Our first visit of the season to the Riverside - Gedling Town playing host to EMCL table toppers Heanor Town.
You can usually tell if there is going to be a decent turn out at Gedling, the Ferryboat car park has no empty spaces. On this occasion there was plenty of room - and although not fantastic, the 71 attendance was still the third highest on the day in the EMCL.
Bought a programme and on looking at the line-ups, we notived Steve Chaplin was due to start for Gedling. We last saw Steve playing for Carlton on Tuesday - apparently Gedling had secured a one match loan deal. Also in the Gedling line-up was Wayne Duik who we last spoke to at a Worksop game, prior to him signing for the Tigers.
Heanor had Callum Mason and Lee Stevenson in their starting eleven, both players known to us from their time spent in the Eastwood Town Academy a few years ago. Ashley Grayson we last saw at Rainworth - he had to be withdrawn halfway throught the first half due to losing the sight in one eye. It goes without saying that we hope this affliction is only temporary and Ashley is soon back playing again.
Gedling keeper Wayne Smith almost gifted Heanor the lead in just the 3rd minute, failing to react when the ball went loose in the area - fortunately for Smith, the Heanor players also failed to react and the chance went begging.
Gedling won a corner on 6, and from Rob Gill's kick, Heanor keeper Sam Ogrizovic punched weakly allowing Sham Ramadam to head onto Ashley Dyce. "Oggy" looked very relieved when the centre-backs headed crept just over the bar...
Gedling seemed to be more "up" for this contest, and Heanor gave away numerous free-kicks, one of which Gill smashed over the bar - another was volleyed over by Ramadam.
Rob Gill's free kick flies over the bar
Heanor skipper Gary Webster looked lively on the right wing, and one mazy run on 37 caused the home defence a few heart flutters, but the ball was eventually forced out for a corner that came to nothing.
Gedling took the lead on 42 when Luke Smith's free-kick was headed powerfully home at the far post by centre-half ASHLEY DYCE. Kev captured a picture of the ball flying towards the net, but it's blurred... damn!!
Blurred !!!
Smith had to be alert just before the break, just managing to palm an Aled Biggs header away to safety.. H-T 1-0
Aled Biggs goes close
4 minutes from the restart, Heanor were on level terms. A long throw from the right was fumbled in the 6 yard box by Smith and the ball dropped to the far post where it seemed that ASHLEY DYCE prodded into his own net. We were behind this goal at the time, and I am sure Dyce got the last touch, but the Heanor no. 6 Adam Kay wheeled away and may just claim the goal....
This lead up to the Heanor equaliser
Chaplin fired over on the hour after beating three defenders on his way to goal - then the striker forced a parry from Ogrizovic. The loose ball was struck well by Gill, but "Oggy" had recovered and blocked the effort. It was from the resultant corner that Gedling went ahead. The ball was played in at the near post where ROB GILL somehow manged to squeeze it between keeper and post. Chaplin had now taken the game by the scruff of the neck, and he was at the heart of all the home team's moves.
It was Chaplin who started the move that ended with the Gedling third. His skill took him past Stevenson and a neat pass found Jack Davies on the right. Davies looked up and spotted JIMMY SPIERS on the edge of the box. The midfielder connected perfectly and the ball flashed into the net with Ogrizovic grasping at thin air. This was our 150th goal of the season!!
Chaplin had another couple of decent chances well saved by Ogrizovic, and even though he didn't score he did enough for me and Kev to name him MOM. Jimmy Spiers was in my thoughts as MOM, but Chaplins second half performance was nothing short of brilliant. F-T 3-1
Second out of the car park and home in time to see Arsenal thump Wolves!!
Admission £4.00
Programme £1.00
Tuesday- Arnold v Bridlington, but Hucknall Rolls are at home to Bulwell, so may be a change.....
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