The Welfare Ground, Kirklington Road, home of Rainworth Miners Welfare based in Nottinghamshire and play their trade in Step 6 of the non league pyramid in the Northern Counties East League Division One. How many grounds have the name “Welfare Ground” in this country I wonder?? Better known as “Ren’erth” by locals. Once a club playing at Step 4 level! But not any more unfortunately for them… Today they face Armthorpe Welfare in their last home game of 2021, will it be a happy one?
On the road again for me!! The short journey across from Shirebrook to Rainworth has me here in plenty of time! £5 to get in here! What a beauty! The Christmas playlist is getting me in the mood for Santa next week… But that fog is starting to worry me like a cat in amongst a group of dogs. As we Step into Christmas and Stay another day! Kick off is looming and out come the teams!
Kick Off! A scrappy start with both teams enjoying early spells of possession. 11 minutes in and Armthorpe come down the right, it’s crossed in low, it comes to Jack Shaw at the back stick to shoot… Kept out by Warren Squires in the Rainworth goal and he collects the loose ball. 15 minutes now and Armthorpe play forward again, a chipped ball is played into the box towards Jack Wilson… He heads just over!
It’s still a scrappy game but Armthorpe are looking the better of the 2 teams so far, the Referee needs to get a grip to. 36th minute and Rainworth come forward now, it’s played to Curtis Williamson on the edge of the box to the right hand side, he cuts inside and shoots… Straight at the keeper.
42 minutes on the clock and Rainworth win a free kick in the Armthorpe half on the left hand side, it’s played in, Archie Williams brings it down and he shoots… Saved by Luke Bateman! Into stoppage time in the first half, one last charge for Armthorpe perhaps, the ball is played to Adam Baskerville in the box, down he goes… The Referee points for the Penalty! It was miss timed for me! I thought it was a Penalty! Baskerville will take… OH! It’s an ugly Penalty… He’s blazed it over! The Referee blows for half time and it’s still 0-0.
Second half, the fog is starting to show… Let’s hope it doesn’t get any worse! 50 minutes on the clock and Armthorpe win a free kick in the Rainworth half on the left side… The Rainworth manager is not happy!! He’s been shown a Yellow Card along with his assistant for their protests… Don’t think the assistant needed to be booked… The free kick is lumped into the box, it’s flicked on to Rhys Plater who gets a sight of goal, the shot!! Brilliant save by Warren Squires! Corner for Armthorpe, in it comes… Cleared by Rainworth.
58th minute and Rainworth have a free kick near the half way line just inside the Armthorpe half on the right hand side, they lump it into the box, Nathan Benger jumps for it… OH! It’s gone in! It’s gone over Benger’s head and it’s hit what looked like an Armthorpe player but the bottom line is that Rainworth have the lead here against the run of play! 1-0!
3 minutes later and Rainworth come forward down the left, they get into the box… He’s brought down there! The Referee has pointed to the spot! Definite Penalty for me! Curtis Williamson steps up… And he sends the keeper the wrong way!! 2-0 to Rainworth!
67th minute and Rainworth play a long ball down the right, it’s played in to Curtis Williamson who’s in acres of space here, he beats his man in the box and he shoots… THREEEEEEE! ONE TWO THREE!!! As once said by the late Tommy Cooper, “Just like that!” Talk about smash and grab!! 3-0!!
71 minutes now and Armthorpe have a corner, in it comes… Headed away by Rainworth but it comes to Alex Varley around 25 yards out and he goes for goal… He’s hit the bar!! What a goal that would have been!
81 minutes now and the Referee has stopped play for an injury for one of the Armthorpe players. The Rainworth manager is not happy and has questions for the assistant Referee… The Referee is walking over to him and he reaches into his pocket… It’s a second yellow for him and he’s off! He didn’t need the second yellow there for me, the Rainworth manager has been vocal today but all he needed there was a warning for me! But the decision stands and to the stands he goes!
Armthorpe continue to press towards the Rainworth goal, the score line does not reflect the balance of play here today I have to say as they have been the better team but as we all know in football, if you don’t score you will be made to pay! Into stoppage time now and Rhys Plater drives forward for Armthorpe now, he gets to the edge of the box and shoots… Squires saves! The Referee blows for full time after a lengthy amount of added time! A great win for Rainworth, Armthorpe will wonder how they haven’t got something from that game…
FT: Rainworth Miners Welfare 3-0 Armthorpe Welfare
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Not any noise from the crowd here today sadly.
- The Ground: 6/10 – It’s a nice ground! 2 stands on either side and a very unique little seating area behind the goal with the banking! A good ground for the level! The fog did stop me seeing whether it had a backdrop on the one side though…
- Expense: 10/10 – 3 goals, 2 Penalties and a manager sending off, all for £5? What a yes!!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – I enjoyed the game and my time here! A lovely club run by lovely people!! It had a proper non league vibe here with the Referee getting stick from the managers and fans and with the game swinging in Rainworth’s favour so quickly! You can’t knock that!
25/40