Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Bromsgrove Rovers
Gresley went into this match still looking for their first points of the season and for the first 45 minutes things looked very optimistic.
Manager Gary Norton made five changes to the side that were beaten by Rugby United in midweek with Nathan Tate being given his first start.
The home side made all the running and on 7 minutes a pass from Carl Slater through to Andy Bourne gave them the first half chance but the midfielder could only put his shot well over the bar.
On 10 minutes Jamie Barrett shot wide although it looked as if was impeded on his way.
Bromsgrove’s first chance came on 12 minutes when Sam Bowen headed a Marcus Jackson cross over the bar.
The play swung down the other end and a good cross from Gary White to Neil Kitching who almost beat Bromsgrove keeper Paul Wyatt but the ball was deflected for a corner. The flag kick was taken by White but it was a fraction too high for Kitching who put his header wide of the mark.
Some good work down the right by Matt Moran ended with the ball being hastily put out for a corner. This time the kick was not so good from White and the ball sailed over everyone.
The visitors had another chance when Andy Cheetham deflected the ball to Kevin Banner who put his shot wide.
On 31 minutes another fine Gresley move ended with Ian Bluck putting a pass through to Moran but the cross was well held by Wyatt.
Gresley were easily the better of the two teams and ended strongly with some more good work, this time down the left, between Bourne and Kitching which ended with Moran’s header being grabbed by the keeper in the top corner.
The home side came out just as they went in applying pressure on Bromsgrove’s goalmouth. A White corner was just headed over the bar by Bluck.
Against the run of play Bromsgrove took the lead on 50 minutes. Tate appealed in vain for offside when Mark Benbow put a pass through to Jackson. But the lively striker had held his line well and sprinted off towards goal. Tate did very well to get back but the experience of Jackson saw him turn inside the youngster before firing an unstoppable shot past Mark Sheils and into the net.
Gresley should have been given a lifeline just two minutes later. Kitching expertly turned his marker Steve Frost who then quite balantly dragged the striker down to the ground. Much to the amazement of everyone in the ground the referee waved the appeal away.
Gresley refused to give up and on 64 minutes a freekick from Gray was well held by the keeper.
On 67 minutes came the goal that finished Gresley’s hopes of grabbing a point. A Bromsgrove throw in was collected by Bowen and as he ran into the area a rash tackle by Cheetham this time ended with a spot kick for which no-one could argue. Bowen himself took the kick and sent Sheils the wrong way.
Five minutes later Lady Luck definitely left the Moat Ground when Sheils appeared to further damage an ankle he’d hurt only minutes earlier and had to leave the field. With no keeper on the bench Bluck donned the keeper’s jersey and was called into action to make a save just minutes later – and what a good save it was too.
Bluck had sent his clearance straight to Banner who looked up to see Bluck well off his line and sent in a lob from 30 yards. It looked all the way a goal but Bluck did supremely well to get a fingertip on the ball and push it out for a corner.
On 82 minutes a good lay off from substitute Ian Pitt to Gray ended with Gray’s good strike being well held by Wyatt.
Bromsgrove got their third on 84 minutes. Bluck couldn’t hold onto a high ball into his area when challenged and has the ball dropped Banner was there to knock the ball in.
Bluck did redeem himself on 89 minutes when he blocked a shot from Peter Sutton with his legs.
Gary’s views of the game.
“I’m deflated because despite the pressure we were all under, I though we made a superb start. We made changes down the left side bringing in Nathan Tate as left back and pushing Gary White up into a more advanced role in midfield.
“Those changes, I thought paid off. Tate had a superb first half overlapping on occasion with White and sending in crosses into the box. All the good stuff we played in the first half came through those two. We made more crosses into the box today that in the previous two games put together which was encouraging.
“Matt Moran was brought in on the right for similar reasons, to be attack minded and to get at players to get us more end product and he did that well. Yes, he gave the ball away at times but he worked hard to get it back.
“I was delighted with the football we played; the tempo but we just did not have that little bit of luck today.
“Basically we battered them in the first half and George Rooney has just said to me that at half time you would never have known the result was going to turn out has it did.
“I said to the lads at half time that we’d achieved nothing yet all we’ve achieved is the best 45 minutes of the season and we needed to work harder in the second half to ensure we continued that.
“I thought we started the second half reasonably well then the danger man we had talked about, Jackson, made one of his runs across the front line. Tate stopped thinking the lad was offside which I don’t think he was, it was a well-timed run. Tate did extremely well to get back but Jackson showed his quality and turned him and took his goal well.
“Even at one nil the way we’d been playing I thought we’d get back in it. Then we had a penalty turned down. Their player had both arms around Neil Kitching and hauled him to the ground in the area and the referee chose not to give it. I don’t know what you’ve got to do to get a penalty.
“Any chance of getting back into the game went after a rash tackle from our skipper Andy Cheetham, who should know better. They took a quick free kick and their player came inside and all Andy had to do was to stay on his feet. To be honest, from where I stood as soon as Andy started to wind himself up for the tackle it was going to be a penalty. I was very disappointed in the way we conceded the penalty.
“Ian Bluck had to go in goal after Mark Sheils got injured and the third goal came when their forward challenged for a high ball with Bluck. It would have been harsh to penalise their player for the challenge because Bluck, not being a keeper, didn’t get up and I have no complaints for that goal.
“I was very pleased with the midfield in the first half. Carl Slater continued to do well and Jamie Barrett who has had to be patient, has come in and put himself about a bit and did a fantastic job in the first half. It just adds to the competition.
“It’s a pity we couldn’t have knicked a goal when we were on top. It’s important that when you’re on top that you get something out of that spell. We had one or two chances and our set plays were a lot better and with a bit more conviction we’d have got on the end of things. Luck just didn’t go with us today.
“I’m very disappointed, the lads heads are down. But I’ve told them to keep their heads up and it is important I keep my head up because I still believe in what we’re doing and we are working hard on a very tight budget. I’ve not moaned about the budget and I’m not going to start now, but it must be one of the lowest in the league. I will be having talks with the chairman because I need to bring in a good forward and the funds are not sufficient to do that. Maybe I’ll need to lose one or two to make room.
“I’ve got a lot of thinking to do before Monday. We’ve only got a days rest and I’m hoping all the players come through all right. Mark Sheils will definitely be out for Monday and I’ll have to look at the goalkeeping situation. Richard Wardle is also very doubtful as well.
“We’ll re-group and be there at Sutton on Monday taking positives out of the first half performance today and work on the negatives. I can’t do a lot as manager when individuals make mistakes.
“It just shows what a fickle game football is when supporters applauded us off at half time and where then having a go during the second.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Bromsgrove Rovers (0) 3
Scorers: Jackson 50, Bowen 67 (pen), Banner 84.
Gresley Rovers: Sheils (Hopkins 74), Bluck, Tate
, Smith, Cheetham, Barrett, Moran (Pitt 60), Slater, Bourne, Kitching (Gray 60), White. Sub not used: Lonergan.
Bromsgrove Rovers: Wyatt, Frost, Hillman, Pope, Beckett (Dawson 8), Benbow, Jackson, Scheppel, Bowen (Sutton 87), Jones (Atkinson 87), Banner. Subs not used: Ruck, Gandy (gk).
Rovers Star Man: Nathan Tate – showed his more experienced colleagues how to do it.
Referee: P Cottom (Nottinghamshire).
Attendance: 355
