Gedling Southbank 2 - 6 Bilborough Town

Gedling Southbank 2 - 6 Bilborough Town

Scorer (37) Croft (17) Cranny (77) Law (41) Cross (53), (85) Lord (67) Taylor (71)

A much-changed Town side ended up comfortably seeing off newly-promoted Gedling Southbank at Hollinwood Lane on Wednesday. With Law, Croft, Cross and Taylor all returning, Bilborough were in a much stronger position than they were in last thursday against Anstey and it was the returning Croft that hit the ground running when his first-time 25-yard strike flew into the top corner, giving the Gedling 'keeper no chance. In a scrappy first half, both teams were struggling to keep the ball on the small and bobbly pitch, and the home side capitalised on a misplaced pass from Stewart, when their striker struck into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to equalise.

Croft almost got his 2nd straight after the equaliser when his 20-yard effort came back off the post and Kane missed a glorious opportunity after a cross from Stewart but Kane scuffed his finish. Southbank also had a couple of efforts, with Coy coming close with a couple of efforts from range that were comfortably saved by Ivanov. The first half was even for both sides so Gedling were unlucky to go in at the break 2-1 down after another returning player, Law, dispossessed the Gedling's centre half on the edge of his own box and proceeded to tuck it away put Town 2-1 up at the break. HT 2-1

Both teams made a number of changes but it was Town who started the quicker of the two, this time keeping the ball for longer periods of play. Cross made it 3-1 after another smart move and cross from the impressive Croft left him to stab it home at the 2nd time of asking. On the hour mark, 17-year-old debutant, Will Lord, came onto the right wing and, seven minutes later, had the perfect start when, after a clever reverse pass from Richardson, allowed Lord to slot it into the bottom corner to get his first goal for the senior side. He wasn't done, either. Four minutes later, after link-up play with Cross, Lord turned provider as he smashed the ball across goal to allow Taylor to put away to get his 3rd goal in as many games. Town, now more relaxed, stepped off the gas and Cranny did well to win his header from a Gedling corner to grab a consolation goal for the home side. With minutes left, Kane won a flick-on from an Ivanov goalkick and left Cross one-on-one with the Southbank 'keeper who couldn't stop him from clinching his 2nd goal, and Bilborough's 6th to round off a solid victory for the Romanies. FT 6-2