UniBond League Division One
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 21st September 2004, 7.45pm
Romans put to the sword
After their superb win at Ilkeston in the FA Cup on Saturday, Gresley Rovers were back in league action against Staffordshire neighbours Rocester.
Manager Gary Norton had warned his players that this local derby would be a stern test but, in fact, it was a very comfortable victory for the Moatmen.
The home side opened with an immediate attack down the right where Aaron O'Connor left his markers for dead, ran into the box but his low cross was hurriedly cleared for a corner.
Gresley took the lead on 9 minutes. Another attack lead to Matt K Smith, making his home debut, sending in a dangerous cross that was partially cleared only as far as Jamie Barrett. He took a couple of strides forward into the penalty area before being tripped by Andy Colclough - referee Mr Murphy had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Emeka Ejiofor, who had scored with a penalty at Ilkeston, took responsibility for the kick and powered in a shot that although Romans keeper Elliott Richards got a hand to could not prevent the goal.
Gresley were making all of the running and on 26 minutes the lively O'Connor was tripped as he was running through towards the area. Unfortunately the resultant free was not productive.
Ashley Dodd almost doubled the home side's advantage on 31 minutes when he collected a cross from Sean Gummer. He cleverly controlled the ball before unleashing a vicious shot that beat Richards but came back off the bar only for Karl Brown to head the rebound just over.
Within 4 minutes of the re-start Gresley were again pressing for another goal. Gummer's low shot was well held by Richards and five minutes later Barrett just failed to get on the end of Matt K Smith's cross.
Norton made a change on 55 minutes bringing on Justin Rowe in place of Gummer and within 3 minutes his side had got the second goal their pressure had deserved.
O'Connor flew down the right leaving defenders in his wake before cutting inside and firing off a shot that took a slight deflection wrong footing Richards.
On 62 minutes another fine probing run from Matt K Smith ended with a cross that almost beat Richards but the keeper just managed to get a finger to the ball pushing it high into the air and needing Colclough to clear the danger for a corner. The corner taken by Brown found Ejiofor who put his first time shot past the upright.
Rowe, desperate for a goal almost got his reward on 66 minutes. He collected the ball, lost his marker and sent a thunderous shot that missed its mark by just a fraction.
Rocester's only real threat of the second half came on 73 minutes when Dale Belford largely unemployed for most of the game, comfortably held a shot from Kevin Millward.
Gresley played out the rest of the match in complete control taking a well-earned three points without the need of getting into top gear.
Manager's View
"It was fairly comfortable in the end but at one nil I though anything could have happened. They are a very hard working outfit and they earned themselves a great draw at Ilkeston just s fortnight ago and I made sure that that was in the back of the players' minds.
"I felt we really controlled the game from start to finish but I had a word with the players at half time because I felt one or two of them were just a little off things.
"Once we got the second goal in the second half we settled down a little and I can't remember any meaningful attempt on goal that Dale had to save.
"I'm delighted with another clean sheet that's no six in eight games. But, I'm also a little disappointed that we didn't score one or two more because that would have given us some more confidence going into Saturday's game at Mossley. We have two very difficult away games coming up so it is important we picked up three points tonight to put pressure on those above us.
"For the first 10 or 15 minutes we started really, really well and it was only after we'd scored that I was critical of them because I felt that if they had pushed we would have got another goal and capitalised on it but that didn't happen.
"It was important that we got an early goal in the second half or it could have been a nervous time for us - fortunately we did.
"Aaron had a cracking game tonight and he was scaring the life out of some of their defenders and midfielders. Emeka has done well - he held things up for us and brought other players into play. I was pleased with the front men tonight. Justin came on and made a good contribution. He's low on confidence and had a slight ankle injury that's why he didn't start. All he needs is a bit of luck and he'll be away. If his shot that went the just wrong side of the post had gone in, it would have been a cracking goal and he'd have been flying.
"We had one or two cleared off the line and their keeper made one or two good saves. But, the win is the most important thing keeping the points coming in. I would not have been happy with a scrappy one nil win but the points are important than the performance.
"The defending was again impressive especially Matt Smith, Jamie and Gary. Matt K Smith did well again tonight and we saw a bit more of his forward game linking up with people."
