Gadeside Rangers produced their best display of the season to beat Carpenders Park Rangers 5-2 on a sticky pitch at South Oxhey Playing Fields. The win sees Gadeside leapfrog their opponents and Croxley Green CC into fifth place in the table. Tom Mitchell continued his impressive goalscoring run with another brace and was supported with strikes from the Evans brothers and Dave Nelmes.

Daniel Bryon replaced Joe Pizans in an otherwise unchanged team from the previous game, also against Carpenders Park – as Gadeside started well. With the wind at their backs, they dominated the opening exchanges as the hosts struggled to get out of their own penalty area. Jay Evans twice fired over and Adam Hills saw a shot blocked. Hills was then inches away from converting at the far post as Evans headed Walcott’s free-kick back across goal. CPR did come back into the game and looked dangerous through Tom Horton down the left hand side. His low cross saw the ball rebound out to Hugo Figuerido and his snapshot was superbly saved by Tom Oliver in the Gadeside goal. Gadeside broke the deadlock on 17 minutes when Jay Evans found space on the edge of the area and hit a powerful drive across Carpenter in the home goal for his 10th of the season. That lead was doubled five minutes later when Bryon found Hills wide right and he in turn crossed for Tom Mitchell. The Gadeside striker controlled well, holding off Bourkham’s challenge before superbly hooking the ball into the far corner past the dive of Carpenter.

CPR responded well and were rewarded for a spell of pressure when they reduced the deficit on the half hour mark. Darren Locke’s knockdown saw Spicer bring another good save from Oliver but the rebound was stabbed home by Figuerido. CPR continued to press Gadeside and Oliver was forced to tip a dipping header over the bar. At the other end Daniel Bryon’s fierce drive was blocked and Hills could only fire at the keeper when given a clear opening by Dave Nelmes. However, they restored their two goal lead just before the break. Carpenter spilled Hills’ right wing corner under pressure from Matt Evans and the defender’s persistence was rewarded as he forced the ball over the line, his first goal since April 2010. Gadeside had been in an identical position at half-time in their last game and were desperate to get the next goal. The second half’s key moment came on 55 minutes when Justyn Walcott carelessly lost possession allowing Horton a clean run on goal. His shot beat Oliver but Matt Evans recovered to superbly clear off the line. Gadeside regained possession and quick break down the left hand side saw Popplewell and Hills combine to find the onrushing Dave Nelmes who drilled a low effort home from 18 yards. Mitchell should have scored when played clean through but wastefully chipped over the bar but he made amends on 75 minutes when Bryon drove forward from midfield and fed Mitchell who finished emphatically for his 14th of the season.

Hills’ was inches away from converting Nelmes’ low cross and Mitchell headed over from a Popplewell centre as Gadeside continued to create good chances but it was the hosts who grabbed the game’s final goal when Horton’s cross was somewhat fortuitously turned home by Kenroy Marshall. With practically the last kick off the game, Mitchell’s delightful cross found Hills who was given the simple task of slotting home from 6 yards. Unfortunately he comically shinned the ball wide and the search for his 100th Gadeside goal continues. This was a really decent performance from Gadeside who seem to finally have found some stability and consistency with a settled side. They passed the ball well and worked tremendously hard off the ball, led by the driving force of Jay Evans and Dave Nelmes who continue to impress in the heart of midfield. However this was a cracking team effort and everyone played their part.