UniBond League Division One
Lambeth Grove Stadium, Woodley
Saturday, 11th September 2004, 3.00pm
Six unbeaten!
Gresley Rovers made the trip to Woodley Sports looking for a win that would keep them at the top of the UniBond Division One but had to settle for a point.
As well as a point Gresley gained their second successive clean sheet as the defence played another solid game.
Starting with the wind at their backs Woodley were the first to threaten when on 7 minutes a long range shot from Simon Hackney went just by the upright.
However, three minutes later Gresley almost took the lead. Justin Rowe ran on to a fine through ball before firing his shot straight at Richard Acton, which rebounded to Sean Gummer who put his shot over the bar.
On 36 minutes Rowe received the ball on the left before running into the box and his cross was knocked on by O'Connor only for the ball to be cleared by the home side.
Gresley keeper Dale Belford did well to hold on to a header from Hackney's corner and almost on the stroke of half time Mike Norton beat the offside trap and ran towards goal but as the striker attempted to round him Belford got a touch on the ball to deny him. However, the ball came to Tony Carroll, but Jamie Hood reacted well to clear the ball off the line.
Gresley almost took the lead shortly after the start of the second period. Running on to a through ball from Matt Smith, Rowe managed to reach the ball before Acton and was unlucky to see his shot go wide of the mark.
On 65 minutes manager Gary Norton brought on Liam Hebberd for Gummer to try and give the forward line some bite and within a minute of coming on the park he received a pass from Rowe, but his shot was deflected by defender Mick Ryan just past the far post.
Karl Brown took the corner and Hood's flick-on was put over the bar by Jamie Barrett.
Another chance came on 73 minutes when Hebberd collected a throw-in on the right and put a pass to Rowe. His shot was well held by Acton before Aaron O'Connor could strike.
Woodley almost stole an undeserved winner on 81 minutes when Hackney's free-kick from the right found Damien Morrison but his header went straight into the arms of Belford.
Manager's View
"There were a lot of positives from today's game especially another clean sheet. We look very, very solid at the back and I'm quite pleased with how we are shaping up defensively.
"It was frustrating again today as we shaded it on chances in the first half and it was a fairly even second half and it would have been nice to have gone on and taken the three points - but we are still un beaten so it was not a bad day.
"I've had a chat with the strikers and just told them that we need to work on a few things offensively. We had a fair few opportunities today and got in their last third but we selected the wrong options at times it they had looked up there were other people in the box. If we'd have been a bit more clinical we'd have nicked a goal and won it one nil.
"We keep going and we are trying to work with them and give them other options to get their heads up. Some team is going to get a spanking soon with the forward options we've got. We didn't have Emeka on the bench as an option and it would have been nice to have had him as an option to work of a big man centrally but he's still suspended and we have to work with what we've got.
"There's no pressure on the forwards because we've now gone seven unbeaten and we couldn't have wished for a better start. There is no pressure on Justin but I know he is feeling it himself, he hasn't scored yet but while we are picking points up and getting results that pressure isn't has great as it could be.
"I've just said to the lads that that was our third away league games on the trot now and we are still unbeaten and it would be nice to pick up a few wins at home and keep chipping away at points away from home and we are not going to be too far away from that top six."
