| Gadeside Rangers maintained their recent good form in the division one title race but they were made to work hard by struggling Old Fullerians at Barton Way. James Bryon had given Gadeside an early lead only for the hosts to hit straight back. However Tariq Khan struck midway through the second half to finally regain the lead for Gadeside and they held on comfortably to pick up their fourth win in five games. |
| Gadeside faced a goalkeeping crisis with Tom Oliver unavailable and Darren Hufford struggling through injury. Young full-back Kieran Marks stepped up from the reserve side to don the gloves and he performed admirably throughout the game. Otherwise it was the same settled side who have picked up the momentum in the second half of the season. Russ Popplewell was involved early in the game as he looked to attack OF’s full back Sampson and had some early success. First he cut in from the left but dragged his shot wide and then his low cross just evaded Adam Hills. Gadeside’s early pressure was rewarded on 9 minutes when Dave Nelmes picked out the run of James Bryon and the winger toe-poked past Styles in the home goal and the ball found the back of the net despite the best efforts of OF defender Jimmy Phang. However it was Phang who played an integral part in the home sides equaliser as from kick-off, his glorious 50 yard pass freed Joe Rylett on the right hand side. Rylett’s effort was presumably a cross but the ball looped over the helpless Marks in the Gadeside goal and nestled into the top corner. The manner of the goal seemed to stun Gadeside and OF’s began to get on top. They should have taken the lead when Bryon’s misplaced back-pass caused a mix up between Marks and Jay Evans but with goal at his mercy and the keeper stranded, Rylett fired high and wide from 18 yards. However, despite battling hard, it was as close at the hosts came to scoring again as Gadeside slowly began to get on top. Popplewell and Bryon on the wings saw a lot of the ball but all round, the final bit of quality seemed to be lacking. Tariq Khan fired a snapshot just wide from the edge of the box while Nelmes fired over from the edge of the box. |
| Gadeside regrouped at half-time and came out attacking down the slope in the second half. They dominated the half from start to finish with Popplewell again being a constant thorn in the home team’s side after being fed by the impressive midfield duo of Nelmes and Daniel Brooks. Again however, through a mixture of poor quality and bad luck – the ball just wouldn’t go in for Gadeside. Hills and Bryon combined for the former to see a half chance well saved by Styles and Jay Evans wastefully headed over from 8 yards when he met Hills’ left wing corner. The deciding goal did finally arrive on 67 minutes when Nelmes again turned provider and picked out Tariq Khan just inside the area and he controlled well before powering a drive past the onrushing Styles. OF’s tried in vain to find a way back into the game but the visiting defence always looked in control and Gadeside should have added to their lead when playing on the counter attack. Nelmes shot wide, Hills and Jay Evans saw free-kicks sail wide while Khan somehow headed wide from a Hills cross but Gadeside were able to see the game out in the final minutes to collect another vital 3 points. |
| Hills commented after the game: ”We were far from at our best in the first half but it’s a sign of a good side to win when not playing well. We were very comfortable in the second half but we must do more to kill these games off and turn chances into goals. We have 5 games left this season. We have put ourselves in a position to challenge for honours but we must up our game to the next level.” |
| Kieran Marks, Ian Freeman, Jason Brownhill, Matt Evans, Jay Evans, Daniel Brooks, James Bryon (Ross Standaloft), Dave Nelmes, Adam Hills, Tariq Khan, Russ Popplewell |