| Gadeside Rangers rounded off 2008 in emphatic style with a comfortable 8-0 win over Inter FC at Queens School. The hosts - already trailing 5-0 at the break had two men sent-off early in the second half as Gadeside strolled to their ninth straight league win of the season. |
| With a number of regulars missing for one reason or another, Balraj Singh and Ben Higginson made their first league starts of the season and John Wilkins made a welcome return. It was Wilkins who opened the scoring on 9 minutes when he headed home at the near post after a cracking run and cross by Tariq Khan. The same two combined ten minutes later to double the lead when Wilkins showed much bravery (and took a punch from the keeper) to nod down Danny Everritt's cross and Khan had the simple task of smashing the ball into the empty net from close range. The game became rather scrappy and tempers frayed as referee Soppitt was called to break up an ugle melée between Daniel Brooks and the Inter skipper - both players being cautioned. |
| However Gadeside continued to dominate the game with Wilkins the main orchestrator. It was he that was on hand to turn home another right wing cross and Tariq Khan grabbed his second shortly after when converting Russ Popplewell's cross from close range. Khan thought he had grabbed his hat-trick shortly after when he netted at the far post again but the linesman had raised his flag and the goal was chalked off. The fifth goal did arrive just before half-time when Tom Mitchell found space and set up the on-rushing Jay Evans who comfortably steered the ball home from the penalty spot. |
| The game turned sour early into the second half as the hosts were reduced to nine men. Inter's skipper was shown a second yellow card after a very late lunge on Danny Everritt and during the handbags that ensued, another Inter player was shown a red card (presumably for dissent) which seemed harsh. Referee Soppitt briefly threatened to abandon the game but once order had been restored, it was back to a similar story with Gadeside knocking the ball around well against the nine men. Further goals were inevitable and Tom Mitchell got his name on the scoresheet when rounding the keeper and firing home after being sent clear by Daniel Brooks and it was the same man who grabbed the seventh goal when volleying home at the near post following John Wilkins' pacey corner. |
| Russ Popplewell's fierce volley was superbly turned over the bar by the keeper and Tariq Khan twice had chances to complete his hat-trick but was off target with both opportunities. The final goal of the game came from the enigmatic Wilkins who twisted and turned before curling a beautiful effort into the top corner from the edge of the box. A decent performance from Gadeside who go into the Xmas break three points clear with a game in hand and a far superior goal difference than Old Danes in second place. |
| Tom Oliver, Balraj Singh, Danny Everritt (Dan Campbell), Ben Higginson, Matt Evans, Daniel Brooks, Tariq Khan, Jay Evans, Tom Mitchell, John Wilkins, Russ Popplewell |