East Midlands Counties - Premier Division - 21/01/12

Radcliffe Olympic 3 - 1 Gedling Miners Welfare

Radcliffe Olympic picked up their first points of the year and accomplished their first double of the season as they secured a 3-1 win over local rivals Gedling Miners Welfare. Ryan Smith opened the scoring for Radcliffe in the opening half with Chris Muldoon equalising for the visitors before the interval. Further goals from Smith and Kev Walker on his debut for the club after the break secured all three points for Olympic.

For the second week in succession Radcliffe faced the team sitting on the bottom of the league table. Following their 3-1 home defeat last week, Radcliffe made a number of changes to their starting line up. In came Ash Harrison along with recent new signings Neil Thompson, Eddy Price and Tommy Kemp. Skipper Wes Spencer reverted to the centre of defence with Harrison and Ross Lawrence occupying the full back spots. Ben Elliott moved up alongside Price to strengthen the midfield. Kev Walker, joined Liam Thompson, Jack Smith, Steve Brett, and Rob Burton on a strong Radcliffe bench.

Despite the playing conditions being far from ideal as the wind gusted across the pitch, both teams tried to play football and created chances in the opening half. Gedling came close early on when Rhys Jeffrey got beyond The Radcliffe defence and took the ball round keeper Lance Walker who forced him wide, only to be thwarted by Wes Spencer who got back to clear off the line. Neil Thompson's goal bound free kick took a deflection to loop over the bar before Radcliffe opened the scoring on 18 minutes. Ryan Smith held off two defenders as he advanced to the edge of the area; Gareth Ellis in the visitors goal got a hand to his low shot, but could not prevent it going into the bottom corner of the net. Ben Elliot rounded off a good Radcliffe move down the left but his close range header was saved by Ellis.

Gedling levelled the scores on 23 minutes following some poor defending allowed Brad Wells through on goal; Walker came of his line to save but the ball rebounded into the path of Chris Muldoon whose low shot found the bottom corner of the net. Muldoon should have added a second for the visitors minutes later following a good move down the left but he fired over the bar from close range. Ellis did well to hold onto Neil Thompson's free kick from just outside the area which bounced awkwardly in front of him. In the dying moments of the half Ash Whitt saw his low shot fly past the post with the keeper well beaten.

Half Time: 1-1

Following the break Walker came off his line to save from Jeffrey before Smith restored the Radcliffe lead on 54 minutes with a stunning goal. There looked to be little danger as he ran onto the ball on the corner on the area before sending an unstoppable volley over the head of Ellis high into the net. Two minutes later Radcliffe almost increased their lead when Kemp's shot rebounded off the inside of both posts into the grateful arms of Ellis. Harrison, Elliott and Kemp then combined well to open up the Gedling defence on the left before the latter fired over when well placed.

It was end to end stuff as Gedling continued to look dangerous with Luke Stanley firing just wide before Lance Walker dived full length to touch a goal bound effort from Brad Wells past the post. Radcliffe defended resolutely against the renewed Gedling attacks as they rallied to get back on terms. Kemp forced another decent save out of Ellis before being replaced through injury along with Price by Kev Walker and Liam Thompson. Whitt, Liam Thompson and Walker all had further efforts saved while at the other end Danny Gee saw his strike fly just past the upright before Radcliffe scored the final goal on 88 minutes. Smith held off the challenge close to the bye line on the right before the ball reached Walker who tucked the ball home from an acute angle.

Full Time: 3-1

A much improved Radcliffe performance on the previous week with the three points gained lifting them two places up the table. The match was played in a good spirit between the two sides who produced an entertaining game in spite of the conditions and was excellently handled by the match officials.

Report by J. Watts

Radcliffe Olympic: L Walker, R Lawrence, A, Harrison, M Hartshorn, W, Spencer, B Elliott, N Thompson (R Burton), E Price (L Thompson), A Whitt, R Smith, T Kemp (K Walker).

Subs (not used): S Brett, J Smith.

Gedling Miners Welfare: G Ellis, G Marzano, K Brooks, G Bradley, S Labatte, L Stanley (D Pass), C Muldoon, D Gee, K Wells, B Wells, R Jeffrey (A Bedward).

Subs (not used) : D Hough, R Saxton.

Referee: S Abbott. Assistants: K Deighton, E Cook.