UniBond League Division One
Seel Lane, Mossley
Saturday, 25th September 2004, 3.00pm
Awayday cheer for Gresley
Gresley Rovers expected their sternest test on their travels so far in the UniBond League Division One and so it proved.
Mossley are a free-scoring outfit boasting 18 goals in just 7 league games but some resolute defending enabled Gresley to return home with three hard earned points.
Andy Simpson started the game in place of Sean Gummer with this being the only change from the team that overcame Rocester at the Moat Ground in midweek.
Gresley started well and Simpson played in Aaron O'Connor but his shot was well saved by Lee Bracey who then reacted quickly to deny Simpson's shot from the rebound.
On 8 minutes Dale Belford was called into action to make a spectacular save to a vicious shot from Jordan Goodeve that was heading for the top corner.
Mossley began to take control and another attempt by Goodeve clipped the crossbar and Rhodri Giggs, brother of Ryan, who should have given his side the lead failed on two occasions. The first a miss kick from Chris Downey's cross and then a chip put wide after a fine through ball from Goodeve.
Gresley were defending for all they were worth and needed Gary White to head a cross from Matt Taylor away from danger. Seconds later Goodeve went close again but he put his shot, from Carl Rezai's cross over the bar.
Somewhat against the run of play Gresley grabbed a surprise lead on 32 minutes. A pass from Simpson found Emeka Ejiofor in space on the right. His cross-found O'Connor well placed who put the ball past Bracey.
The home side hit back and almost equalised just a few minutes later when a shot from Giggs was cleared off the line by Jamie Hood.
With only minutes left of the first half Mossley again saw the woodwork deny them when Goodeve's shot came off the post and away to safety and then just as the referee was about to blow for the break Belford did well to get a leg to a shot from Josh Howard.
Mossley came out in determined mood but it was the visitors who had the first couple of chances to increase their tally. A free kick from Karl Brown was half cleared to Hood who cleverly laid the ball back to Matt Smith but Bracey was equal to the header. Then, on the hour O'Connor gave Ejiofor a chance that again was well saved by Bracey.
Gresley's job was not helped by yet another red card on 68 minutes. Hood had been rashly tackled by Shaun Dootson but reacted by stamping on the player giving referee Mr Holdsworth no alternative but to show the defender a red card. Dootson himself was fortunate not to have followed him when he appeared to throw a punch in Hood's direction - the official either did not see it or chose to ignore it.
Manager Gary Norton had no choice but to rearrange his players putting Ashley Dodd alongside Matt Smith and O'Connor pulled back to strengthen the midfield.
The plan worked as Mossley pressed to at the very least grab a point their attacking play probably deserved but the defence held firm.
Belford made a good save from a deflected shot from Rezai and then the home side thought they'd got their goal when Giggs put the ball in the net but the referee had already blown for a foul.
O'Connor, from a quick break away, managed to test Bracey with a shot that was well saved.
White was just in the right place to deny Goodeve by heading his effort off the line with just seven minutes remaining.
Gresley had their last chance when O'Connor robbed Adam Morning and sent Justin Rowe scurrying forward but the striker's shot sailed over the bar from just outside the area.
It was a frantic last few minutes for the visiting defence. Giggs put a header on top of the net following Goodeve's cross and then, in the last minute Mario sent a cross into box to the waiting Chris Downey who embarrassingly attempted a spectacular volley rather than nod the ball home and the result saw the ball fly harmlessly over the bar.
Manager's View
"Obviously we are very, very pleased with the 3 points especially considering that we've had to defend our lead for what seemed like an age after Jamie's sending off.
"Offensively, Mossley are one of the best side's I've seen this season. Some of their passing and movement was of the highest order and it was a mixture of some superb defending and perhaps them not testing Dale a bit more that we managed to keep a clean sheet.
"Going into the game against a side that had scored 18 goals in 7 games we knew it was going to be a big ask to keep a clean sheet but credit to the lads, they defended superbly, especially when down to 10 men. Dale's has had to make a couple of excellent saves, Hoody's 1st half goaline clearance was exceptional and Gary White's headed off the line late in the second half.
"When down to 10 men, as Willenhall, we kept our shape well and the game plan was to make them break us down and then try to hit them on the break. We restricted them to mainly long-range efforts so it was a case of a job well done by everyone.
"The sending off was very, very disappointing. We seem to have created this bad boy tag for ourselves this season yet we are by no means a dirty side. We've been on to all the squad a lot about the silly bookings and sending offs and even more so with Jamie because of his poor record last season. Up to the game today his only booking, I think, was for celebrating the winner at Kendall, so he'd done very well this season - until now!!!
"He's been by far our best player this season and now he's going to miss 3 vital games and break-up what has been an impressive partnership with Smudger in the process. He's reacted to a challenge and got himself needlessly sent off. These things happen in the heat of the moment though and Jamie and I have had a chat and I'm sure he will learn from it."
