Gresley Rovers vs Eastwood Town
One month's training and flat out first-half play were not enough to secure victory for Gresley Rovers in Saturday's pre-season friendly against Eastwood Town at home.
The two one score-line was fair, but until the 44th minute when Eastwood's lively Ward slipped the ball behind Rover's keeper Willdig, a draw was on the cards.
After that Gresley's morale sank and four minutes into the second half they lost control in mid-field and the defence was caught square. Clarkin took a through ball on the volley and hit it into the net.
Another bad mid-field ball led to the first goal. Eastwood's Egan gathered it up and Willdig came out for him. Ward was waiting at the goalmouth to knock it past a helpless Greaves.
With 15 minutes to go Gresley got their goal. S. Carter, always strong, outran the defenders. Eastwood keeper Shaw ran out and Carter pushed the ball behind him to score.
Gresley started powerfully and in the first half seemed the stronger team, but they missed the skills of Chris Ferguson, who was out with back trouble. He hopes to be back in training in a fortnight.
"Eastwood functioned well as a unit," said club secretary Gordon Layton after the match. "We had six regulars on holiday so our team was not fully experienced. What we're really missing is strikers, but they're like gold- dust these days. But we've improved on last year's pre-season games, and I'm happy."
Eastwood manger Bill Jeffrey, himself an ex-rover said: "We were creating chances and I'm pleased. We had three newcomers and four regulars off, and did well considering."
Rovers: Wlldig, Lock, Wheeler, Greaves, Wardle.
Briscoe, Bailey, Thomson, Fairbrother, Smyth, S Carter.
Substitutes: Robinson, Wlnson and McAughtrle for Greaves, Bailey and Smyth.
Eastwood: Shaw, Eaton, Mcvay, Wadsley, Smith, Tagg, Ward, Collier, Hollett, Clarkin, Egan.
Substitute: Flynn.
