Pre-season friendly
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 7th August 2004, 3.00pm
Greenbacks win at the Moat
On a blisteringly hot afternoon Gresley took on their former league rivals Bedworth United in a pre-season friendly.
Gresley have yet to field what could be their starting line-up for the first UniBond league game on the 21st August as holidays and injuries have taken their toll on the squad with the defence being worst affected.
Ian Bluck suffered a nasty ankle injury against Tividale, Jamie Hood was missing also through injury, Matt Smith was not available so youngsters Mark Leeson and Tom Guiney had the central defensive slot. Keeper Dale Belford was being rested along with Carl Slater and new signings Sean Gummer, Andy Simpson and Aaron O'Connor were also missing.
New signing Andy Dodd showed his promise on 6 minutes when he fired in a shot that just cleared the cross bar.
Gresley had their best chance of taking the lead on 23 minutes a sweeping move with Emeka Ejiofor passing to Justin Rowe and then to Nathan Tate ended with Tate putting the ball over when well placed.
Bedworth took the lead with a gift of a goal on 23 minutes. Former Moatman Paul Spacey capitalised on a defensive mix up between home keeper Brad Clarke and Leeson that allowed the United front man to slip the ball into an unguarded net.
The visitors could have doubled their lead six minutes later when a ball from a corner found Spacey who was unlucky to see his chip just clear the bar.
Bedworth were having their best spell of the game and had to chances to extend their lead when Lee Moore put a free header wide and Spacey, after running clear on goal, inexplicably put his shot wide.
On 33 minutes Leon Doughty did very well to make headway up the right but his final ball into the area went disappointingly behind four waiting Gresley players.
A minute later the Gresley keeper made up for his earlier mistake when he saved, with his legs, a shot from Moore.
Gresley should have been on equal terms on 38 minutes when Ejiofor beat United defender Scott Blair but put his shot wide of the keeper and the upright with a defender then clearing the danger.
Another chance for Gresley came on the halftime whistle but Leeson could only steer his header wide.
Within a minute of the start of the second half United had the chance of another goal but Spacey, in acres of space, could only put his header straight into the arms of substitute keeper James Pmberton.
On 54 minutes Justin Rowe was put through and it took a fine save from Shaun Haynes to deny him a goal.
Gresley were getting on top but were still finding it hard to find the goal their second half play deserved.
On 60 minutes a superb cross from Gary White found Jamie Barrett but again the ball flew just over the bar. Five minutes later Barrett went close again but this time it was his shot that flew over the bar.
Bedworth doubled their lead somewhat against the run of play and it was another defensive mistake that gifted the visitors the goal.
Guiney tried to chest down a long ball but it bounced into the path of Moore who made no mistake in slotting the ball past Pemberton.
United were unlucky not to have increased their lead on 76 minutes when a looping shot from Martin Crowley clattered off the bar with Pemberton beaten.
Minutes later Barrett beat Haynes to the ball and laid the ball back to Ejiofor but the shot was cleared off the line.
Ejiofor was involved again on 80 minutes this time as provider when his pass gave Liam Hebberd a chance but the shot cannoned back off the upright.
Gresley's day was summed up with another goal for their visitors. Again it was a moment of indecision between keeper and defence that allowed Moore to double his tally.
Manager's View
"I was disappointed to lose the game. Offensively I'm quite happy with how things are shaping up. We created a lot of chances - a bit better finishing, a bit better final ball and a bit of luck we could have got on the sheet.
"Defensively I got concerns. I've got some key players struggling with injury and missing at the moment. The two lads who played centre half today each made a mistake that cost a goal but I've just said to them that it's all part of their learning, that's what they are here for and they are two good lads and to get an opportunity in the first team during pre-season will help their development.
"The third goal was caused by a bit of ball watching. We gave away three very cheap goals today. Having said that, we've got O'Connor out, Gummer and Simpson out, Hood and Smith out and they are players who stand a very good chance of being in the starting line-up on the 21st.
"That's what its all about. Putting things into perspective it is all about the 21st of August, which is two weeks away. Although it's disappointing to lose the game and not score it's another step forward in terms of getting ready for the start of the season.
"At Stapenhill Smith will be back and Hood may play some part in the game. Also Simpson and Gummer along with O'Connor will be back so there will be a lot of changes for Tuesday and squad should be nearer what the starting one will be on the 21st.
"One bright spark was Ashley Dodd who did well - two or three games time he'll be buzzing. Him and Jamie Barrett played well. We'd asked Barrett to get forward in the second half and he was superb. I lost count of the number of times he broke into their box unmarked. He had a good chance with his head and he went past their keeper and set up Ejiofor whose shot was cleared off the line. Dodd himself is a very tidy player and he's got a good shot on him and I'm very, very pleased to have got him.
"We'd been looking for a player like him who could pass the ball around in midfield and score goals. I'm expecting to get a few goals out of him and also he's an experienced player."
