Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Evesham United
Gresley Rovers brought Evesham United's seven match unbeaten run to a shuddering halt at the Moat Ground on Saturday. Goals from Carl Slater and Leon Doughty ensured all three points for the Moatmen.
Within seconds of Mr Singh blowing his whistle United's keeper Tim Clarke was being tested by Gary White whose shot was fumbled by Clarke and then gathered at the second attempt before any of the onrushing Gresley players could capitalise.
Clarke who let the ball go out for a corner again fumbled a simple gather from Jamie Hood's long clearance on 6 minutes.
Gresley were well on top and on 12 minutes Carl Francis ran on to a through ball from Andy Cheetham and saw his cross scrambled away for a corner as the visitor's defence struggled to get a grip on the game.
On 20 minutes Gresley had a good shout for a penalty turned down by Mr Singh as Simon Marsh clearly handled a cross from Cheetham in his own area.
The visitor's first attempt on goal on 23 minutes almost gave them an unexpected lead. Craig Pountney's pass found Steven Shaw on the edge of the penalty area in acres of space but Brad Clarke, playing in only his second first team game of the season, sprinted off his line to bravely block the midfielder's attempted shot.
It was only a momentary blip in the proceedings as Gresley applied more pressure.
On 30 minutes Gresley were awarded a free kick 30 yards out taken by White. The well-struck shot got a slight deflection and Tim Clarke did well to get down to his right to stop the ball going into the bottom corner.
Gresley only had to wait seven minutes more to get the goal they deserved and what a goal it was. Cheetham had done well down the left and put his pass to midfielder Carl Slater who took a couple of steps forward before unleashing a tremendous strike from 25 yards that left Tim Clarke rooted to the spot as it screamed into the top corner of the net his first senior goal for the club.
The home side had two further chances before the break. The first from Leon Doughty, who put his 20-yard drive fractionally over the bar and then from Laurence Hall who put a stooping header well wide of an upright.
Gresley came out looking for more goals and went close on 46 minutes when another stinging drive from Slater made Tim Clarke pull off another decent save.
Tim Clarke certainly saved his side's hide during the second half. On 49 minutes a superb cross-field pass from Slater found Richard Wardle marauding down the right flank he sent in a superb whipped cross that substitute Steve Lenagh met with a thunderous header that looked for all its worth a certain goal. But, somehow Tim Clarke pulled off a miraculous save to deny the big front man.
On the hour Lenagh again tested Tim Clarke and again the keeper was up to the task. This time it was a volley that came from a cross from Slater and again looked certain to end up in the back of the net but Tim Clarke got a fingertip to it leaving the striker frustrated.
Gresley doubled their lead on 62 minutes with the ruthlessness of Caligula on a stag night in Rome.
Doughty collected the ball from a throw-in moved forward and smashed a thunderous shot from 20 yards that left Tim Clarke statuesque like on his line.
Evesham looked shell-shocked and defeated failing to trouble the Gresley rearguard for the rest of the game as the home side ran out very comfortable winners.
Gary's views of the game
"I'm delighted with that performance. I knew we were capable of it. We said to the players that we've got to start treating every game as a cup final until the end of the season.
"The pressure was on them to be honest. They were the ones that had come here with a fantastic record unbeaten since December 13th. Deservedly, David Busst had won the manager-of the-month and that was a good foil for us because we came into the knowing that we were more than capable of getting amongst them and getting a win. And I felt we deserved it over the 90 minutes.
"It was nice for Carl Slater to get a goal. Ironically I was talking to both him and Leon Doughty about getting goals in the team talk before the game and they've both got on the scoresheet and I'm delighted with that.
"I'm even more delighted with the clean sheet. I thought we deserved a clean sheet at Mangotsfield last week and conceding in the fourth minute of injury time was gutting for everyone concerned.
"I was particularly pleased for Brad Clarke. He was very, very nervous before the game, not his usual bubbly and cheeky self, and he's done really well. He made one really good save in the first half when we were exposed at the back. He reacted quickly and flew off his line and he stopped an almost certain goal.
"He's kicked well; he's handled well and the experience will do him a world of good and give him confidence.
"The goals were fantastic. I keep urging the guys to shoot more especially from areas like that and the keeper was rooted for both of those shots.
"I'm really delighted and at a loss for words at the moment because the players dig in for us week in week out. Most of the time it goes right. We had a little bit of a sticky patch but now we have had three wins and we are looking to capitalise on that for next weeks trip to Yate.
"It could have been a bigger win for us today. Steve Lenagh come on for the second half and did very well for us. It took two 'top drawer' saves to deny him and Steve could easily have had a hat trick.
"I didn't feel that Steve should start the game because he's been suffering from flu. He trained on Thursday and he's still feeling the effects slightly but he came on and did a great job for us in the second half.
"I thought the midfield did well today -they were superb. They closed down and used the ball very, very well. We also defended very well."
"We could have gone on and got a third or fourth. But, having said that, I'd have settled for a 2-0 win before the game.
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Evesham United (0) 0
Scorers: Slater 37, Doughty 62
Gresley Rovers: B Clarke, Wardle, Cheetham, M Smith, Hood, Slater, Doughty, Barrett, Francis (Lake 81), Hall
(Lenagh 45), White. Subs not used: Alexander, Haynes, Sylla.
Evesham United: T Clarke, A Smith, Burrow, Hands, Khela, Pinkney, Shaw (Sage 61), Marsh, Pountney, Ross, Nicholls (Bailey 61). Subs not used: J Clarke, Guest, West.
Rovers Star Man: Carl Slater tremendous in midfield and scored a cracker.
Referee: H Singh (West Bromwich)
Attendance: 379
