Rainworth kicked with any advantage the wind gave in the first half and opened the scoring in the 6th minute when Tommy Bedford ran across the edge of the area and slotted it into the bottom corner.

Ten minutes later and Rainworth doubled their lead when an excellent interchange between Oliver Brown, Kamau Balayi and Callum Brooks saw Brooks’s cross converted by Samuel Kelly.

Bedford almost made it three in the 23rd minute but was denied by an excellent save by Freddie Cravan. Asfordby did create a half chance in the 26th minute but Fin Thomas’s effort was straight at Niall Edge. A minute later and it was Rainworth on the attack, but Bedford’s cross was intercepted at the expense of a corner.

Rainworth were given a wake-up call on 40 minutes when an innocuous cross was volleyed home by Jordan Smith to reduce Asfordby’s arrears. That was the last event of note as Rainworth held a slender 2-1 lead at half time.

Rainworth brought on Josh Nettleship at the start of the second half for Balayi. Two minutes later Kelly pulled his shot, and it flew across the goal and out. Minutes later the same player was through on goal but instead of shooting chose to pass to Brooks and Cravan did well to save.

Two yellow cards in the space of a minute in the 60th and 61st minutes saw Rainworth reduced to ten men. The dismissal seemed to galvanise Rainworth and Liam Arnold did well to deny Asfordby when through on goal.

Rainworth made their second substitution bringing on Ethan Wilkinson for Kelly. Shortly afterwards they made a further substitution bringing on Reece O’Donnell for Mason Wilson-Rhiney.

The 80th minute saw Rainworth create some breathing space as they scored their third. Mason Gee and Brooks combined on the left and Brooks left two defenders in his wake as his mazy run took him into the area. As Cravan moved to narrow the angle he slotted it into the corner.

There were no further opportunities for either side and Rainworth deservedly ran out 3-1 winners in a game neither side could afford to lose. Whilst the result doesn’t guarantee survival it now means Asfordby need at least 7 points from their remaining three games, even if Rainworth fail to get any from their remaining three games.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Edge; Thomas; Brown; Allcock; Arnold; Wilson-Rhiney (O’Donnell); Gee; Balayi (Nettleship); Kelly (Wilkinson); Brooks; Bedford (Culf).
Sub (not used): Faulconbridge.