Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Maltby Main 2-2 Rainworth Miners Welfare
Maltby Main goal-scorer Steve Hopewell
Maltby Main scored twice in the opening 20 minutes, but had to settle for a point against Rainworth Miners Welfare.
Main started on the front foot and put Rainworth under pressure from the first whistle. Steve Hopewell broke the offside trap on 13 minutes and fired home. The lead was doubled when Shawn Mitchell crashed home a superb half volley on 18 minutes. Main created several more chances before the break but couldn’t find that third goal.
The second half was a cagey affair with neither side really having the better of the exchanges until the 70th minute when it exploded into life when former Pontefract striker Aaron Moxam tapped in after a superb one handed save from Louis Jones was not cleared.
Jones was then the hero for Maltby as he saved a penalty only minutes later, but Rainworth continued to press and equalised on 81 minutes through Declan Brown.
What They Said
Maltby Main manager Spencer Fearn
“We were outstanding the first 45 minutes, it’s the best half of football we have played in my time here. Unfortunately we ran out of gas in the last 20 minutes of the second half and credit to Rainworth who to be fair could have nicked it if it had not been for some wonderful goalkeeping by Louis Jones.
Overall there are a lot of positives to take from today, some great football, a real desire from the lads and although disappointed not to get all three points, I can’t fault the efforts of the lads the past week.
“We now have another seven days to work on the fitness of the several lads returning from injury in preparation for what will be a tough game at Bottesford.”
The Team
Maltby Main: Jones, Darker, Mitchell, Mitchell, Reilly, Goodison, Schofield (White 65), Snodin, Hopewell (Gregg 70) Carroll, Poole.