Video: Rai Simons Scores For Chesterfield FC
[Updated with video] Bermuda’s Rai Simons scored in the 36th minute of today’s [Oct 10] match, marking the first Football League goal for the young Bermudian.
Simons has previously scored for the Chesterfield reserves team, and his performance today also earned him Man of the Match accolades.
The club’s match report said, “Chesterfield fell to a 3-1 Proact defeat as despite creating the majority of the game’s chances a professional Gills performance saw the Kent side win in Derbyshire.
“Gills captain John Egan gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half when Tommy Lee was unable to deal with an in-swinging freekick and Egan was on hand to tap home from close range.
“Within ten minutes the Spireites were level when man of the match Rai Simons ran onto Sam Morsy’s ball and finished like an experienced pro to score his first Football League goal.
“Following a flurry of Spireites attacks after the restart the Gills were ahead again on 54 minutes when Rory Donnelly met a cross to head his side in front, and on 72 minutes the Gills had their third from another header as Lennon diverted a corner.
“After an even start to proceedings, the Spireites started to control possession and captain Morsy had the first half-chance of the game in the ninth minute but his 20-yard drive rose just over the bar.
“The first half carried on in the same vein until the 26th minute and it was only through a rare error from the hosts’ ‘keeper Lee that lead to the deadlock being broken. Former Spireites loanee Brennan Dickinson delivered a mean freekick which Lee was unable to hold onto and the ball fell to the visitors’ captain Egan who rolled the balled into the empty net.
“Ten minutes later the Spireites found their equaliser, this time through a Gillingham defensive error. Dan Gardner intercepted a wayward pass and powered forwards before finding Morsy who in turn played Simons through on goal and he calmly finished for his first Spireites and Football League goal.
“The Spireites started the second half brightly and again it was Morsy with the first effort on goal in the 51st minute when he forced Stuart Nelson into a save from a curling shot after good build up play from Jay O’Shea.
Update: Video of the match highlights, including Simons goal
“A couple of minutes after the Spireites came close, the visitors re-took the lead against the run of play through Donnelly. He rose to meet a fine Jermaine McGlashan cross and powerfully headed home past a helpless Lee from 17 yards.
“The hosts came close to equalising for a second time in the match through the ever-impressive Simons in the 68th minute but he couldn’t angle his volley on target after Ian Evatt had found him with a knock down.
“Gillingham came inches away from extending their lead further with just under 20 minutes to go when the lively McGlashan hit the post from inside the area after a fine counter attack. Josh Wright fired the rebound back in from 25 yards but Lee was able to make a fine diving save.
“The visitors got their third goal from the resulting corner when it was flicked on and Lennon got the final touch with his head to steer the ball into the net.”
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Congratulations Mr. Simons! Wishing you many more goals for the season. Thanks for representing Bermuda well!
Nice, the more guys we have overseas, the better our National squad would be.
Hard luck on the result, but encouraging to see another young Bermudian pro make his mark in England.
Congratulations Rai Simmons, you are continuing Bermudian footballers’ tradition of excellence in the UK and other international leagues!