Rainworth MW and Staveley MW share the points after entertaining draw

Rainworth MW twice came back from a goal down to rescue a point against on-form Staveley MW.

Visitors Staveley Miners Welfare came to Kirklington Road on the back of six wins and one draw in their last eight league games, including the notable scalp of Handsworth Parramore away.

Rainworth on the other hand had only played two games in 2016, winning both and scoring ten goals in the process.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Kieran Watson opened the scoring for Staveley following a moment of hesitation from the Rainworth defence on 14 minutes.

The goal put Staveley on the front foot and, for the next five minutes, they dominated and looked the team most likely to score the next goal.

As was to be the pattern for the remainder of the match, Rainworth started to get back into the game and Morris’s effort inside the area was blocked.

In the 22nd minute they went even closer when Nick Siddons did well to tip Matt Sykes’s free-kick over the bar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A couple of minutes later Siddons was in action again, this time tipping Matt Plant’s shot on the turn round the post at the expense of a corner.

Parity was gained in the 24th minute when a piece of magic from Liam Theakstone beat two players and left Siddons with no chance.

The next effort of any note was in the 35th minute when Jack Barnett’s 30 yard free-kick beat Siddons only for it to rebound off the crossbar to safety.

The last chance of the first half saw Siddons do well to tip Smythe’s 35 yard effort round the post as it bounced just in front of him.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If the first had been slow to get going, the second was anything but as both sides attacked from the start.

In the opening seconds Matt Varley did well to block Syke’s goal bound shot at the expense of a corner.

From the resultant corner it was Staveley who counter-attacked and this time it was Rainworth who were fortunate when Adam Scott’s effort grazed the outside of the post.

Play quickly moved to the other end and this time it was Smythe’s effort that flashed just over the bar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rainworth it seemed hadn’t learned from Staveley’s previous counter-attack and in the 49th minute they weren’t as fortunate when Watson converted Scott’s cross.

Staveley regained some dominance and they were unlucky when Rich Mintoft’s back header came back off the post into Leigh’s grateful arms.

Staveley continued to create chances as Watson found Courtney Hastings but he was thwarted by Leigh’s excellent save.

Leigh was in action again this time make in an excellent save from Ashley Rawson’s effort that was heading for the top corner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In the 68th minute Staveley almost extended their lead as Watson fed Craig Getliff whose effort grazed the bar.

Rainworth almost equalised when Morris broke and fed Sykes, he laid it into the path of York but he hit it straight at the keeper.

A couple of minutes later they came close again when Barnett’s effort was kicked off the line.

Rainworth continued to press and Jamie York’s effort was cleared off the line.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rainworth finally got their equaliser when Morris broke and played it into the path of Brewin who scored.

There were chances at both ends but no further goals in a game that had kept the crowd on their toes and at the final whistle there was nothing between the two sides.