Gedling Town 3-0 Gedling MW

Saturday 20th March 2010 - EMCL

The company that employs Kev is, at the moment, in the somwhat envious position of having too much work on their books. This means that he is putting in overtime on Saturdays, leaving yours truly as "Billy No Mates" again. I had a nice, quiet uneventful drive to the Riverside, and there were plenty of parking spaces in the Ferryboat car-park. So far, so good.

Entered the ground, took up a decent position - then it rained. At first a bit of drizzle, then it fair tipped it down!! I soon re-located to one of the covered areas - where I was joined by Gedling MW programme editor/photographer Tony Hay. I have to say a bit of size envy went on -- his is much bigger than mine - what a nice, big camera he has...

Town striker GRAHAM EPPS opened the scoring in the fifth minute, although he has to say a big thank you to Welfare keeper Lance Walker who let the no. 9's effort fly from his grasp giving the striker a second chance to fire into the net.


Epps is far right, and the ball is visible just behind the defender on the post...

The keeper made amends later in the half though, diving to tip Epps' ferocious goal-bound drive around the post. Welfare's Chris Hall had their best chance on 40, forcing Town stopper Scott Miles into a great save - and although the ball ran loose from the save, no-one was on hand to accept a tap in.

Cory Nightingale upended Ayokunie Abbis in the box just before the break conceding a penalty, but according to Gedling Town chairman Roland Ash, the Referee got this wrong - it seems that Nightingale won the ball and the player jumped over his leg. From where I was standing it looked to be as clear a stone-wall penalty as you will ever see! Aaron Large failed to beat Walker from the spot, the keeper diving to his left to push away. From the corner though, ASHLEY DICE headed home to double the home teams lead. H-T 2-0

Walker saves from Large

It was 3-0 to the home team on 53 when Epps picked out RYAN KING with a pinpoint pass - the no.7 didn't even have to break stride, calmly slotting the ball past Walker.

Referee Mr Craig Cox had booked several players in the first half, and he carried on brandishing cards on regular intervals throughout the second. He also had occasion to show a red card to Town left-back James Jepson and Welfare midfielder Chris Ison. When Jepson had his ankle stepped on by Craig Boulton, he kicked out at the Welfare sub, and was given a straight red. Ison was guilty of raising an arm, again a straight red card. What I missed was the fact that there was a third red card - this was for Welfare Manager Graham Walker - dismissed for foul and abusive language aimed at Assistant Referee Eddie Pidduck.

So, umpteen yellows, 3 reds.... sounds like a nasty game? Far from it. The conditions were awful, and the sendings off may have been justified, but Mr. Cox failed to take the conditions into account and there will be a fair few fines to pay in the near future!

Gedling Town are just getting their act together now under new Management duo of Mick Galloway and Martin McArdle. Welfare seem to be on a bit of a slide recently, and losing top scorer Warren Hatfield to Hucknall Town won't help. The Plains Road outfit looked really toothless again in this game, and you have to wonder where their next goal will come from. F-T 3-0

More images - click here

Admission £4

Programme £1

Attendance 87

Coming up:

Tuesday - Stags v Atltrincham

Weds - Worksop Tn v North Ferriby

Thurs - Kimberley Tn v Harworth CI