Clevedon Town vs Gresley Rovers
Gresley made the long trek down to Clevedon and returned to South Derbyshire with nothing to show foe their efforts.
Indeed, according to manager Gary Norton they didn’t deserve any as they failed to repeat the heroics from their trophy match last week against high flying Hinckley United.
Clevedon could have opened their account as early as the fifth minute when a cross from Shane Hobbs could only be headed over by Phil Walsh when really he should have punished some slack defending from the visitors
On 9 minutes new Gresley signing Craig Dean was alert to head the ball back to his keeper Dale Belford before Hobbs could take advantage.
Two minutes later a Clevedon corner taken by Hobbs needed to be headed away from danger by Danny Haynes.
Gresley tried to get things going and on 14 minutes Steve Lenagh easily shook off his marker and sent in a fine cross from the touch-line that was just missed by Shaun Harrad.
A few minutes later, Carl Slater working hard in midfield, put a pass through to Leon Doughty but the resultant cross was taken easily by debutant home keeper Peter Trego.
On 18 minutes Clevedon took the lead when Walsh smashed in a tremendous shot into the top corner of the net after collecting Ryan Weisberb’s pass.
Gresley began to take charge of the game and dominated the rest of the first period but, alas, with no goals to show for it.
On 21 minutes Dean hit a shot from 22 yards that Trego did well to save and a few minutes later Jamie Barrett picked out Lenagh and the big front man laid the ball back for Doughty but his first-time shot went well over.
Slater then went close just on the half-hour with a 25yrd scorcher as Gresley continued to pile on the pressure.
Six minutes later Barrett had a good chance to get Gresley back on terms but his header was saved.
Then, in the final moments of the first half, some good work between Gareth Holmes and Lenagh resulted in Holmes’ goal bound shot being blocked by Rob Scott.
The second period was largely a battle of the midfield but straight from the interval the visitors had a glorious chance to equalise. Lenagh collected a pass from Doughty and his cross found Barrett who somehow put his header wide of the target.
Minutes later, Lenagh had a 22 yard drive saved and down at the other end Belford had to be alert to beat the on-rushing Walsh to the ball to deny a goal scoring chance.
On 64 minutes an attempeted clearance by Dean was blocked by Hobbs but he could only put his shot wide of the upright.
Gresley substitute Liam Hebberd had only been on the pitch a few seconds when he was presented with a chance to cover himself in glory.
On 76 minutes Doughty hit a vicious shot that Trego could only parry but Hebberd just couldn’t get at the ball to slot it home.
Gresley were pressing hard for at least a share of the ball when the inevitable happened. Clevedon were awarded a free kick which was hoofed up field by Trego. The ball found the unmarked Neil Arndale who sent in a cross that was headed in from close-range by Lee Vickerman.
Gary’s views on the game
“This wasn’t the same side we saw play against Hinckley. We didn’t get going and gave away a sloppy goal. Overall we had more of the play but didn’t hurt them.
“What is disappointing was that we didn’t score – the first time since the Halesowen game and we didn’t look like scoring either.
“It’s deflating, especially after last week and the mid-week game at Gloucester. We deserved to get something from those games but we didn’t deserve anything today.
“I could be critical of the players for not playing to instruction but I’m also looking at myself who chose the players, the tactics and the formation – and I think I made a mistake today.
“I felt we lost our shape a little on the left side and they scored. The lad took the goal very well but to be honest they had two players over who both could have scored. They then set themselves up to defend that and then they caught us on the break right at the end and it was 2-0.
“I thought the new signing Craig Dean did quite well. He has a good left foot and he put the ball in good areas for us and he’s given something to think about. He’s come to us with experience and a good pedigree and he’s given us another option.
“We’ll be looking at things over the next couple of games to see how things develop.
“We wanted something from this game and I thought we were quite capable of doing that. No disrespect to Clevedon, but we’ve played much better sides than that and got something.
“Today was demoralising but we’ve got to keep things ticking over in the league and get points so we can challenge for a top 7 slot and as well as we are doing in the cups, the bread and butter is picking up points in the league and we haven’t done that today.
“We’ve now got a big, big game in the league next Saturday against Swindon were we need to get something. Three points is a must so that put pressure on us.
“I’d swop the cup success for points in the league and a place in the top 6 and more consistency. It’s always nice to be involved in the cups and it’s not the cup that’s putting us off in the league because we take every game as they come. We’ve just not performed today.”
Clevedon Town (1) 2
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Scorers: Walsh 18, Vickerman 90
Clevedon Town: Trego, Arndale, Bryant, Balnet, Scott
, Andrews, Bate (Smith 68), Vickerman, Walsh, Weisberb, Hobbs (Price 90). Subs not used: Fry, Richards, Akehurst.
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Everitt, Dean, Haynes (Hebberd 76), Cheetham, Barrett, Doughty, Slater, Harrad, Lenagh, Holmes (Wardle 66). Subs not used: Francis, Alexander, Spacey.
Rovers Star Man: Carl Slater – worked tirelessly in midfield.
Referee: G Smith (Willington).
Attendance: 141
