Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Team Bath
Gresley Rovers manager Gary Norton was hoping for an improvement from his players for the game against Team Bath and they responded magnificently.
A win for the visitor’s would have meant their elevation into the Premier Division of the Dr Martens League next season, but their celebrations had to be put on hold as a spirited performance by Gresley ensured the points were shared.
Team Bath made the early running and on 3 minutes a cross from Peter Tisdale was knocked on to Tom Stocco who forced Gresley keeper Dale Belford into the first of a series of fine saves he was called on to make throughout the 90 minutes.
Another flowing move by the visitors was spoilt when Stocco put a decent chance wide when he should have done much better.
The pressure on the home defence had to tell and on 16 minutes defender Matt Smith’s square pass was easily cut out by Luke Prince who played the ball to Kevin Watson. His cross was only half cleared by Andy Cheetham to Prince who made no mistake to smash the ball past Belford.
Gresley were behind for only a minute. Jamie Barrett managed to get the ball wide to Gary White whose cross was picked up by Carl Francis, the young striker putting the ball past Ali Hines from close in.
The better football was now being played by Gresley and Leon Doughty had a half chance on 27 minutes but his shot went straight into the arms of Hines.
Six minutes later Gresley almost doubled their tally when they were awarded a free kick taken by Ian Bluck. Smith rose above his marker to head powerfully goalwards but Andy Tilson was on hand to clear the ball off the line.
The play then swung to the other end of the field and this time Team Bath’s free kick found Matt Lewis who could only blaze his shot over the bar from the edge of the eight yard box.
Team Bath almost took the lead at the start of the second half. A free kick from Watson was met by Matt Lock but his header crashed against the bar and away to safety.
Minutes later they went close again but Chris Lewis put his shot over the bar from just a few yards out when it would have been easier to score. Belford was then called on to block a shot from Lewis for a corner.
Norton made the first of his changes on 70 minutes bringing Liam Hebberd on in place of Francis. Hebberd, back after breaking an ankle back in December, could have got on the score sheet almost immediately after intercepting a pass before running towards goal but his shot went just wide of an upright.
Team Bath tried their hardest to grab a winner but the Gresley defence stood firm. The best chance for the visitors to claim all three points came with only seconds remaining but again some woeful finishing by Stocco, putting his shot over from very close in, saw the chance disappear.
Gary's view of the game
"I'm very pleased with the point. The lads have responded well the performances and criticisms of the last week and I was delighted with their performance but frustrated at the same time with the way we gave away a sloppy goal again.
"Matt knows what he's done. I asked the centre halves to clear their lines and to kick the ball as far as they could but Matt played a square ball to one of their players and bang, we are one nil down. I felt that all the positive things we'd done in the first fifteen minutes were undone.
"We played some good football, got forward well more so than we've done in the last three or four games. It was important that if we were going to get back, we got back quickly because we are struggling to score goals at the moment and everyone knows that.
"We had a bit of a break – Jamie Barrett worked hard and got the ball to Gary White and I'm pleased for Carl Francis that he got his goal. I felt that goal was important because if they had held on to their lead for any length of time we would have got frustrated and maybe one or two of the players would have been on edge.
"I don't think we were quite as good in the second half but the shape was there and the passion. The quality of passing could have been a little better at times but we did well.
"We did ride our luck at times. Team Bath are a full time outfit, they train every day and they are a very good side so I'm delighted with our performance and the point..
"We need to build on that – the season isn't over yet we still have two games left and six points to play for. To finish the game on a mini run of unbeaten games would be nice.
"I was very pleased with the defenders today. I've always said that if Jamie Hood and Matt Smith are on their game then we look solid. The mistake apart, I thought Matt and Jamie were awesome today and Andy Cheetham had his best game for some time. And, I thought Ian Bluck was absolutely fantastic so I thought all the back four were superb.
"A number of the players had their best game for a while today. We players are playing to their full potential then we are a good side but when they are not – well you've seen the performances we do turn in. It's vital that we have everyone really functioning.
"I was pleased to get Liam Hebberd on. He's been out for a long time and even though Brian Barker only got a few minutes at the end it will have been good experience for him. We have high hopes for him in the future."
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Team Bath (1) 1
Scorers: Francis 17 (Gresley Rovers); Prince 16 (Team Bath)
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Bluck (Nurse 80), Cheetham, M Smith, Hood, Slater, Wardle, Doughty, Barrett (Barker 88), Francis (Hebberd 70), White. Subs not used: Guiney, Branch.
Team Bath: Hines, Tisdale, Watson, Saunders (Nicholls 85), Lock, Tilson, M Lewis, Canham, Stocco, C Lewis (Demibicki 73), Prince. Subs not used: Bacon, D Smith, Chitty.
Rovers Star Man: Jamie Hood – strong in defence.
Referee: N Murphy (Mansfield)
Attendance: 269
