Bromsgrove Rovers vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley Rovers left the Victoria Ground full of Christmas spirit as they pulled off a fine victory with a gritty performance against one of the pre-season's title favourites Bromsgrove Rovers.
The fixture seemed to have got off to a bad start with Gresley's two strikers Steve Lenagh and Shaun Harrad both out with injuries and defender Danny Haynes pulling out before kick off due to an ear infection.
It was the home side that started the stronger and on 8 minutes went close when Mark Allen's shot went marginally wide of the post.
It took a superbly timed tackle from Leigh Everitt just four minutes later to prevent Mark Atkinson getting on the end of a cross from Paul Szewczyk.
Gresley battled hard in midfield and on 22 minutes they were given a half chance. A very poor back pass by Steve Hillman sold his keeper Paul Wyatt short. Liam Hebberd went for the ball at the same time as the keeper and both players got injured. Unfortunately for Gresley Hebberd was unable to continue and three minutes later was replaced by Carl Francis.
Bromsgrove continued to apply pressure on the Gresley defence and on 31 minutes a free kick taken by Richard Tomkins found the head of Szewczyk but the visitor's keeper Dale Belford was able to deal with the threat easily.
On 38 minutes Gresley defender Everitt was forced to leave the field due to a recurrence of a thigh injury to be replaced by Earl Alexander.
It was the appearance of Alexander and that of fellow substitute Francis that was to have a big impact as the game unfolded.
On 42 minutes Francis sent over a fine cross from the left and found Jamie Barrett who had been seconded into a strikers role. Barrett fired in a vicious shot that Wyatt could only parry and waiting for the ball was Leon Doughty who made no mistake from 6 yards.
During the half time interval a change of referee was needed as Andrew Dewfield had suffered a hamstring injury and his colleague John Law took over in the middle. A replacement assistant was found causing the game to re-start 10 minutes late.
Bromsgrove came out looking for a goal and were almost handed one, on 59 minutes, by an unusual misjudgment by Richard Wardle making his 600th appearance. Wardle had thought a long ball was certain to go out of play and left it for a throw-in, but before the ball could cross the line Szewczyk nipped in and stole the ball.
Before Wardle could react Szewczyk was off down the flank and after coming inside fired a testing shot that Belford did well to turn around the post.
On 70 minutes later Gresley conceded a free kick about 30 yards out. Grant Beckett smashed a tremendous free kick that looked certain for the top corner of the net. But, somehow, Belford made one of his amazing saves tipping the ball over the bar.
Gresley appeared to be under the cosh but the defence was equal to it. And on 87 minutes all three points were made certain when Gresley got their second of the game.
Francis received a throw-in from on the bye-line and despite being on the ground, managed to get the ball to Alexander who controlled the ball, turned and fired in a shot past the helpless Wyatt from 8 yrds.
Gary's views on the game
"We've not had a clean sheet since the Matlock game and even then I think we were lucky.
"Looking back over some of our game we've been unlucky not to have taken points. We've defended reasonably well at times but have then gone and let in sloppy goals.
"I asked the players, jokingly, for a Christmas present of a clean sheet and they've gone and done that and have come away with two goals against a form side. Bromsgrove had an excellent home record and they've only been beaten once in the last twelve or thirteen home games so it's an absolutely tremendous result for us and it sets us up nicely for the game on Boxing Day.
"Carl Francis came on and had a hand in both goals. He's been unlucky of late because I felt he'd lost a little bit of form and it gave Liam Hebberd his opportunity a few weeks ago. But to be fair to Carl he's been very, very patient and waited for his opportunity. He came on today when Hebberd got injured and he's worked hard and had a hand in both goals and he's delighted with that. So a big pat on the back for him.
"Everyone from 1 to 16 deserve the credit today. We weren’t in the best of shape coming into the game because of injuries and to lose Hebberd, a forward; due to a nasty ankle injury is a big blow. And then to go and lose Leigh Everitt with a recurrence of his thigh injury was a massive blow to us.
"But, to be fair to the lads they reorganised well. Gary White dropped back to left back and Andy Cheetham tucked inside and we defended very, very well. They had one or two sights of goal but certainly nothing like the game when they opened us up time and time again earlier in the season at the Moat Ground.
"So it's an absolutely tremendous result. The lads worked hard and had to reorganise well when asked. Dale Belford made one or two nice saves. The best one was from a fantastic free kick from distance and it was going in to the top corner and Dale pulled out another top drawer save. And he made a few smart saves to keep us in the game.
"For once we've reacted first to bits especially in the second half. The lads defended superbly well in the second half. We came here with certain tactics and they've worked for us today. We knew they would play with three at the back and five in midfield. Our midfield worked very hard. They tucked in when required and shuffled across to where the ball was.
"To come here and win two nil will make other teams sit up and take notice and it will raise a lot of eyebrows.
"Just a word about Richard Wardle, Mr dependable. It's fantastic that he's reached 600 games. I'm really delighted for him today. He continues to impress me with his resolution. Richard is one who we have moved around and picked the games when we've played him."
Bromsgrove Rovers (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Doughty 42, Alexander 87.
Bromsgrove Rovers: Wyatt, Frost, Hillman, Pope, Beckett, Allen, Jackson, Benbow, Szewczyk, Banner (Tomkins 23), Atkinson. Subs not used: Benton, Swan, Dawson, Gandy.
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Wardle, Cheetham, Smith, Everitt (Alexander 38), Slater, Doughty, Holmes, Hebberd (Francis 25), Barrett, White. Subs not used: Branch, Sylla, Norton.
Rovers Star Man: Carl Francis – came off the bench and changed the game.
Referee: A Dewfield (Hinckley); J M Law (Worcester).
Attendance: 476
