UniBond League Division One
Hillsfield, Rocester
Tuesday, 12th October 2004, 7.45pm
Honours Even
On paper this appeared to be one of the easier matches for Gresley Rovers but in truth anyone who has followed the tussles between the Moatmen and Rocester for any length of time will know otherwise.
Form and league position usually go out of the window when these two teams meet.
Gresley should have had this game sewed up in the first twenty minutes but as happens in derby matches Lady Luck thought otherwise.
Rocester came out of the blocks looking for an early goal and went close after just two minutes when Paul McMahon fired just wide.
Gresley settled and took control. On 7 minutes Aaron O'Connor was played in by Liam Hebberd and easily beat his marker before firing in a shot that was cleared off the line by a defender.
Seven minutes later O'Connor went close again when he cleverly controlled Emeka Ejiofor's flicked header on his chest, turned and unleashed a volley that Phil McGing did well to push away for a corner. Karl Brown took the resulting corner and Gary White was unlucky to see his shot fly just over the bar.
On 20 minutes O'Connor again went close. This time his shot beat McGing but came back off a post and away to safety.
Six minutes later Rocester had a golden chance to open the scoring when McMahon seized upon a slip by Matt Smith caused by the rain sodden pitch, but was denied by a fine block from debutant keeper Gavin Saxby.
O'Connor was looking odds on to extend his tremendous scoring spell but saw a shot on 32 minutes go just a whisker past the post.
Rocester had a real let off just before the half time break when Hebberd's cross bounced off McGing and was clearly scooped off the line by a defender with his hand. Referee Mr Keates must have been the only person in the ground not to have seen the offence and waved play on much to the amazement of players and supporters alike.
Gresley started the second period brightly and Ejiofor was unlucky not to have got his head to a cross after just a minute on the clock and McGing did well to hold a powerful shot from Hebberd just minutes later.
On the hour mark a slip by Ashley Dodd gave McMahon a chance but was well blocked by Saxby.
O'Conner, again looking dangerous went close two minutes later but his shot was blocked by Simon Carter as Rocester threw all their men back to defend.
On 65 minutes Andy Simpson was a fraction away from connecting with Justin Rowe's cross into the box and seconds later put a header from Smith just past the post.
Rocester, too their credit, did not sit back and almost ended their dismal start to the season on 80 minutes but their free kick from just outside the area cannoned off the post.
Gresley could have won all three points at the death but O'Connor's header from a Sean Gummer corner unfortunately missed the upright.
Manager's View
"I'd imagine Warren will be the more satisfied after that display. They defended grittily tonight and rode their luck in the first twenty minutes. If we'd have been a bit more clinical and had a bit of luck we could have won the game.
"The longer the game went on the more resolutely they defended and I felt we tried to force things at times trying to play football.
"The conditions were difficult for both sides and they defended superbly well and they could have had it towards the end. Warren will be please with the draw.
"Positives for us from the match was another clean sheet and we are still unbeaten away from home.
"I'm very disappointed that we didn't win the game and if we'd have taken a bit more care with our chances in the first twenty minutes like the chance that fell to Aaron when he hit the post we'd have won the game one nil. As I've said before it doesn't matter how you win the games as long as you win. We haven't tonight but we got a point.
"The new keeper made a couple of good saves and he's settled in quickly. I've just said to him that's your first clean sheet and you've done the job.
"We had to make a late change because Matt K Smith, who has been playing well, has come down with a virus so I had to play Jimmy Turner at right back and he's done the job for us. Ashley Dodd was asked to fill the central defensive role and he's done a cracking job for us and it's good that we have the versatility, strength and depth in the side."
