Bawtry Town Under 21’s 0-3 Swallownest Miners Welfare Under 21’s

County Senior League Under 21 Division, Saturday 8^th February 2014

Swallownest extended their winning run to ten games with a deserved victory over Bawtry Town at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Welfare took the lead on eight minutes. Alex Nightingale’s deep cross was netted by Josh Thomas on the half-volley, with the shot rocketed into the top right corner.

The lead was doubled by Alex Lill who cut inside from the right and slotted a one-on-one into the bottom left hand corner.

Midway through the first half Brodie Cooper switched onto his left foot before an attempting a cheeky chip which hit the bar, following Nightingale’s corner.

Lill then doubled his tally, breaking through one-on-one and controlling the ball in mid-flight before rounding the goalkeeper and sending a low shot into the goal; 3-0.

Lill came close to his hat-trick when he weaved right then left between defenders before hitting his shot against the post with three minutes of time remaining. 

Bawtry had few clear cut chances, Maca Kentish challenged Josh Lill in the opening stages, one of few occasions the Swallownest goalkeeper was forced into a save. Later Zach Allen sent a free-kick just over after 85 minutes which was arguably the closest the hosts came to scoring. 

The result means that Swallownest haven’t suffered a league defeat since 28^th September 2013 and edge closer to the league title. Bawtry Town, on the other hand, remain under pressure to avoid bottom position in the division.  

Bawtry’s performance was organised however their poor decision making in the final third consequently cost them dear. However this didn’t become obvious from the first whistle, with Kentish’s free kick denied by Lill after two minutes.

But Bawtry were powerless to deny Welfare’s wonderful opener. Nightingale’s cross from the left was met by Thomas at the far post. He connected powerfully to open the scoring.

Buoyed by the opener Swallownest pushed for a second. Nightingale drilled in from the right hand side but Hish Khaliq cleared off the line.

Jay Atkins then crossed for Nightingale who controlled neatly onto his left foot but couldn’t convert the following effort.

Still Swallownest pressed for a second and Alex Lill delivered with an individual strike, cutting in from the wing and converting with just the keeper to beat.

One minute later, another Welfare chance. Nightingale’s corner eventually falling to Ryan Hall whose header was cleared off the line.

Lill almost made it 3-0, but his shot from inside the box was deflected over the crossbar.

Alex Nightingale’s corner then found Brodie Cooper whose left footed shot was denied by the woodwork.

Alex Lill was then denied by Luke Wikinson however with the keeper grounded Lill reacted quicker, but couldn’t find the finish with his rebound.

Atkins long range shot which flew over the crossbar concluded the half at 2-0.

In the second half, Jack Hutchinson’s shot inside the penalty area went wide of the right post. 

Cooper was denied by the crossbar a second time on seventy-three minutes, powerfully shooting after Lill’s pull back. This was prior to Lill and Hutchinson sending efforts wide of target.

With four minutes of time remaining the game was sealed through Lill. The attacker controlled the ball in the air before rounded the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the bottom corner for 3-0.

Lill was unlucky not to get his hat-trick when turning onto his left before shooting against the post with Wilkinson beaten.

Bawtry Town Under 21’s Team: Luke Wilkinson, Hish Khaliq, Henry Beaumont, Luke Gray, George Dean, Peter Shirley, Marco Battaglia, Zach Allen, Luke Watson, Jack Hodgkinson, Ian Love. Substitutes: Dave Goodman, Maca Kentish.

Swallownest Miners Welfare Under 21’s Team: Josh Lill, Jack Farrow, Jason Marshall, Alex Nightingale, Jack Hutchinson, Brodie Cooper, Alex Lill, Jack Simmonte, Jay Atkins, Josh Thomas, Ryan Hall. Substitutes: John Baines, Harry Johnstone, Chris Darius, Brad Matthewson, Sam Drury.