Staveley travelled to Rainworth attempting to extend the
recent good run of form which has seen them win their last three games.
The Wrens though are a much tougher proposition than the
Trojans have faced of late and are amongst a number of clubs in a highly
competitive league this year that have a chance of a top six finish.
Unavailable for the task was Jamie Brown and he was replaced
in the starting line up by Charlie Oglesby as manager Brett Marshall opted for
a 4-3-3 formation pushing Adam Scott forward alongside Kieren Watson and
Courtney Hastings hoping to add to the 46 goals scored by the three of them so
far this season.
Rainworth got the game underway with Staveley kicking
towards the club house end backed by a fantastic turn out from North Derbyshire
who seemed to form the majority of the 110 in attendance....
...Staveley arguably had the better of the niggly opening and
Rainworth had clearly done their homework with leading scorer Courtney Hastings
being a marked man who was fouled twice before an advantage was played allowing
Adam Scott to drive into the right handside of the box, he side stepped right
but how much of an advantage it is with your striker on the floor is open to
question and with had no one to cross to Scott fired a shot just wide of the
near post.
Staveley continued to press and a minute later they had an
indirect freekick inside the box courtesy of the back pass rule but in shifting
the ball left for Kieren Watson to strike they allowed the defensive wall to
close it down.
Not to worry though as in the 14th minute
Staveley took the lead when Matt Varley spotted the run of Kieren Watson and
placed a perfect ball in behind the defence enticing Sam Leigh in goal to come
of his line to clear but unfortunately for him Kieren Watson got there first and
knocked it over the stranded ‘keeper.
Rainworth MW 0-1 Staveley MW
Three minutes later Chris Baugh covered a Rainworth attack
well and found Courtney Hastings in the middle of the park who turned well and
passed to his strike partner Kieren Watson who cut inside but saw his strike go
wide. Adam Scott was held back by Connor Smythe but the freekick came to
nothing and the home side broke quickly and Matthew Sykes was brought down on
the edge of the Trojan penalty area.
Sykes took the freekick but Nick Siddons was equal to it and
tipped it over the bar sparking a series of corners which would eventually see
Rainworth equalise…
..Ash Rawson did his best to flick away two of those corners
and the third one came to nothing but moments later the home side fashioned a
chance for Matt Plant which Nick Siddons palmed wide and from yet another
corner which, frustratingly Staveley had two chances to clear from, Liam
Theakstone turned two defenders, cruyfflike, allowing him the space to fire a
shot from the edge of the box which flew into the bottom corner.
Rainworth MW 1 – 1 Staveley MW
Before the equaliser Staveley had looked the more likely and
back they came… in the 26th minute Ash Rawson and Craig Getliff
worked a crossing opportunity for Matt Varley meeting the head of Richard
Mintoft both of whom were still up from the back following a corner, “Mintys”
header almost fell into the path of Steve Carty as goal keeper Sam Leigh
decided to leave it but Staveleys midfielder couldn’t sort his feet out in time
and it dropped wide.
The half ended with Rainworth in the ascendency and they
were unfortunate not to go into the break with a 2-1 lead as Jack Barnett saw
his edge of the box effort come back of the underside of the crossbar and
Matthew Sykes saw an effort saved by Nick Siddons.
HT: Rainworth MW 1 -1 Staveley MW
Early in the second half Matt Varley blocked another Matthew
Sykes effort out for a corner from which Staveley broke quickly and Steve Carty
via Kieren Watson sent Adam Scott clear of the covering defenders but saw his
across the ‘keeper hit the base of the far post and out. And back came the home
side with a well worked chance from right to left across the box but Connor
Smythe fired over.
Steve Carty, Kieren Watson and Adam Scott combined again in
the 49h minute but this time it was Scott who turned provider latching on to a
pass from Carty. From the right hand side of the field he delivered the ball on
a plate for Kieren Watson who joined Courtney Hastings at the top of the
Trojans goal scoring list by tapping in possibly the easiest of his 19 goals so
far.
Rainworth MW 1 -2
Staveley MW
Although not grabbing the headlines with the goals…this
week. Courtney Hastings was having a great game despite being the man the home
side had marked for special treatment and he brought the ball down with a
sublime first touch and laid it out to Adam Scott but from a tight angle he
couldn’t quite pull the ball back far enough to cross into the box and Sam
Leigh caught at his near post.
Hastings again won a corner after being put through by a
back heel from Kieren Watson and cleverly dummying to cross causing the
covering defender to take the ball out with a sliding challenge …that corner
was swung in by Adam Scott and Richard Mintoft was unlucky not to score when
his flicked back header came off the inside of the post and somehow out to
safety.
Courtney Hastings forced a corner when his shot following a
reverse pass from Kieren Watson was saved by Sam Leigh and from the corner
Leigh again stopped Steve Cartys lobbed left foot stab towards goal.
Craig Getliff hit the crossbar as the game ticked into the
last half an hour but like in the first half Rainworth rallied… former Staveley
player Jamie York came onto the field and he worked a nice triangle with Liam
Theakstone and the substitute forced a clearance off the line from Richard
Mintoft.
Even though Staveley were still in the lead the game was anybody’s
at this point. A fact recognised by Matt Varley as the Trojans captain tried to
rally his troops stressing to the three most likely Adam Scott, Kieren Watson
and Courtney Hastings that “we need another goal”.
With fifteen minutes to go Craig Gettliff worked an opening
with a hook over a defender and a pass out to Adam Scott via Courtney Hastings
but Scott fired wide.
Unfortunately in the 82nd minute Rainworth got
their equaliser when a long ball from the back eluded Richard Mintoft allowing
Liam Morris to break clear and cross for an unmarked Declan Brewin to crash in
from two yards out via the far post.
It still wasn’t over though and Chris Baugh did brilliantly
for Staveley thwarting an attack when outnumbered three to one and was able to
find Courtney Hastings but the ball didn’t bounce right for Hastings to start
another attack and the referee blew the final whistle on a game that could’ve
perhaps should’ve produced another win for Staveley but one in reflection that
had just about the right result.
FT: Rainworth MW 2-2 Staveley MW
Attendance: 110
SMWFC Line Up:1.Nick Siddons.2.Chris Baugh.3.Charlie
Oglesby.4.Ashley Rawson.5.Matt Varley.6..Richard Mintoft.7.Adam Scott.8.Craig
Getliff.9.Courtney Hastings.10.Kieren Watson.11.Steve Carty
.
Subs Not used:12.Ross Goodwin.14.Lewis Naylor.15.Ryan
Watters.16.George Johnson.17.Greg Fitzpatrick.
Chairman's Message
A thoroughly entertaining game with 2 sides trying to win the game in their own distinctive styles. Rainworth remain undefeated at home for the past 3 months so Staveley can have no real complaint at coming away with a point and 22 points from a possible 27 is hardly disastrous form.
Perhaps the sternest test yet awaits with the trip to Bridlington Town FC on Saturday. The hosts themselves are in great form and haven’t lost since October. Playing against 2 teams with such a great record sometimes things have to give. Onwards …….
