Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Mangotsfield United
Mangotsfield came to the Moat Ground with the reputation of being one of the better footballing sides in the Dr Martens Western Division with arguably two of the best strikers but were comfortably beaten by a still improving Gresley Rovers side.
It took less than two minutes for the home side to open the scoring. Gresley were awarded a corner on the left that Leon Doughty swung into the penalty area. The ball was only half cleared and found its way to Nathan Tate. Tate sent in a superb cross to Steve Lenagh waiting at the far post and the big striker made no mistake as he powered his header past Mangotsfield keeper Tony Malessa.
Mangotsfield made one of their rare first half attempts on goal on 3 minutes but a weak header by Jack Pitcher was dealt with easily by Gresley keeper Dale Belford.
On 6 minutes a free kick 20 yards put gave Doughty a chance to test Malessa who did well to hold on to a low driven shot.
Six minutes later some fine defending from Matt Smith denied Darren Edwards, who had made a good run down the left, by putting the ball out for a corner.
The impressive Tate was causing the visitor's back line all sorts of trouble with his runs to the bye line. And, on 22 minutes he was again the provider of another chance when he played Liam Hebberd through but Malessa was quick to come off his line and beat the young striker to the ball.
A minute later Lenagh was again powering in a header from a Doughty corner but this time the keeper was in the right place and took the ball easily.
On the half hour there was some good work by Tate when he turned the defence in the box before crossing the ball that just eluded the Gresley strikers as it flashed across the face of the goal.
On 38 minutes it was the turn of the Gresley defender Andy Cheetham to expose the Mangotsfield defence. He collected the ball and made a superb run down the left flank before passing to Lenagh. The Gresley frontman sent in a cross that Hebberd just failed to connect with.
Gresley were in total command now and every time they ventured forward it felt like they could score or at the very least go very close. And, on 39 minutes it was Tate again doing the damage. Another superb cross was missed by a fraction by his team mates in the area.
The pressure had to tell and it did on 43 minutes with a goal that was a carbon copy of the first.
Tate made a flying run down the left before crossing to Lenagh who climbed well above the defenders before sending another powerful header past a well-beaten Malessa.
Gresley came out applying the pressure from the whistle with Doughty's shot flying just over the bar with only a couple of minutes on the watch.
The two so-called danger men for Mangotsfield showed their first real threat of the game on 50 minutes. David Seal and Edwards were looking dangerous before a well-timed block by Danny Haynes prevented Edwards' shot testing Belford.
A fine piece of flowing football almost gave Gresley their third goal. Lenagh did well down the right and passed to Leigh Everitt who's cross was flicked on by Doughty. Tate collected the ball ran on into the penalty before unleashing a stinging shot that Malessa could only push away for a corner.
On 56 minutes Mangotsfield went close when Seal put a volley just over the Gresley bar.
Five minutes later Lenagh went close for the home side but his shot also went just over.
Mangotsfield seemed to be running out of ideas and their poor 25-yard free kick on 70 minutes seemed to sum up their afternoon.
Gresley were still hunting for more goals and on 73 minutes a corner from Doughty was headed to Jamie Barrett who tried a spectacular overhead kick that went over the bar. And then Hebberd almost added to the score putting his shot narrowly wide after being put through by Doughty.
With time up on the clock the visitors almost got a goal they did not deserve but Belford reacted well to deny both Edwards and Glenn Duff.
Gary's view on the game
"It was a great start – a goal in the first minute.
"We thought today would be a different game and I thought we caught them at the right time because Mangotsfield really didn't get going today.
"I thought we defended superbly and they were two well taken goals both created on the left side by Nathan Tate.
"Nathan did very well and had the opportunity to show us what he could do playing in a more forward role. And, I think he did himself justice today. There are still a few more things we can work on with him but we are very, very pleased with him.
"It was a good performance and another clean sheet. I made a few changes because I wanted to have a look at Liam Walshe. I've watched him in training and he's come in and done well.
"With the game on Tuesday in mind we kept Carl Slater on the bench because he's recovering from a knock. We even debated whether to bring him on at all today but Walshe needed to come off so we put Carl on in his place.
"Liam Hebberd had a superb game today and I'm very, very pleased. He got a knock on the knee against Shepshed but he still trained on Thursday. We were still a bit worried about him but we are a little short in that area and with Shaun Harrad not being around he did superb. He did well the other night but he was giving the ball away, but today he was a different class.
"I thought Matt Smith was superb in defence. But, having said that I was please with the whole back four of Andy Cheetham, Danny Haynes, Leigh Everitt and Smudger. I said to them before the game that it would be a good achievement if we could keep a clean sheet today and they've done it so fair play to them. I'm very, very pleased with them.
"We've beaten one of the better sides in the league today but we've got to keep our feet on the ground.
"Winning today only adds to the pressure because it adds to the expectation of the supporters.
"We want to add to the squad and we are talking to a few players because we don't want to rest on our laurels. We are only going to bring in players if they better the squad we have."
Gresley Rovers (2) 2
Mangotsfield United (0) 0
Scorers: Lenagh 2, 43.
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Everitt, Cheetham, Smith, Haynes
, Walshe (Slater 87), Doughty, Barrett, Hebberd (Wardle 83), Lenagh, Tate (Alexander 89). Sub not used. B Clarke (gk).
Mangotsfield United: Malessa, Pendry (S Clarke 59), Missiato, West (Turner 53), Duff, Loydon, Sims (Griffiths 75), Pitcher, Edawards, Seal, Brady.
Rovers Star Man: Nathan Tate – gave the visitor's defence nightmares.
Referee: G Law (Leicester).
Attendance: 397
