Venue: Plains Road, Mapperley, Nottingham.
Competition: F.A. Vase 1st Round Proper
Referee: Luke Gardner
Scorers - Ashley Grayson (25), Carl Haslam (58 pen)
Line-ups:
Thank you, Ian Williams
As usual we were treated like honoured guests once inside the ground - thank you Tony, Mick, Ian and all at Gedling.
Full colour -excellent publication!!
Before kick-off, a presentation was made to Phil Buxton to mark the midfielder's 100th game for the Bulls.
AFC mounted pressure on their hosts early doors, and after a couple of Rickard corners were dealt with by the Gedling back line, James Mountain fumbled a Carl Haslam shot, but managed to clear the danger as Khyle Sargent challenged for the loose ball.
With 13 played, Mitch Slawson took advantage of some neat play down the Gedling left, collecting the ball before running into the box before firing into the side-netting from a tight angle.
Ashley Kitchen played a great ball out of defence on 25, and when Sargent gathered and fired in at the near post, ASHLEY GRAYSON was on hand to beat Mountain to the ball and slot home.
Great sequence shots of the opening goal
On the half hour mark, Gedling were denied the chance to level when Referee Gardner awarded a free-kick instead of a penalty after Slawson had been blatantly tripped inside the area by Sargent. Slawson was clear through, and the "denying of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity" meant the end of Sargent's participation in the game. At least the Ref got that decision correct!
Clearly inside the penalty area
Slawson fired the free-kick into the well constructed wall, and when Kelvin Mushambi blasted the ball back towards goal, Grayson was on hand to block the Gedling skipper's effort.
On 36, Joe Naylor fouled Tony Law near the corner of the box, but Dan Gleeson's free-kick was well blocked once more, the defence again ensuring AFC keeper Gav Saxby remained virtually unemployed. H-T 0-1
Haslam had a curling shot well save by Mountain as the 10 men began the second half on the front foot. Gedling gradually began to press, Courtney Bartley their main threat raiding down the right, but the solid back four of Ludlow, Kitchen, Timons and Dudley were able to clear their lines with relative ease. Saxby must love having this quartet in front of him!!
With 12 minutes of the second half played, AFC midfield player Joe Naylor was tripped as he ran into the box - Referee Gardner gave the penalty on this occasion, and CARL HASLAM gave Mountain no chance from the spot.
Bartley produced a superb cross on 61, picking out Gleeson at the far stick - and although the left back did well to fire the ball goalwards, it was watched all the way by Saxby as it looped onto the roof of the net.
Mushambi had a fierce drive well blocked with 68 gone, but with Gedling becoming more and more frustrated at their inability to take advantage of their extra man and actually penetrate the visiting defence, the result began to look a foregone conclusion.
Sax did have to make a save in added time, diving well to block Tony Law's 20 yard free-kick. F-T 0-2
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance:TBC
Charity: £1.50
Pics/videos: Kev Goodman
