Venue: Plains Road, Mapperley, Nottingham.
Competition: East Midlands Counties League
Referee: Mr. Ian Davies
Line-ups:
There were several games that we could have gone to this week, but the last time we visited Plains Road we were treated to a goal fest as the Miners drew four apiece with Radcliffe Olympic. I thought there may be a few goals in this game (wrong!) - St. Andrews were in fourth place in the league table prior to kick off, with their hosts lying 13th.
The addition of Roddy Maveso from Radford added some steel to the Gedling back line and the Saints, although playing neat, approach football, rarely troubled the Miners' defence.
Gedling's Dan Gleeson hit a free-kick goalwards in the third minute, but Saints keeper Shane Ancliffe tipped the effort over the bar.
After a neat Saints passing move, Perry Johnson fired the ball into the box from the right. When Dan Kitchen nodded on, Danny Henfry tried his luck with back to goal but the effort flew over the Gedling bar.
Jack Hopper had a great chance to open the scoring on 15 after he was played in on goal - unfortunately for the winger, Ancliffe spread himself well to block the shot.
Great sequence from the camera of Mr. Goodman
Gleeson tried his luck with a free-kick again on the half-hour, but although his fierce drive was well placed, Ancliffe did well to tip over for a corner.
Gedling keeper Scott Miles had a rush of blood on 40, racing out to face Brady Hickey - the winger calmly passed the ball to Henfry, but his shot was intercepted by Gleeson, much to the keeper's relief.
The best chance of the half came in the final minute, Courtney Bartley firing in a perfect cross from the right that Alex Clarson should have buried. Sadly he guided his header wide of the upright from just a few yards out. H-T 0-0
So close
With three minutes of the second half played, Gedling centre-half Anthony Brown made a superb challenge on Hickey in the box when it seemed the games opening goal was on the cards.
Both teams were still trying to play their passing games, but as the half went on and the legs got heavier on a very testing pitch, we looked doomed to notching up only our second goal-less game of the season.
St. Andrews were awarded a free-kick with 10 to play - Shay Brennan fired the ball at goal and it was met with a header that was cleared off the line.
As Welfare countered, Kelvin Mushambi played Mitch Slawson in one-on-one with Ancliffe, but the final shot was tame and the keeper gathered comfortably.
The Saints hit the underside of the bar with a header with five minute to play, but as the ball bounced down the Welfare defence managed to hack away the loose ball. Slawson had another great chance to snatch it for the Miners, but fired wide of the far post after Tom McDonald had laid the ball neatly into his path. F-T 0-0
Admisison: £4.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 58
MOM: Rodrick Maveso
Charity: £3.00
Pics: Courtesy Kev Goodman
