Mapperley Plains, home of Gedling Miners Welfare based in Nottinghamshire and play their trade in Step 6 of the Non League Pyramid in the United Counties League Division One. Nicknamed the “Miners” as it’s in the name “Gedling Miners Welfare”.
Ticking off the United Counties League one by one and today another United Counties League team faces the wrath of Topliss! Gedling is the chosen location who face Woodthorpe Park Rangers who play in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division who were last season so close to promotion to the same level as their opponents today. Will they prove their worth today?
Just like last night, straight through Mansfield, through Ravenshead and into Gedling and that sees me here with about 15 minutes to go before kick off.
£3 to get in here… And I haven’t got cash AGAIN! Operation: Don’t Miss Kick Off is on… Or is it? Back into my car and off to Sainsbury’s down the road… In and out and back on the road. It’s 3:04 pm and I’m back in the car park and the whistle goes for kick off! Lucky again!
Kick Off! 6 minutes in and Woodthorpe have a throw in on the left, it’s a long one into the middle, it’s flicked on by a Gedling head, it’s off another head and that could go anywhere… The keeper is scrambling… It’s gone in! Looks like an Own Goal there by Josh Stevenson… 0-1!
11th minute and Gedling have a corner, whipped in… It comes to Mason Rowley at the back post… He’s hit the side netting… Should be 1-1 there. 18 minutes now and Gedling are looking good for an equaliser here, they have it down the right wing, it’s crossed in, Jack Jepson is there and gets a foot to it… Good hand there by the keeper!
1 minute later and Gedling come forward again, it comes to number 11 in the box… He’s literally been jumped on there by the Woodthorpe man there… A clear 10/10 Penalty! Courtney Hastings to take… And roll in calmly! 1-1!
22nd minute now and the ball is loose in the air, Gedling get a head to it and Courtney Hastings runs onto it, he’s onside, he plays it to Jack Jepson who gets a shot away… And he scores! Gedling lead! 2-1!
1 minute later and Gedling come again and Jack Jepson is played through and he’s clean through on goal here… SAVED! It should be 3 for Gedling…
The drinks break is over and play goes on in this heat. 27 minutes on the clock and Gedling have it down the left wing, it’s played in low and Ruben Wiggins-Thomas is there… It is 3 now! Thoroughly deserved! 3-1!
30th minute and Gedling play a long ball over the top, keeper comes for it… But Ruben Wiggins-Thomas gets there first and his past the keeper… Can he stop it from going out…? He can and he gets it across to Courtney Hastings… Who couldn’t miss! It’s 4 for Gedling! How many are they going to score here today? 4-1!
34 minutes gone and Woodthorpe have a throw in on the left, played to number 9 who plays it across to number 8 on the edge of the box and he shoots… Wide! A good spell for Woodthorpe now but at half time it remains 4-1 to Gedling.
Second half, 50th minute and Woodthorpe come forward, the ball is played forward and is flicked on to number 11 who’s in… Keeper saves and claims the loose ball! Should be 4-2…
62 minutes now and Gedling play a long ball over to Sol Miller down the right and he plays it across to Jan who’s got an open goal… The flag is up! It won’t count!
1 minute later and Woodthorpe play down the right hand side, it’s crossed in, keeper doesn’t get there… It’s a goal! Number 16 bundles it in and it is 4-2 now!
1 minute later and Woodthorpe come forward again, number 9 is played through and he’s in on goal here… OH IT’S SAVED!! It should be 4-3 and game on here…
75th minute and Gedling play it out right to Sol Miller, he drives into the box and he goes for goal… Brilliant!! Great finish! A few fans questioning whether he meant it but who cares! It’s 5-2 and that should be the game for Gedling now! 5-2!
1 minute later and Gedling play a ball over the top, it’s flicked on to Jan who battles with the Woodthorpe defender… Jan gets a touch and it rolls in! 6 for Gedling! 6-2!
83rd minute now and Gedling play it out right to Sol Miller again, he drives into the box and plays it across to Jan at the back post… It’s another one! Woodthorpe are running out of steam here it seems… 7-2!
1 minute later and it’s the same ball from Gedling to the same player Sol Miller, he drives into the box and shoots… And it’s into the net! Great finish!! It’s EIGHT for Gedling! 8-2!
1 minute after that and Gedling come again, the ball is played to Jan on the edge of the box and he shoots… Keeper can’t keep it out… it’s NINE!! 9-2! Are we seeing double figures here?
The game is getting fiery as Woodthorpe are getting frustrated… Into the 90th minute and a silly challenge on the Gedling man by Woodthorpe’s number 2 sees Gedling win a free kick on the right near the corner flag, in it comes… Sol Miller jumps for it… It’s too high and it rolls away… And the Referee blows for full time! No double figures for Gedling.
FT: Gedling Miners Welfare 9-2 Woodthorpe Park Rangers
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 2/10 – Not the biggest of crowds but certainly a few jeers and cheers and a very friendly atmosphere at that.
- The Ground: 7/10 – I have to say that I was very surprised how nice it was! Covered stands all over the place and I was very cool under the stands in this heat today thankfully! It’s a very quirky ground to say the least! And I like it a lot!
- Expense: 10/10 – Was it worth the £20 fuel and £3 entry? 100% yes!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – It was a competitive game for 75 minutes but still we got plenty of goals and good ones at that in the end!
27/40