| A hat-trick from player/manager Adam Hills continued Gadeside's 100% start to the season as they earned a narrow victory in a hard-fought contest against Reed Rangers. |
| With only 12 fit and available players (out of a squad of 26), Hills was forced to make changes to the side which comprehensively beat AFC Rangers the week before as Ben Higginson, Tom Oliver, Toby Zhou and Garry Cook all came in for the first starts of the season. Gadeside enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first half but found it hard to break down the home rearguard. Hills twice went close to opening the scoring - first seeing a curling effort superbly tipped onto the crossbar by home keeper Clarke and then somehow dragging wide from 10 yards. At the other end Hammill's shot clipped the top of the crossbar from a near post corner. |
| The deadlock was broken just before half-time when Ivanz Mani was chopped down in the box leaving Hills to slot home the penalty to give Gadeside the lead. The lead only lasted a few minutes as Reed drew level shortly after the restart. The Gadeside defence was caught napping as a low cross was turned in at the far post. Reed temporarily had Gadeside on the backfoot but slowly and surely Gadeside got themselves back into the game and dominated the rest of the half. John Wilkins and Toby Zhou both saw headers go just over while Hills shot wide. |
| Gadeside did finally get the goal they sought on 69 minutes when Ian Freeman's pinpoint cross was headed home by Hills after initial good work by Cook. The goal seemed to deflate Reed as they struggled to make any impact on the game. Zhou again went close but the result was sealed with five minutes to go when Wilkins put Hills through on goal and he deftly lobbed the ball over the keeper to claim his fifth goal of the season to complete his hat-trick. Reed did pull a goal back at the death with a cracking half-volley from the edge of the box but the final whistle shortly followed the goal to give Gadeside another three points and consolidate their position at the top of the league. |
| Hills commented after the game: "Reed made it difficult for us and we really took time to get going today. But its another three points and there were plenty of positives to come out of the game." |
| Rob Metcalf, Ian Freeman, Danny Everritt, Ben Higginson, Jay Evans, Daniel Brooks, Ivanz Mani, Garry Cook, Adam Hills, Tom Oliver (John Wilkins), Toby Zhou |