It’s always a tough ask when facing league leaders, and when said opposition boast an undefeated league record, it becomes doubly hard; that was the task which befell Kimberley Miners Welfare, in the United Counties Premier North, when travelling to nearby Loughborough, in their last outing.

The leaders, Loughborough Students, were undefeated in the league this season, fourteen matches pre-Kimberley, so it was always going to be tough, but the Notts side, on their day, can be a tough nut themselves, as was proved.

Granted the hosts might have taken the points, in front of a 180+ crowd, it was to be a goal in the closing ten minutes, from substitute Ryan Hayes, which eventually swung the points in the Scholars favour.

In fact, the visitors had the nerve to take the lead, midway through the first, via James Shaw, with the hosts levelling on the stroke of half-time through Luke Martin; Kimbo having welcomed back both Kai Moore and Michael Pearson to the starting line-up following injury.

Looking back at the game, joint-manager, Graham Furnell, said of the clash: “From the very first whistle both sides got the ball down and clearly wanted to play good football.

“The scholars were the first to register a shot at goal but our ‘keeper, Danny Rigley, comfortably saved at his near post.

“After seventeen minutes, and with James Shaw running at the Scholars full-back, getting a shot off, but at the same time an awkward fall led to both teams physios rushing onto the pitch to tend to the opposition player (Emilio Stavrou), who was stretchered off and taken to hospital, with a suspected ACL injury.

“This, understandably, took the sting out the game and both sides looked to build back up some momentum.”

It would be that extra momentum which saw the visiting Kimberley gain the upper-hand, and strike the opening goal, with the clock ticking towards the half-hour mark; Kimberley marksman, James Shaw, on-hand to register his nineteenth goal of the season.

“Some superb hold-up play by (Kai) Moore released the ball back to Jordan Wheatley, he hitting a first-time through-ball into the path of Shaw, whose first shot was initially saved by the opposing ‘keeper but could only parry it back into Shaw’s path and he slotted the ball into an empty net for his nineteenth goal of the season.

“Instead of it helping us settle though, it actually lead to a scrappy ten-fifteen minute spell where we were very wasteful in possession, and inevitably, with a team with the quality Loughborough has, it was only a matter of time before we were made to pay for it.”

That equaliser arrived on the stroke of half-time, Luke Martin heading home from close, following a well-worked corner.

Although the interval came at a bad time, for both sides really, it would be the hosts who’d started the second period the better, although not creating any chances of note.

Kimberley slowly worked their way into the game, but both ‘keepers weren’t made too work much, however, with twenty minutes remaining, the visitors were forced into a double substitution, Michael Pearson and Ryan Wheatley both going off due to injuries.

The hosts took advantage of the knock to Kimbo and, in the closing stages, substitute Ryan Hayes beat Rigley from six yards following some clever play down the left flank.

“There was two players that looked to be clearly offside, in two separate phases of the build-up,” explained Furnell.

“But, after consultations with the linesman, the referee allowed the goal to stand.

“Because of the goal, we had to throw caution to the wind, bringing on Arron Coyle (for Kai Moore) and Ryan Whitehurst (for George Atwal), who both caused panic in the Scholars defence, immediately after their introduction.

“Loughborough though, they did all they could to take the sting out the game and run down the clock, in order to frustrate us.”

Kimbo did have chances in the closing stages, Whitehurst seeing his snapshot strike the foot of the post, the referee blowing for time immediately after, and the Scholars, stretched their unbeaten run in the league, to fifteen.

“We gave them a real scare and I can’t help but scratch my head on some of the decisions by the officials throughout the game” explained Furnell.

“With the effort and application our players put in, we’re proud of them, and, to be fair, even disappointed for them not to get something out of the game.

“Now though, we’ve no midweek fixture to worry about this week so we can get a plan in place during our sessions, to try and better the result away to high-flying Melton Town (second place).”

Kimberley MW return to Melton Town, who they defeated 3-1 in the FA Vase in late September (James Shaw, Louis Nicholson, and Nathan Banton netting), in the United Counties, on Saturday 12 November, followed by a midweek trip to Anstey Nomads.

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*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @KimberleyMWFC defeat at Loughborough on Saturday but Kimberley are looking to bounce back.