Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Solihull Borough
Gresley Rovers were hoping to complete the double over their visitors in front of a specially invited guest. The star's trek to the Moat Ground had the desired effect. A Gary White super strike claimed all three points and ended a barren spell of results in the league that had seen the Moat Men drop off the pace for that important seventh spot.
The goal came from the first real attempt for the home side on 13 minutes. Some good work between Steve Lenagh and Leon Doughty gave Laurence Hall a chance of a shot from the edge of the box which was blocked by a defender. The rebound fell to White who was 22yrds out and he unleashed an unstoppable volley that beat visiting keeper Mark Gayle low down to his right.
Minutes later it took two blocks first from Matt Smith and then from Andy Cheetham to deny Solihull as they responded well.
The action swung to the other end and on 19 minutes Gayle did well to block a shot from the lively Doughty -the rebound cleared from danger by a defender.
Six minutes later Gresley went close again. Lenagh did extremely well to get the ball to Jamie Barrett who's first time shot flew just over the bar from 25 yards.
Solihull ended the first half with two decent chances but could not capitalize. On 43 minutes they were awarded a free kick just out side the area. The resultant kick was headed over by A Cooper when well placed. The, with just a minute remaining before the break Leon Mitchell ran on to a through ball from Morton Titterton but his shot went wide of the post.
Gresley almost doubled their advantage on 53 minutes. A cross from Barrett found Hall who could only direct his header wide of the upright.
Two minutes later Solihull were awarded a free kick 25 yards out taken by I Cooper. Home keeper Dale Belford appeared to see the ball late but pulled off a good save to turn the ball away down to his left with Cheetham clearing any danger.
On 75 minutes a long ball aimed just outside the visitor's area caused Gayle to try an head the ball away but unfortunately he failed to do so and the ball landed at Doughty's feet. The midfielder controlled the ball well and fired a shot towards the open goal but a deflection sent the ball just wide of the mark.
Gresley had the last attempt on goal well into time added on. A pin-point cross from substitute Carl Slater was met with a powerful header from Doughty but as the ball flew towards the goal Gayle somehow managed to stick out a foot to deny the midfielder.
Gary's view on the game
"This was an important game for us and it's the second time we've kept a clean sheet against Solihull. I'm delighted with the three points, which was more important than the type of performance we put in.
"It was always going to be difficult on this surface after all the rain we've had and it's a credit to the ground staff for getting the game on. I would have taken 3 points today however it happened.
"First half I thought we did particularly well – a bit similar to the other night not having anything in the final third to finish things off.
"Solihull seemed a little bit off the pace in the first half and I said to the lads at half time that we were 1-0 up but Solihull hadn't even got into their stride. It was a dangerous scoreline and the next goal would be vital.
"I was a little worried because we don't seem to keep many clean sheets and I asked the lads to concentrate a little bit more because the goals we've given away recently have been cheap. I don't mind if teams have to work to create goals.
"I felt the first goal we gave away on Tuesday and the one at Cirencester were cheap so I was asking for a little more concentration defensively, not just the back four, but the midfield guys and even the front two. We got that today but the disappointing thing was that we the number of free kicks that we continue to gave away. Solihull have good dead-ball specialists and load the box and caused us problems. We really need to work on staying on our feet and stop giving silly free kicks away.
"The early goal settled us down a little bit. It was a good goal from Gary White who has one of the best left foots in this league and he should be scoring more goals for us. It was a lovely strike, the ball dropped for him and he gambled and he hit it and I'm delighted to see it hit the back of the net. I want more like that from Gary and he could get 10 goals a season if he pushed himself a little more.
"We've had three defeats recently. Against Hednesford we were up against it because we had a weakened team. Against Cirencester we were down to ten men after 15 minutes and so we were always up against it there against a team on a 14 games unbeaten run. And then the other night we played superbly well, responding to the defeat at Cirencester and we get Dale sent off albeit after giving away a sloppy goal. So, I think we haven't had that bit of luck.
"One or two comments from so-called supporters as they get on one or two of the players backs are disappointing. The Choir Boys who support the team week in week out are superb but we have one or two other supporters who, when players make mistakes, get on their backs when we go into a mini run of defeats which is disappointing and it's uncalled for.
"Today's result is good because we need to be taking points off the sides above us if we want to finish in the top seven and then put in performances against the sides below us. I said to the players that the next few games are important to us if we want keep up with the pace and hopefully get into the Premier Division next season. The result today has kept us on course for that. But, we've still got a hell of a lot of work to do.
"It wasn't a gamble bringing Carl Slater on up front because I know what he can do. He will run and chase the ball and he got us behind them for the first time in the game by his persistence I left Carl Francis on the bench as long as I could because he's just recovering from illness and I didn't think he could have lasted for more than 10 minutes."
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Solihull Borough (0) 0
Scorer: G White
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Wardle, Cheetham, Smith, Hood, Holmes
, Doughty, Hall (Francis 84), Lenagh (Slater 66), White. Subs not used: Alexander, Sylla, Clarke (gk).
Solihull Borough: Gayle, Faulds, Haywood, Preston (Hawker 89), A Cooper, Hier, I Cooper, Titterton, Hunter (Swan 73), Amos, Mitchell. Subs not used: Lutz, Barry.
Rovers Star Man: Leon Doughty – worked tirelessly for the whole match.
Referee: S Cooke (Mansfield).
Attendance: 370
