GEDLING LATE STRIKE AS FLOWSERVE PAY THE PENALTY

GEDLING MW 3 NEWARK FLOWSERVE 2
PRE SEASON FRIENDLY @ PLAINS RD
20 JULY 2019 --- 3PM

CLOSE GAME AS FLOWSERVE VISIT GEDLING MW FC

A strange game saw Dwayne Brown strike home a wonderful 25 yard effort in the final minute to defeat New Midland League outfit Newark Flowserve by the odd goal in five after the visitors had been awarded three penalties of which they converted two and saw the first well saved by home custodian Keaton Sharpe.
So The I Don't Do Pre Season Friendlies Cup moves onto round 5 and with little to take my fancy in the rugby league plus the weather a decider against cricket it was off to more football than I care to mention before the start of the season.  So far the pre season had given up some excellent encounters and today would add to that total, once again a local journey was planned and with base station suffering train strikes and a busy day with the 'Yorkies' in town for a T20 match I avoided the place and opted instead for the Pronto to Nottingham.

NOT TO TRAIN COMPANIES BE NICE TO HAVE A FEW OF THESE SPARE ON YOUR SERVICES

Now amazingly after my recent train journeys, ok the last year, seats were available and although the service is uniquely named its anything but like its name taking 1 and 3/4 hours to Robin Hood City.  Annoyingly the all stopping service is now operated by a fleet of modern double deckers who turn off every time they pull up at a stop.  But the high vantage point gave good viewing and as we approached Nottingham the City Transport service 69 had the digital display '69 its better by bus', I cannot vouch for that but will leave it to readers to discuss.  While in the suggestible mode the busy village of Sherwood has a vegan shop titled 'The V spot' give me chance I'm still advancing towards locating the 'G' variety and if you needed time to think about it next door is a café named 'Fancy a nibble', clearly I was not in the right mood for some serious football!

EARLY PENALTY SAVE FROM SHARPE DENIES NEWARK

During the 45 minute journey along the Mansfield section there was a doubt in my mind as the area suffered a serious cloudburst with water running down the streets for most of the run towards the city.  But after a short hop over the Nottingham Road a 45 was boarded to Plains Road which is a superb shopping centre sadly today there was no time for a chippy visit but all that was settled upon arrival at the ground by a chip cob served by the lovely ladies in the café.  Not much had changed since my last visit just over a year back and the toilets still have posh squirty soap in them, not in the bowls you understand but on the washbasins!  The ground is well appointed and along with the other 'local' visits in this pre season build up did make me realise there is a whole group of clubs worth just stopping in the vicinity to visit again during the forthcoming season I guess though the pull of new grounds gets me but the travelling on standing trains is becoming less of a pull.

GO WITH THE FLOW

Flowserve who I nearly always watch in rain had received a runners up spot promotion from The EMCFL and would take on their former leagues challenge without frontman Sam Agar, as ever I relaxed and made no attempt to gain the teams but Gedling's excellent match report aided my notes.
An entertaining game with lots of chances started as early as the fourth minute when home Keeper Sharpe, who matched his name this afternoon in an accomplished performance saved Ben Hutchinson of Middlesbrough and Celtic appearances penalty, later Hutchinson nearly made amends when his effort hit the top of the bar but it was to be the home side who took the lead when Joe Meakin struck home from 20 yards with an effort that seemed to deceive Joe Searson as it bounced in front of him.
The first vision of a sin bin offence saw Kyle Dixon of Flowserve popped off for a cool down for ten minutes just before the break.

SHARPE IS ALERT TO SAVE AGAIN

The second period opened up and when a handball offence was spotted by the referee Tyrell Shannon-Lewis took the spot kick and made no mistake. 
With 69 minutes on the clock Shannon Lewis went over under a sharp shoulder to shoulder challenge that was probably more of a push and the referee deemed a third penalty necessary this time Hutchinson grabbed the ball and gave the visitors the lead.

SHANNON LEWIS CONVERTS FROM THE SPOT

Gedling were not going to be denied and a left hand side corner was headed back at the near post into the penalty box for Dean Gent who fired home coolly past a Flowserve defender on the line.

PENALTY THREE HUTCHINSON CONVERTS

Both sides appeared determined to go for the winner as they swept forward in the closing stages but it was the curling long range effort of Brown that would proved the difference to give Gedling a well earned success against their higher league opponents.

UP AND OVER

Return journey via a hoppers delight Coop meal deal and with a quick departure to Victoria bus station a Pronto of the every ten minute variety as far as Mansfield needed a change in Stag town to a following service that would go all the way back to spire land.
Once again an enjoyable trip to Gedling for what had turned out to be a very entertaining I Don't Do Pre Season Cup game, I must do more of these!