KIMBERLEY LOSE BATTLE OF HASTINGS

KIMBERLEY MW 1 GEDLING MW 4
EMCL @ STAG GROUND
26 AUGUST 2019 --- 3PM
On a blisteringly hot Bank Holiday Monday Kimberley lost the battle to restrain Gedling frontman Courtney Hastings who bagged himself a hat trick to go alongside his four goals on Saturday against West Bridgford.  Worryingly for the league the whole Gedling bandwagon looked well on the road and although the plaudits will go to Hastings this was a solid and dominate all round team performance.

HASTINGS [9] SCORES THE OPENER FROM THE TIGHTEST OF ANGLES

The start of the 2019/20 season had been like an old rock bands revival tour with many of the more local grounds being revisited and Kimberley, now under the moniker of MW, is one of those quirky little grounds that I never seem to get along too enough.
Set out today was to complete this journey in an unusual way stripey boys to spire town station with a train to Alfreton and then onto the following on train to Langley Mill where a twenty minute delay would be sufficient to catch the R1 Trent bus to Kimberley.  It all went well and just shy of 2.30pm an arrival at the ground which is accessed via a tight drive/walkway alongside a park.

LOOKING TOWARDS THE BUSINESS END AT THE STAG GROUND

Entrance paid and a quick tour completed with thanks to teams sheets from todays officials headed up by Peak referee Andy Wood.  Not too much had changed but it all looked fairly well cared for with a smart pitch this is an attractive ground, to the far side with a grassed bank area and hedging from the adjoining properties offering cover for most of the crowd of over 100 today who were shielding form the strong sun.  The near side and behind the top goal has a footpath immediately
behind it and the boundary here is of the metal spiked top fencing variety, in the top corner The Stag pub sits proudly offering refreshments for the weary traveller.  The business end at the entry point contains a small old K hut type bar building with players changing rooms and separate referees base to the side.  Behind the goal is the only cover at the ground with a split seating and standing area.  There are some modern Perspex dugouts on the bank side which if I remember rightly the old dug-outs were in the unusual lay out of one either side of the pitch.
Game wise it started well for the home side Robbie McNicholas fired over early on before George Caudwell forced visiting keeper Keaton Sharp into a smart save.  But it would to be Hastings who would put the visitors into the lead when his cross goal shot flew across Jake Wood and over the line at the far post just short of twenty minutes in.

HASTINGS [RIGHT] CONGRATULATED ON HIS SECOND GOAL

A hat trick of chances fell to Hastings during an eight minute spell in the first half in which he managed to fire just high and wide of the target before Wood saved his third effort.  Caudwell went over in the box twice in the same mover but referee Wood saw nothing amiss as the Kimberley attacker went to ground. However Hastings was not to be denied in the third minute of stoppage time when Matt Newton put in a tantalising cross off the right for the number nine to stoop to head home and send Gedling into a 2-0 lead at the break.
The forty seventh minute proved vital for Kimberley when they brought on Alex Goodhall and with his first touch he scored after being put through making no mistake to beat the approaching Sharp.
Would this be 'game on' you hoped so as a neutral but within eight minutes Hastings had other ideas from 35 yards out he spotted Wood slightly off his line and went for the lob that the number one could only watch sail over his head and rustle the back of the net for a glorious way to go to a triple.
Still the chances were coming to Hastings a sharp shot found Wood in denying form and then when the keeper missed a right wing cross the number nine headed goal wards only for a last gasp clearance to come in.

KIMBERLEY DENIED BY AN ACROBATIC KEATON SHARP

Gedling made it four in added time when sub when Alex Houghton kept calm, drew Wood and placed the ball in the back of the net to confirm a confident win from the Nottingham based side.  For Kimberley there was enough to see if things go right for them up front that they will win more than they lose in what is a long journey. 
Return trip was very similar but this time direct back from Langley Mill to spire town and the only thing missing was it was all too early for the bakery close by to have started production otherwise the day could have been finished off with the smell of fresh bread, there is a theme starting here!