Town s-neek their way to a point at Gornal - Match Report & Reaction: Gornal Athletic 2 NTFC 2
Gornal Athletic 2-2 Nuneaton Town
(Welding 7, Burrows 39: Harrison 9, Johnson 45+1)
Att: 187
Nuneaton Town travelled to Garden Walk on Tuesday night for the rearranged clash with Gornal Athletic.
Nuneaton welcomed back Dom Perkins and Callum Carsley to the side, and luckily this time the rain held off until after the match, and the two sides got under way.
In what was a polar opposite to Saturday's tight and bitty game, Nuneaton and Gornal both went on the attack for much of the game. Nuneaton made the most of the chaotic start and almost went in front inside 3 mins, as the Gornal defender missed his clearance, and the spinning ball fell to Declan Somel, but his effort went just wide.
On 7 minutes Gornal got away down the right wing, and with quick feet their winger got past Carsley leaving him no choice but to bring him down just outside the box. Unfortunately for Town, the free kick from Brad Welding was whipped perfectly over Bache and into the top corner (0-1).
Nuneaton looked to rectify that immediately, and they did. Just two minutes later a clever pass forward from Trevor Edwards, left James Harrison through on goal and despite the defenders best efforts to block, he rifled it across the keeper and into the far corner (1-1).
The end to end stuff continued. Spruce headed Harrison's cross into the keeper's arms on 10 minutes. Gornal had their own similar chance at the other end on 13 with the same result. And on 17 minutes both sides exchanged chances again, but to no avail.
Another chance went begging on 25 minutes as a free kick from the half way line was headed just wide by Loyiso Recci in the box, and after Gornal's number 5 was booked for a late challenge on the half hour, Carsley whipped the free kick just wide. On 35 minutes Harrison flicked the ball round the corner for Somel but his shot across goal was scuffed and went just wide.
Nuneaton were made to pay for their missed chances on 39 minutes a goal kick was given by the linesman but overruled as a corner by the referee, and the corner into their box was kicked overhead by Joe Burroughs towards goal and managed to bounce into the net (1-2).
Determined not to be behind at half time, Nuneaton got themselves level again. In stoppage time Spruce picked up the ball on the right and spotted Johnson on the opposite side in open space, pinged a perfect pass to him, and Johnson was left to run and slot the ball home under the keeper (2-2).
Half time:
Gornal Athletic 2-2 Nuneaton Town
The second half started, like Saturday, with Nuneaton immediately creating a chance, Johnson getting away down the left and from a tight angle his shot was blocked by the keeper out for a corner. When the corner came in Johnson glanced it and the defender managed to head it backwards onto his own post before the keeper finally gathered.
On 54 minutes, Gornal should have gone in front as a cross from the left found an unmarked player on the back post but the effort was skied over.
On 65 minutes Gornal had another gilt edged chance to go in front, as they got away on the right through on goal, but a combination of Bache save, and Carsley block from the rebound kept it level.
At the other end a ball forward hit the back of a defenders head, and Johnson got onto it but scuffed it wide.
Josh Whitehouse and Cody Mullan replaced James Spruce and Corey Currithers on the 3/4 mark, and on 74 minutes, the number 7 for Gornal went into the book for a late challenge. The free kick was worked to Cody Mullan who's effort was blocked by the keeper and spun agonisingly just wide.
Nuneaton huffed and puffed for a final chance but it wouldn't come, and 2-2 is how it finished. A missed opportunity to capitalise on teams around them not playing.
Full time:
Gornal Athletic 2-2 Nuneaton Town
Interview with Justin Marsden:
