Shepshed Dynamo vs Gresley Rovers
This was a game of few clear chances and plenty of graft and hard work on both sides in an entertaining match despite the scoreline.
Gresley were down to the bare bones and had to call up some of the reserves to replace first team players Neil Kitching (thigh), Andy Cheetham (dead leg) and Ian Bluck (knee).
Also missing from the line up was manager Jon Newsome, Andy Bourne (work commitments), Jamie Barrett (suspension) and Steve Rutter.
Because of Newsome’s absence assistant Alan Titterton and reserve team boss Gary Norton took control.
Reserve teamers Carl Timms, Matt Moran, Earl Alexander and former Shepshed player Carl Eagling all started with Nathan Tate and Carl Slater coming on as subs.
There were only half chances for Gresley in the first quarter of the match with Chris Gray shooting wide and then high but on 25 minutes the visitors went close when Moran made a good run into the box but his shot was saved low down by Andrew Harland.
Three minutes later the action was down at the other end. Shepshed were awarded a corner and the kick from Darren Grasby was only half cleared as far as Jason Knight who hammered in a vicious shot that was well blocked on the line by Eagling and then another powerful shot, this time from Lee Quincey well saved by Lindley.
On 31 minutes another shot by Shepshed was blocked and the ball found its way to Gray who running towards the home defence, was well assisted by Alexander galloping along side him. Gray passed the ball to Alexander who was through on goal but his first touch took the ball a yard too far in front of him giving Harland the chance to gather the ball at his feet.
On 35 minutes Gresley were awarded a free kick which was taken by Gary White, a surprise appearance after picking up an injury on Saturday, and the ball found Eagling but he could only direct his header over the bar.
The first half ended with Gresley still pushing forward and Gray, who had made good progress down the right, saw his cross gathered by Harland.
Gresley came out for the second period and immediately put the home side under pressure when on 47 minutes a good one-two with Gray ended with White’s shot being well parried by Harland.
Three minutes later the visitor’s went close again when Eagling’s flicked header was just too strong for Gray and the keeper reacted quickly to clear the danger.
The young Gresley side were working very hard and fighting for every ball in midfield and on 63 minutes Timms went close with a shot that flew inches wide of the upright.
On 68 minutes Shepshed made one of their rare second half attacks and Knight went agonisingly close to getting on the end of Daniel Gransby’s flick on from a corner.
The action swung to the other end minutes later and a testing cross from Moran was held by Harland right on his line and then from a White free kick Stuart Evans’ header was comfortably held by the keeper.
On 85 minutes a defensive header almost gifted Gresley a goal. Eagling had done extremely well to get in a cross from the touch line on left edge of the box and as the ball swung into the danger area a Shepshed defender headed the ball away for a corner a little bit closer to the post than he thought.
Right on the final whistle Gresley could have nicked all three points. A powerful shot from White was well parried away for a corner by Harland and from the resultant kick Gray was inches away from getting his head on the ball.
All in all both sides must be satisfied with a point and a clean sheet and congratulations passed to the ground staff who prepared a good surface for the event.
The managers' view
Alan Titterton (AT) said after the game: "Both Gary and myself were pleased with the performance. We thought Shepshed had a couple of good chances in the first half that were well blocked but I thought our lads battled well. We've had to ask some of the reserves to come in because of injuries and they've done well. We have some good lads in the reserves.
"Carl Eagling did well up front but he tired a bit for the last ten minutes so me and Gary decided to bring him off. It's hard for the youngsters to come and settle in but the lads who have come in have settled well tonight."
Gary Norton (GN) continued: " I agree. Carl Eagling has done well. He's not match fit and we knew that, we knew that before the game but we thought we'd get at least 60 minutes out of him. Up front has been a real issue and today and yesterday talking with Jon Newsome and Alan on the phone we decided to give Carl a go and he did alright as I said he's not match fit and a yard of it but he put himself a bit and did reasonably well and it was a gamble that was worth while.
"Defensively I thought we did well and as Alan said we blocked a couple of their chances in the first half but apart from that I can't remember our keeper having a significant save to make and with a bit more quality up top I thought we could have sneaked it if Chris Gray had timed his runs a bit better."
AT: "Chris ran all over the park but he could have got sent off again but this is Chris. Jon has tried to drill into him all season that he's got to change because the referees will react and it would have been a shame if he'd have got sent off tonight.
GN: "I think that it's up to us and the lads around him. Because we know Chris is that sort of player and when we see that sort of thing happening, especially here against his old club, we need to get on top of him. Except for the little incident at the end I thought he worked his socks off and his work rate was fantastic as it was last Tuesday."
AT: "Looking at the game, Matt Moran was put through in the 24 minute and we thought that if he'd had squared the ball to Chris Gray, who was unmarked in the centre, we'd have gone one up. In the 31st minute Mark Peters put Gray through and he passed to Earl Alexandar but his first touch just put the ball too far in front of him and the keeper got to it. And right at the end of the game Eagling did really well to win the ball on the far side and he crossed it over and we really thought Gray was going to put it away.
GN: "If you look in the dressing room it's like a scene from Emergency Ward 10 with all the players that were here but were not available. We said before the game that we were up against it just as we were against Solihull last week. But to be fair to come away with a clean sheet – it would have been nice to have nicked it – but we can't ask for any more. The effort they all put in was fantastic tonight and I think Jon will be proud of them."
AT: "Stuart Evans is a good captain in the dressing room. He helps out and talks to the young lads and the morale is good in the dressing room. Jon had to go and see his daughter in a concert tonight but he should be at training on Thursday.
GN: "I know there has been a lot of speculation about Andy Bourne but he was working to night. He tried to swap shifts but couldn't that's why he wasn't here.
AT: "The way Jon understands it is that Rocester saw Andy on the bench when we played them a couple of weeks ago and they put seven days in for him. Andy enjoys playing for Gresley Rovers as do all the lads. We've got a good club and all the lads get on with Mark Evans they all think well of him. What we've got to do now is to see the season out and hopefully go for it."
GN: "Jon has left it to Andy to make his mind up. And I'd be very surprised if Andy did go to Rocester. No disrespects to Rocester but we have a good set of lads here and I see it as taking a step backwards but I know he wants to play regularly.
"I get a great buzz from seeing the reserves lads playing. I get nervous because I know they can do it and I don't want them to let me down on the day. But seeing Timms, Slater, Alexander and all the reserves lads who have played in the first team this season, is very gratifying indeed. But also you've got to look at the situation of a lot of clubs in the Western Division, as in all football, who are struggling financially so the reserves team are important and it's up to us to bring lads through and to bring lads in to fill the places. We look at the Youth Team and on Saturday we had three youth teamers start the game for the reserves and they all did well and we've got to try and push on from there.
AT: "There are no players in the reserves being overlooked because now is the time to look at them for next season. I just hope the supporters realise what we are doing when do lose the odd game. It's because of the number of players we have out. Yes, we, Jon, me and the lads get disappointed when we think the supporters are disappointed in us. But they've got to realise that it's a learning curve for these young lads and if we can give them a chance between now and the end of the season who know…it could be a good step for the future. Plus it shows the lads in the area that they have a better chance of first team football than say at Burton Albion because Burton are playing at a much higher standard. If we can keep the lads together I think things are looking rosy for Gresley Rovers. If we can keep Gary doing what he's doing and Mark doing what he's doing and hopefully the supporters will stand by us."
Shepshed Dynamo (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Shepshed Dynamo: Harland, Gainsford, Simpson (Blastland 45), Grasby, Greatorex, Davies, Knight, Quincey, Neckles, Heskey, Forsdick. Subs not used: Stevens, Matthews, Newbold, Gibson.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, G White, Timms
(Slater 80), Evans, Hopkins, Moran, Peters, Eagling (Tate 88), Gray, Alexander. Subs not used: Parkinson, Sheils (gk).
Rovers Star Man: Stuart Evans – a captain’s performance at the back.
Referee: G Mellor (Alvaston).
Attendance: 212
