Gresley Rovers vs Notts County
Gresley 3 - 1 Notts County
Inspired by a Mick Collins hat-trick Gresley Rovers rounded off their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 win over Notts County.
Not too much emphasis should be attached to the score line as County, managed by former Burton Albion boss Mike Walker, sent a side made up entirely of youth team players.
It was a good workout for the Moatmen before their opening game with Malvern Town on Saturday. Malvern, however, like the rest of the sides in the West Midlands League will not allow Gresley the time or space to knock the ball about that this young County side did.
Gresley started well and had established their authority as early as the 17th minute by which time they had opened up a two goal lead in addition to hitting the woodwork on another two occasions.
Collins broke the deadlock in the sixth minute when he controlled a right-wing cross from Nigel Steele before placing a shot wide of Barrett into the corner of the net.
Player-coach Ian Gough came within inches of scoring his first goal for the club when he chested down Neil Clemson's through ball before shooting against a post.
Then it was the crossbar's turn to deny Gresley. Chris Cowlishaw came through on the blind side of County's defence to meet a Collin's cross but his header thudded against the bar before falling to Clay who cleared.
Gresley's inevitable second goal in the 17th minute was the best of the game when Collins gave Barrett no chance at all with a brilliant header from Colin Walker's left wing cross.
Even when they were two goals adrift, the young County side didn't alter their style, building their attacks at the back, apart from one Dyke's effort which went just over, the visitors had little to show for their first half efforts.
Already deprived of the services of Richard Walshe, Chris Sharrocks, Kevin Bourne and Mick Royall for the Malvern game Gresley's defensive worries continued in the 26th minute when Malcolm Bailey limped off with an ankle injury, Tony Greaves substituted.
Notts County showing more urgency than they had done in the first half caused Gresley more problems in the space of two second half minutes than they had done during the entire first half.
The first came when Howell was allowed to break down the right unchallenged before slipping the ball under Evans to put County back into the game. Within a minute it took a fine save by Keith Evans to deny Sidall who had fastened on to a left wing cross from Redgard.
Collins completed his hat-trick to end County's challenge in the 66th minute. Ian Gough started the move with a ball wide to Nigel Steele. His through ball put Geoff Gazzard through on the right. The keeper after starting to come stopped allowing Gazzard plenty of time to turn the ball inside for Collins to score.
In the final stages Gresley might have added two more with both Gazzard and Cowlishaw going close.
Gresley Rovers: Evans, Steele, Milton, Bailey (Greaves 26), Camm, Walker, Clemson (Gazzard 62), Gough, Collins, Fox (Johnson 57).
Notts County: Barrett, Banks, Clarke, Radford, Clay, Livingstone, Howell, Sindall, Kozlouski, Dykes, Redcard. Subs: Williams, Taylor.
