UniBond League Division One
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 20th November 2004, 3.00pm
Gray day for the Clithero kids
Clitheroe travelled to Gresley unbeaten in their last five games hoping to spring an upset and the way they opened, it looked like it could be on the cards.
Hesitation in clearing the ball by Gary White gave Jason Jones a chance as early as the ninth minute but the final shot went well over the bar.
Two minutes later the visitors went even closer when Steve McDonald's shot needed to be tipped over the bar by Gresley keeper Gavin Saxby.
Gresley at last settled to their task and a goal from recently returned Chris Gray, that TV personality David Dickinson would have described as a 'bobby dazzler', calmed any nerves his side might have had.
On 13 minutes the flying winger collected the ball, left Clitheroe defender Russell Clarke for dead, ran into the area before launching an unstoppable left footed shot over keeper Kris Richens and into the top far corner of the net.
Ritchens had to be alert four minutes later when White hit a screamer from 30 yards that the keeper did extremely well to hold on to.
The home side were not having it all their own way and Clitheroe were unlucky not to have been on level terms when Steve McDonald's shot left Saxby stranded but came back off the bar and away to safety.
Jimmy Turner, playing in midfield, caused the visiting defence some trouble on 38 minutes as his free kick was hastily scrambled away for a corner.
Five minutes before the break Gray got his and Gresley's second goal. Emeka Ejiofor flicked on a cross from the right that found Gray in space and he did not hesitate in smashing a low shot, this time with his right foot, past Richens.
Clitheroe refused to lie down and it took a well-timed tackle from Matt K Smith to deny them a clear-cut chance on 54 minutes with the resultant corner being header narrowly over the bar.
On 69 minutes Ejiofor was just inches away from connecting with Turner's cross. This was the front man's final part in the game as Jamie Hood replaced him upfront alongside Aaron O'Connor.
Eight minutes later Clitheroe had a gilted edged chance when Lee Cryer got his head to fellow substitute Gary Jackson's flicked header but somehow put the ball wide of a gaping goalmouth.
At the other end White tested Richens with a cross that the keeper needed to tip over the bar and just minutes later Clitheroe had a carbon copy of their earlier chance. This time it was Chris Nestor who unbelievably headed wide when to score would have been much, much easier.
On 86 minutes O'Connor made a run into the area before firing a shot that was well saved by Richens low down by the near post. From the resultant flag kick by Gray on the right White put his shot over the bar.
Gresley had one more half chance right on the final whistle when Richens denied Gresley substitute Sean Gummer by smothering the ball at his feet.
Manager's View
"I think the score was a fair result. I think our first half performance won the game for us. It was a very scrappy second half for both teams. The shape they played caused us a lot of problems and we had one or two scares in the second half. They are a good side - they beat the league leaders last week and this is the first time they've lost in six games so I'm delighted with that and the clean sheet.
"I was delighted with Chris Gray's goals. I said all along that he would give us another attacking option and he took both goals superbly well and that's what we've been missing. His second in particular looked awkward and he put it away superbly. The first one, he gambled and got himself a ricochet in the build up and put it away with his left foot - I'm delighted for him.
"Jimmy Turner is flying at the moment. I pushed him forward because of Liam Hebberd's inury and he's done superbly well. He played some nice tidy football and put some good balls into the box, not just from open play, but from dead ball situations. Jimmy also defended well from his midfield position so I'm delighted with him.
"Matt K Smith who came in today had a good game especially in the first half. I don't think Jamie Hood could have any qualms about not going straight back into the team. Earlier in the season if we'd have been without Hoody through suspension or injury and then came available it would have been a case of putting him straight back in but Andy Simpson has played superbly well. He didn't put foot wrong today and he plays well with Matt Smith, they talk to each other and it's a great option we have that we've got two or three options for each position.
"I previously said to the players to concentrate on little chunks of the season and these last three games were such a chunk. I'd said to them that I'd be happy with seven points out of the games against Belper, Kidsgrove and Clitheroe and to be here with nine points, two clean sheets and only one goal against makes me a very happy man."
