Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Hendon FC
On what was the hottest day of the year, or for many years for that matter, Gresley gained a victory in this last match of their pre-season friendlies.
Their opponents, who had made the journey up from Cricklewood in London, started the game showing why they are one of the favourites to win the Ryman Premier Division this season.
They were quick and well organised and pressed forward right from the first whistle.
On 4 minutes they were awarded a free kick on the edge of Gresley's box and the ball deflected off the wall and fell to a Hendon player who was surprised at his chance and put the ball wide when well placed.
Four minutes later they went close again as a through ball into the box resulted in a cross and again an open goal was missed.
Gresley were still trying to steady the early jitters in defence when Hendon took the lead. A great run by the nippy Eugene Ofori left the home defence floundering and his pass to Dale Binns was gleefully accepted and he slipped the ball easily by Mark Sheils and into the bottom corner of the net.
Within two minutes Sheils was called on to make two good saves from a move down the left and another from down the right from Scott Cousins, as Hendon threatened to increase their advantage.
The first real chance of the game for the home side came on 15 minutes when a fine pass from Carl Timms sent Chris Gray through on goal. Gray's cross was just inches in front of Neil Kitching and was given up by the Hendon defence as a throw-in. However, Earl Alexander shrugging off the stifling conditions raced to the touch-line to keep the ball in. He turned and raced at the defence but his cross found no Gresley forward available to get the telling touch and Mark Cooper smashed the ball away from danger.
On 21 minutes Gresley got the equaliser in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Matt Smith tried to find Jamie Barrett with a high cross but the ball beat the young Gresley midfielder. The unlucky Hendon captain Jamie Burgess, who tried to head the ball back to his keeper Dave King, instead lifted the ball over his stranded colleague and into the net.
Craig Hopkins, who'd gone close with a couple of long-range shots, then put Gresley ahead. He collected the ball on the half way line and ran at the defence and has they backed off he unleashed a vicious 25-yard shot that gave King no chance.
Gresley were hoping to hang on until half time so that they could bring some fresh legs on and have a break from the oppressive heat. But their hopes were dashed when Hendon pulled level right on the whistle. A moment of sloppy defending allowed a cross from the left by Martin Randall to find Andy Cook in acres of space and he made no mistake of his header.
The home side made several changes after half time but it was the visitors who can out pushing forward.
Within a minute of the re-start a cross flew through the Gresley box but there was no Hendon player to be seen to capitalise.
On 67 minutes Randall and he should have restored Hendon's lead. The visitors had been awarded a very fortunate free kick just outside the penalty area after Ian Bluck had clearly won the ball from Haworth.
Cousins curled the ball over the Gresley wall, but the ball rebounded off a post and Haworth's attempted shot from the rebound was embarrassingly wide of the mark.
A minute later Carl Slater played an inch perfect through ball for Andy Bourne but Bourne's final shot was wide.
As the conditions were beginning to take it's toll and the game sliding towards a draw there was a moment of dogged determination from substitute Liam Hebberd which ended with a magnificent goal.
Fellow substitute Paul Kidson sent in a high cross that both Hebberd and Steve Butler challenged for in the air with Hebberd coming out on top. The youngster kept his cool and showing maturity beyond his years calmly lobbed the on-rushing King with Mark Cooper scrambling to try and get back.
That was just about the last goal mouth action of the game and both sets of players were, I'm sure, relieved to hear the final whistle and to be able to escape the heat.
Gary's view of the game
"The conditions today were very difficult for both sides. And I must say I was a little disappointed with some of the comment from individuals in the stand midway through the first half. Perhaps it was due to the way we'd asked the lads to play. We wanted them to keep and work the ball rather than make pointless runs. But I know it's a minority who say the things they were saying and it's something I've got to learn how to deal with it rather than reacting to it. It's not fair on the lads because it's only pre-season. We haven't started the season yet and this minority are on their backs.
"I thought the first goal was sloppy from our point of view. Richard Wardle looks a little short of match fitness and was being sucked inside and their No.11 was exploiting the space left behind him. It caught us out for the first goal and again shortly after. We made a slight tactical change with Jamie Barrett sitting ten or fifteen yards deeper which seemed to sort it out.
"Hendon were a good organised unit. They had the first half hour of the game and we got back into the game in fortunate circumstances but you have to take your bits of luck when they are going. We will have instances like that against us this season but it's nice when it comes and I hope we have one or two in league matches to give us a break.
"I've told the midfielders to work the space and get shots in from the edge of the box. I feel that last season we didn't get enough shots in from the edge of the box and I'm pleased for Hopkins who has worked very, very hard this pre-season, I'm pleased with his attitude and for him to get a goal like that will do him the world of good.
"Then we gave a very childish goal away on 44 minutes. The ball came out and we had time to get organised but their No.8 wouldn't have had as much space even if he'd been on his own in the Antarctic to put that goal away. With the experience we've brought in to the dressing room it was disappointing and a childish goal to give away.
"Second half we battled and I was quite pleased with competitive element of it. Hendon came here for a win and not to get beaten and we didn't want to get beaten either. They are a good outfit and some people forgot that they finished 3rd in the Rymans Premier last year and are one of the favourites to win the title this time.
"Every friendly we've had this season has been against sides higher in the league than us. Of course we are going to have times when we are chasing the ball and things are breaking down but the supporters have got to be patient and allow us to get things right.
"I was delighted when young John Branch went on. We've been trying to nurse him along all pre-season. He's had a thigh injury so we gave him a complete weeks rest and today he's got on and played well so that's a big plus from the game.
"Another big plus is Liam Hebberd who grabbed himself a fantastic goal. He created the opportunity himself by hastling the defender and showed composure beyond his years to lob their 6ft-plus keeper for a great finish.
"I'm delighted with the win. The result isn't important but it's nice to get a win and it sets us up nicely for our first game at Swindon next week."
Gresley Rovers (2) 3
Hendon FC (2) 2
Scorers: Burgess (og) 21, Hopkins 34, Hebberd 83 (Gresley Rovers); Binns 11, Cook 44 (Hendon FC).
Gresley Rovers: Sheils, Wardle (Branch 63), G White, Bluck, Smith, Hopkins, Barrett (Tate 85), Timms (Slater 45), Kitching (Bourne 45), Gray (Kidson 85), Alexander (Hebberd 72). Subs not used: Clarke (gk), Lonergan.
Hendon FC: King, Evans, Burgess (Duncan 45), Cooper, Butler, Forbes, Cousins (Hunt 80), Forbes, Randall (Hayworth 59), Ofori (Crace 45) Binns.
Referee: M Edwards (Castle Gresley).
Attendance: 200
