RAINWORTH MW

LEUFC continued their poor start to their NCEL season with their second single goal road trip defeat this time at newly promoted Rainworth MW's Kirklington Road ground.

Blues looked capable in the first half on an excellent playing surface but their performance dipped alarmingly after Craig Mitchell's guilt edged chance to put his side in front was spurned five minutes into the second period.

With the exception of long term casualties Micky Allsop and Martin Bowles Blues were back to full strength with Paul Gamble being restored to the heart of the defence.

Clever work by Kev Mabon set up the games first chance in the 8th minute.
Controlling and sheilding the ball well he picked out Nathan Parker to drill a shot just wide of the post.

Rainworth countered and in the next attack went close themselves.
Topliss angled a shot which deflected off Gambo and ran just wide.

Rainworth threatened again in 21st min a mistake at the back allowed Ant Lynam a strike and Rosco had to spread himself to push for a corner.
Centre half Matt Draper rose onto the flag kick and it looked to all that he had headed the game's opening goal but he headed a fraction wide of the post.

Although Blues lacked chances they held sway in terms of possession with Parker working hard in the engine room attempting to find the key to unlock a solid looking home defence.

Rainworth's Wright and Wilkinson were lucky to go unpunished following hefty challenges on Mushy and Mitch respectivly.

Blues only clearcut chance of the game five minutes after the restart when a mistake by Draper allowed Mitch a clear run in with just gangly 'keeper Mark Hales to beat..Indecision and hesitance allowed Rainworth's custodian to block the chance to safety.

From then on Blues performance deteriorated..Marshalled well by the home side Blues attacking quartet of Mabo,Mitch,Jared and Paolo looked toothless with three of the four subsequently being substituted.

There were bookings for Parker for dissent and for Gambo for a foul.

Jermain Hollis had already shown a turn of pace and fired a warning shot across the face of goal.With nine minutes to go receiving a pass from Baxter he slipped past Deano on the right to deliver a fine centre which was helped on by Hollis to Julian Topliss to get in a shot only to see Rosco make a tremendous point blank stop, he could do nothing to stop Topliss forcing home the rebound though.

It was almost 2-0 moments later when Topliss this time turned creator for Hollis but on this occasion they failed to get past the last line of Rosco who made a good block once more.

The Wrens...

Mark Hales,Matt Baxter,Simon Wright(Cameron Fearon 45),Lee Wilkinson,Craig Charlesworth,Matt Draper,Barry Alberry(Andy Jones 78),Danny Naylor,Jermain Hollis,Ant Lynam(Keiron Saxton 88),Julian Topliss.

Blues...

Ross Whalin,Chris Murdock,Paul McGinty,Paul Gamble,Dean Whiley,Jared Holmes(Lee Sutton 82),Nathan Parker,Kelvin Mushambi,Kev Mabon(Nick Ghislanzoni 75),
Craig Mitchell,Paolo Piliero(Chris Wilson 74).

Referee ..Philip Booker from Owthorpe,Sheffield

Attendance 102.

Man Of The Match... Nathan Parker for his first half display.
None warranted for the second half.

I need say little about the performance...Basically it was poor and lacked ideas against a side who grew in confidence as the game wore on.
It was pointed out to me at half-time that our midfielders were running their socks off but there seemed to be a big hole between the middle men and the front men and the engine room would burn out eventually and he wasn't far off the mark with his observations.

Our next opponents are Loughborough Dynamo in The FA Cup..
Former Notts trainee Kris Nurse scored his second of the season as they defeated Lincoln United by a single goal in the Unibond Div 1 South yesterday.
Nine of the next ten league and cup fixtures are at home.