Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Swindon Supermarine
Gresley Rovers gained revenge for their 2-1 defeat against Swindon Supermarine on the first day of the season. But it took some resolute second half defending and some superb goalkeeping to hang on to all three points.
The home side opened well and it took a fine save low down to his right by Marine keeper Tony King to keep out a stinging shot from Earl Alexander on 10 minutes.
Two minutes later a Carl Slater long through ball sent Alexander scurrying down the right but his final cross was blocked and minutes later a pass from Gareth Holmes gave a chance to Shaun Harrad but King was quick off his line to smother the ball at the striker's feet.
On 16 minutes as Gresley keeper Dale Belford smothered the ball Marine striker Jimmy Carter went in late and caught Belford in the face. Carter was fortunate to stay on the pitch as the referee showed only a yellow card.
Gresley had another chance on 24 minutes. Liam Hebberd raced down the right after collecting a deflected ball, his pass found Harrad who then fired in a shot that flashed across the face of the goal.
On 30 minutes Slater looked to have beaten the Swindon offside trap only to be cynically tripped by Shaun Terry.
Man-of-the-match Belford was called on to make a superb reflex save on 34 minutes when he tipped over a powerful goal-bound header from Simon Futcher.
Within minutes Belford again showed why he's regarded as one of the best if not the best keeper in the Dr Martens Western Division when he pulled off another breath taking save. Swindon were awarded a free kick which was flicked on by Carter. The ball found Futcher in space and he smashed in a half volley from point-blank range that Belford saved.
The action immediately switched to the other end. A long clearance from Andy Cheetham found Harrad who had beaten the offside trap. The young striker calmly skipped past King before slotting the ball home.
With time added on in the first half Gresley doubled their lead. Some good play between Holmes and Hebberd led to Harrad racing down the right wing. Harrad unselfishly put a square ball to Hebberd and his vicious first time shot was only parried by King but Alexander was waiting and he took his chance slotting the ball into an empty net.
Marine got a goal back within a couple of minutes of the re-start. Gresley conceded a free kick that was taken short by Bennett to Futcher. Futcher's shot was blocked by Belford but only as far as Carter who made no mistake as he prodded the ball into the net.
On 50 minutes a fine run down the left by Cheetham produced a pass to Alexander who in turn fired in a tremendous shot from the edge of the box that only just cleared the bar.
Ten minutes later it was the turn of Swindon keeper King to pull off a fine save. A superb cross from Leon Doughty was met by Hebberd and his header looked a goal all the way before King acrobatically tipped the ball over for a corner.
King was again called upon when he had to tip over a shot from 25 yrds by Slater.
The action reverted to the other end when a free kick by Bennett was knocked past the stranded Belford and on towards the goal by Cheetham. Danny Haynes saved his skipper's blushed by clearing the ball off the line.
On 70 minutes Futcher had noticed that the Gresley keeper had come off his line and cheekily tried a lob that Belford did extremely well to get a fingertip to, to put it over the bar.
Swindon were going all out to try and get at least a share of the points but Belford was having none of it. With the 90 minutes up he had to deal with a Carter header and then make a save from former Gresley trialist Jamie Blastland to ensure his side kept all three points.
Gary's views on the game
"We were hanging on by our fingertips at the end. I was quite pleased with our first half performance. However, saying that we could have gone in 2-2. Dale Belford's made two fantastic saves where we just switched off a couple of times at the back.
"I felt we dominated the first half and we caused them a lot of problems but for a little more quality we could have gone in at half time a little more healthy.
"Our second goal on the stroke of half time helped. We went in, in good spirits two-nil up knowing we hadn't performed particularly well and with a better final ball and a bit more battling in midfield we could have gone on and done well in the second half and got two or three more goals.
"We not had a clean sheet for a while and the last things I said to them at half time was to make sure that we don't concede especially in the first 15 or 20 minutes. If we did their tails would be up. And that's what they did and the game changed. Instead of going on and trying to put in a convincing performance, which we've lacked in the last few league games, we've had to rely on a one-man blockade in the goal in the shape of Dale to get us three points.
"Some of the save he produced were fantastic. I said to Swindon's manager 'how you didn't get a point I'll never know'. They deserved a point on their second half performance.
"Liam Hebberd did well up front. He's followed on from where he left off for an hour at Nuneaton. He's lacking a little match fitness but he's got another 70 minutes in today and he's done really well and given us a lot of options.
"Earl Alexander has also done well. He's been patient waiting for his chance. We've used him in games and we've left him out of games but he's worked hard today and he's played defensively. At the start of the season we sat him down and said to him that he was great going forward but defensively we wanted to work with him and he responded magnificently and he's listening and he's trying his hardest to gat back and put tackles in. And there was no one happier than me when he scored his goal because he deserved it for the work he's put in over the last few months.
"We've had a few words in the dressing room because I felt we lost our shape in the second half and were a little naïve at times. They did deserve to get something from the game. However, saying that we've had games were we've come away with nothing having deserved something. They say that over the season things balance out. If that's the case we are still due for some more levellers yet.
"I'm pleased to come away with three points because they were much needed. The only reason we won today was because we had Dale in goal. He pulled off some top-drawer saves and everyone knew after an hour that he was the man-of-the-match and that's why he's the best keeper in the league in my opinion and that of many others."
Gresley Rovers (2) 2
Swindon Supermarine (0) 1
Scorers: Harrad 39, Alexander 45 (Gresley Rovers); Carter 47 (Swindon Supermarine).
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Wardle, Cheetham, Smith, Haynes
, Slater, Doughty, Holmes, Harrad (Francis 85), Hebberd (Barrett 71), Alexander (White 76). Subs not used: Everitt, Clarke (gk).
Swindon Supermarine: King, Gee (Gilewicz 84), Terry, Bennett, Blastland, Hodson, Harris, Matthews, Carter, Miller, Futcher. Subs not used: Knox, McCluskey, Gill (gk).
Rovers Star Man: Dale Belford – simply the best.
Referee: G Stretton (Enderby).
Attendance: 351
