Match Report by Alan Whitworth.
Blidworth Welfare were made to fight all the way for the three points against bottom club Kimberley Town on Saturday. The victory became significant as both league title rivals Sheffield Parramore and Pinxton surprisingly lost their games enabling Blidworth to close the gap to eight points with four games in hand on leaders Parramore.
Kimberley surprised everyone with their open attacking football and had Blidworth on the back foot in the early stages as striker Liam Edge beat Lee Dawson to a ball over the top and forced a good save from Paul Stanhope. Edge was looking very lively up front and as he received the ball inside the area on seven minutes he created some space for himself and drove the ball low and hard past Stanhope into the corner of the net to give Kimberley a shock lead. Jason Edwards, who was to play a key role in the game, tried to respond for Blidworth with a shot from outside the area which went straight at keeper Simon Dye. The Kimberley keeper produced an excellent diving save to deny Simon Ellison as Steve Carty hit the loose ball over the bar. Dye raced out of his box to punch the ball away from the head of Dean Rick as he chased a through ball. Blidworth equalised on twenty minutes.
Carl Haslem got possession on the left wing and drove the ball across the penalty area where Edwards fired home from close range. Midfielders Leon Aikmen and Zidan Mathews were making some strong runs from the middle of the park for Kimberley and Mathews nearly scored as he beat a number of players but shot just wide from the edge of the area. Rick drew a good save out of Dye after a one two with Haslem enabled him to shoot at goal but Dye managed to tip his shot around the post. Rick was getting involved in a lot of the action as Blidworth drove forward and the Blidworth striker shot wide after good work from Simon Ellison. Rick got his reward on thirty three minutes as he controlled Stanhope’s kick just outside the area, turned the Kimberley defender who was marking him and shot past Dye to give Blidworth the lead. Blidworth had a lucky escape as Kimberley went in search of an equaliser. A number of defenders managed to get their bodies in the way as the ball bounced around in their area to block shots from the Kimberley strikers and eventually the ball was cleared out for a corner. The dangerous Aikman came close for Kimberley as his left foot shot just cleared the bar. Rick had a great chance to increase the lead as Haslem’s flick put him through on goal but he got his foot underneath the ball and his shot went over the bar.
Blidworth came out on the offensive after half time and went close as both Rick and Dawson headed crosses against the Kimberley cross bar. Dye denied Rick and Simon Ellison with good saves before Blidworth’s pressure told on sixty six minutes as Edwards got his second goal firing home a loose ball from inside the penalty area. Dye denied Rick twice first blocking his shot as he was put through on goal by Edwards and also when Rick looked certain to score as the ball was pulled back to him in front of goal Dye managed to save his shot. On eighty minutes Rick had another good effort as he ran with the ball into the area turned and shot but his effort went just wide.
Blidworth are next in action at home to Nettleham on Wednesday 30th March KO 7.45pm.
Blidworth Welfare: Paul Stanhope, Tom Mallinson, Mark Ellison, Lee Dawson, Liam Pride, Max Pembleton, Jason Edwards, Steve Carty, Simon Ellison, Dean Rick, Carl Haslem. Subs: Craig Gould, David Bramwell and Dave Issott.
Blidworth Welfare Reserves produced an excellent performance drawing 0-0 at Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves. This followed their midweek victory over Belper Town Reserves.
