Rainworth Mw 0 - 2 Sheffield Fc

Dudsey`s back on the trail and it`s another full day today, we start at Nabb Lane, Hucknall. Shirebrook Rangers U16`s take on the Hucknall Tigers in the Benevolent Cup, we arrive at 09:55 for a 10:30 kick off, there`s no-one here, no nets up and the changing rooms are definitely locked, have we been Cuckoo`d ?

Fortunately not, within minutes people start to arrive and the nets are soon up, the gates are opened and we`re in.

The Ref this morning is Dudsey`s old workmate`s "Onion" (Nigel Unwin). Onion has been a pillar to local youth football over many years and does a decent job of it.

It`s a cracker of a game, Shirebrook look to be out of it at 3-1 down, a change of tactics well into the second half see`s the Ranger`s pull it back to 3-3 in the last minute of normal time. It`s extra-time, ten minutes each way and it`s end to end stuff, Onion`s letting it flow a treat and Ranger`s find the net with seconds left making it 3-4. Well done lads!!    Time for some lunch, pick up Mrs H, then it`s off to Rainworth.


Dudsey`s not sure what to make of today, Sheffield are currently top of the pile whilst Rainworth are peering up from nineteenth position, Mark Shaw`s side have rode their luck in recent weeks but came out smiling, non more-so than when we went to see them play Carlton at home, but that`s all you need "A bit of luck"

Lady Luck on the other hand has totally eluded The Wrens in the last five games, not one point in the last three league outings and two cup exits thrown in for good measure.

A mixture of unavailable players and suspensions have left Rainworth fielding make do team`s and they have paid heavily for it, prior to this a goal drought has brought the wagon to a grinding halt, "But that`s football for you".

One boost is the return of Tommy Hannighan, a short spell with Belper has proved that the grass is no greener at Christchurch Meadow and the Rainworth faithful are glad to see him back.

Tbh today`s game saw a much better Rainworth, but once again two names would grace the scoresheet for Mark Shaw`s side, Steve Woolley and Conor Higginson, don`t be misled by these two wiry framed lads, they are as good a pairing upfront as Dudsey`s seen for a season or two, despite their small frames they have pace with strength and skill to match.

Two more characters had a great bearing on today`s result, Jamie Hadfield and Dan White where immense for Sheffield today and kept the door firmly closed.

Rainworth`s first half wasn`t without chances, but the real chances where falling to the deft pairing of Sheffield`s "Dynamic Duo", and a quickly taken corner played short gives Wooley enough time to pull the trigger and squeeze the ball between the last defender and the inside edge of the left stick, 1-0 after a quarter of an hour.

Woolley`s ball heads for the back of the net.

Despite going one down Rainworth seemed to brush themselves down quickly, Ian Clarke`s battling well in the midfield, but George Zuerner seems a little lost in the middle of the park and for me he looks a lot more comfortable out wide.

Kyle Gee Pemberton is up for the game and continues to probe, eventually finding Craig Mitchell but he can only manage to force it over the bar. Chris Timons tested the Sheffield keeper from close range but Whatsize was well up to the mark

Whatsize answers the call.

Just as it`s starting to look as though The Wrens could buck the trend "That Man Again" (Conor Higginson) doubles Sheffield`s tally nodding the ball over the line from his own shot which rebounded off  Rainworth`s Joe McCormack. 2-0 just after the half-hour.

Rainworth`s best chance of the half fell to Danny Bacon (ex Worksop Town) who`s long range shot looked to have Whatsize troubled but it fizzed just wide of the top left hand angle, "top effort though". 0-2 at HT.

Rainworth haven`t given up the ghost just yet!!

Mark Shaw`s team-talk must have been along the lines of "We`ve done what we came to do lads so keep it tight", and rightly so, three points in the bag retains top spot. The flip side of this is a pretty mundane second half, not without chances but without any meaningful purpose. 

Matt Roney who had a relatively quiet first half looked to be Sheffield`s most active competitor in the second half and substitute Matt Glass looked eager to impress but that was about all that really livened up a shapeless second period.

Sheffield have one last poke at Rainworth`s goal

Another fruitless day at Kirklington Road, fortunately the results have gone in favour of Rainworth and they remain in Nineteenth spot, a better overall performance but it`s still hard to see where the goals are going to come from despite the arrival of additional strikers.


Man of the Match, The irrepressible Steve Woolley for me.

Attendance - 134



Congratulations to one of Dudsey`s local favourites Carl Haslam who scored for Retford on his debut in their 5-0 demolition of Lincoln Moorlands. Also some quality reading on the Surfing Seadogs forum (click here) after Scarborough`s 3-0 defeat at the hands of arch rivals Tadcaster Albion.