Rainworth & Clifton Draw Blanks

Rainworth Miners Welfare 0-0 Clifton All Whites (East Midlands Counties League) 14.12.19

Rainworth Miners Welfare drew 0-0 at home to Clifton All Whites in a frustrating affair at the Tomlin Personnel Stadium. The two sides missed valuable chances to break the deadlock as both defences came away with clean sheets.

Rainworth showed yet again their inability to convert valuable chances in front of goal. Manager Lewis Saxby summed it up saying, “It was the same old story. We just didn’t take our chances.”

Neither side starting the game particularly well seeing few early chances. The best opportunity of the first half fell to Rainworth’s Dec Brewin after 30 mins. Midfielder Cam Davidson intercepted well in midfield before finding Lewis Weaver on the left wing. Brewin met weavers cross first time but he could only poke it narrowly wide of the post. That would be Brewins’ last opportunity as the striker was forced off injured shortly after.

Rainworth continued to create the pick of the chances in the second half. On the hour mark captain Aidy Harris came close to netting a wondergoal for the home side. Harris met a loose ball in midfield first time from 25 yards out, sending the ball narrowly over the crossbar.

Despite late Rainworth pressure, it was Clifton who should have scored in the 90th minute. A cleverly worked freekick by Kyle Stovell found defender Alex Horobin unmarked in the box. However, Horobin sent his header agonisingly wide of the post.

It felt like a missed opportunity for Rainworth and manager Lewis Saxby was disappointed in his sides inability to break the deadlock. Saxby said, “That was the worst we’ve been for a while, we didn’t play very well at all.” Saxby felt his side were unsettled in the final third, “They just need to calm down in front of goal. We are too erratic; we just freeze and end up snatching at chances.”

Next up for Rainworth, they travel to Teversal in the league cup on Tuesday night. In their last meeting Teversal won 3-1 at the Tomlin Personnel Stadium last month. Saxby hopes his side can improve in front of goal and ultimately “put the ball in the back of the net”. Clifton next go up against Dunkirk at home on Tuesday night.

Elsewhere in the East Midlands Counties League leaders Eastwood Community were beaten by Sherwood Colliery 2-0 as second placed Hucknall Town narrowed the gap to just a point at the top after beating Borrowash 3-0 at Watnall Road.

Radford beat Belper United 3-1 whilst West Bridgford and Kimberley drew 2-2. Finally Clipstone moved to 16th after beating Barrow Town 2-1 and Dunkirk slipped up at home to Graham Street Prims losing 1-0.

Rainworth Miners Welfare: Hollis, Coupe, Toon, Herbert, Sennett, Wright, Lytham, Cornell, Brewin, Harris, Weaver. Subs: Spencer, Davidson, Cox, Darby, Adeleye.

Clifton All Whites: Mitchell, Timson, Chapman, Unwin, Horobin, Smith, Brown, Reid, Haughton, Seaton, Stovell. Subs: Simmons, Amaning, Brandon.

Venue: Kirklington Road (55)