Main_v_Shirebrook_Town_26_01

The season’s stalemate between Main and Town continued with neither side able to find the net in both fixtures between these two teams.

Main had returnees Liam Richardson and Ashley Longstaff back from their brief spells away from Muglet Lane at Lincoln United and Goole respectively. James Mitchell returned from injury to replace the suspended Chris Piperithis and Jordan Stock came into the starting line-up for Nicky Darker who was named on the bench.

Main set about the visitors early on with Scott Somerville racing clear down the wing but his 4th minute cross flew over the bar. The home side then had two great chances in the tenth minute with Longstaff shooting wide of the goal following Somerville’s flick on, then Somerville firing over when he was clear through on goal.

Ryan Cancellara denied Somerville in the twenty fifth minute when he blocked the Main striker’s shot away for a corner. Paul Staniforth curled the corner into the area but Martin Rowbottom headed away the danger.

Main had the ball in the net in the twenty seventh minute when Somerville challenged Town keeper Gavin Saxby and the ball came off his hand and into the net (a la Marradona 1986 v England) but unlike his Argentine counterpart Somerville was shown a yellow card for handball by the referee and the goal was disallowed.

Main defender Mark Coggin gifted Rob Orton a great chance when the striker pounced on his weak backpass but he squandered the chance shooting well wide in the thirty fourth minute.

Somerville then wasted a great chance when he collected Saxby’s clearance but fired his shot wide with the empty net beckoning.

Longstaff fired high over the bar in the fifty second minute when he should have done much batter before, three minutes later at the other end, Richardson pulled off a fine save low down to deny Orton.

Jamie Smith found himself clear through on goal in the fifty eight minute but he fired his shot into the side netting of Richardson’s goal.

Town were awarded a penalty in the seventieth minute when Staniforth was adjudged to have brought down Chris Rhodes in the area. Craig Shaw stepped up to take the corner but he smashed the ball high over the Main goal with the ball landing in a garden halfway down the Lansbury Avenue behind the goal.

Somerville sliced a shot wide of the goal in the seventy ninth minute after he raced into the area and rounded Adam Yates. Richardson saved easily from Lee Widdowson’s long range volley in the eight third minute then, as the visitors finished strongly, the Main ‘keeper again denied Widdowson with a great brave save down at the forward’s feet as he raced in on goal to preserve a point for Main.

Main: Liam Richardson, Mark Coggin, Paul Staniforth (Capt), Danny Payne (Russ Hobson 81), James Mitchell, Craig McCormick, Chris Dickman, Jordan Stock, Scott Somerville, Ashley Longstaff, Luke Fletcher.

Unused Subs: Nicky Darker, Danny Mullooly.