to settle after taking the lead and had further chances that we should have capitalised on, we then lost Jack Harrison to a head injury on around the half hour mark which saw him head straight to hospital to be checked for concussion with a large bump and a small cut to the forehead. Charlton Rooke replaced Jack Harrison and went straight into midfield and settled into the game really well.

Right on the stroke of half time the referee waved away a stone wall penalty after Gedlings Steven Brett pushed over Max Taylor when through on goal, we went into the half time break a goal up.

Half time we spoke to the lads regards the instruction they were given before the game and how we had to be more ruthless in front of goal as we expected Gedling to come at us quickly in the second half, we got just the response we wanted from the lads and started the second half really well. GK Charlie English made a fine save early in the second half to keep us in front and this was probably the catalyst for us going 2-0 up again through George Harrison which saw a poke towards goal slip under the oncoming Gedling goalkeeper Josua Mitchell on 54 minutes.

The game then turned a little frantic with both sides picking up yellow cards and Gedling also having their captain Joshua Thornton sin-binned on around 82 minutes, we used our substitutes well and introduced Connor Butler who solidified us at the back replacing Kane Bartholomew as we looked to soak up the pressure of Gedlings direct approach. Daniel Odunaiya replaced Barnabus Duffy, John Luke Fitch replaced Max Taylor who had ran his legs off again leading the line and did everything but find the back of the net in another great performance and Harrison Machin for George Scott as we looked to get the ball into the corners with pace and see the game out. The game finished with us taking a deserved win which then saw Gedling right back Zac Carnelly sent off after the final whistle for a second yellow card.

Next up is a tough trip to Radford in the Notts Senior Cup on Wednesday evening, it would be great to see some travelling away support.

Cheers Ralphy
Up the boatmen