| And so, the game that would make or break Gadeside's season got underway. However, it was a game that was to be overshadowed by a horrendous incident involving Gadeside's player-manager Matt Day who suffered a broken leg. Gadeside started with the same team that finished the first game with the energetic John Gooden partnering Byrne up front and Ashby having to put a shift in at left-midfield. Gadeside started poorly and were behind in the first 5 minutes of the game when yet another ball over the top was pounced on by the Spartians striker Stapleton who, again, easily rounded keeper Randall who was in no mans land. It looked like being one of those days but Gadeside refused to let their heads drop. Day glanced a header wide and Byrne should have done better when put through one-on-one by Cassidy. Gadeside did however grab an equaliser just before the break. Paul Bangs launched a long throw into the box which was partially cleared by the Spartians defence but only as far as Kevin Putman who met the ball on the edge of the box with a sweetly struck left-footed half volley which sailed into the top corner of the net. Cue the 'Party Pants' celebration!! Gadeside took the upper-hand for the first time in the match and were looking the more dangerous team going forward. |
| Then came the moment that changed the game as Matt Day mis-controlled a long clearance from the Spartians defence and, as the ball rolled away from him, launched himself into a typically committed (although fashionably late) challenge with the opposing right back.There was a crack of shins followed by a howl of pain as Day came off worse. The game was stopped for over 30 minutes as paramedics battled to save Day's leg. He was carried off in an ambulance but is expected to be out for a considerable amount of time. To rub salt into the wounds (no pun intended). Day also picked up a yellow card for his troubles!! |
| The game restarted with both teams seemingly happy to see out the half with a draw. Gadesides half time team talk was somewhat subdued given the circumstances but they knew that anything less than a win would seiously dent their promotion chances. The 2nd half started in much the same vein as the 1st half finished, with neither team taking a foot-hold on the game. Gadeside tried to get the ball down and play football but a combination of tired legs and the large pitch meant that passes were being cut out all to easily by the hosts defence. Then, somewhat against the run of play, Spartians took the lead when they broke down the right handside and the ball was played into the striker who fired past Randall at his near post. |
| Gadeside fought back and some neat play between Gooden and Byrne saw the former twist and turn in the area only to be brought down by a clumsy challenge. Putman stepped up to take the penalty but the chance for the equaliser seemed to have gone after his tame effort was comfortably saved by the Keeper. However, the referee spotted that the keeper had strayed off his line (a good 5 yards I'd say - Ed.) and ordered the kick to be retaken. Putman then held his nerve to blast the ball into the roof of the net to set up a dramatic finale. Gadeside, sensing the win, switched to 3 at the back and looked like they could nick it on the counter as gaps started to appear in the Spartians defence. However, it was not to be and, in the cruelest of circumstances, Spartians took all 3 points. Kieran Marks mis-hit a goal kick straight to the opposing striker who fed it out to the left. The ball was delived into the box where the Spartians number 10 was on hand to plant a header into the corner of the net to complete his hat-trick in injury time. |
| Gadeside now have a week off before they face a tough match at Victoria before finishing the season against Carefree Athletic. |
| Ashley Randall, Paul Bangs, Kieran Marks, Balraj Singh (Ashley Finill), Matt Day (Michael Kayembe), John Gooden, Steve Shaw, Kevin Putman, Will Byrne, Mark Cassidy, Mike Ashby |