UniBond League Division One
The Hawthornes, Brigg
Saturday, 12th February 2005, 3.00pm
Brigg hold out for the points
Gresley Rovers travelled to The Hawthorns needing a victory to get them back in to winning ways but will have to wait until the next game to kick start the second half of the season. The defeat against Brigg Town allowed their hosts to leap-frog them in the league.
Facing a very stiff wind in the first half Gresley had chances to take the lead. Within 10 minutes of the start debutant midfielder Mickey Lyons almost made the dream start to his Gresley career when Chris Freestone and Aaron O'Connor helped set him up but he could not fire off a shot before two defenders blocked him.
On 16 minutes O'Connor was put through by Gary White but Brigg keeper Damien Steer did well to save from the striker.
Five minutes later Steer almost gifted Gresley a goal when he allowed Freestone's shot to drop out of his grasp but he managed to save his blushes by grabbing the ball before it crossed the line.
Somewhat again the run of play Brigg took the lead. Ross Thompson let fire a 30 yard wind assisted shot that beat visiting keeper Dale Belford.
Thompson almost doubled his tally just minutes later but a well time tackle from Jamie Hood denied him.
The last say of the half went to O'Connor who did well to get between two defenders but his final shot went over the bar.
Gresley came out for the second period and almost levelled the score when Lyons made a chance for O'Connor but again the final shot went over.
The visitors were to rue the missed chances as the home side doubled their advantage on 59 minutes. Andy Simpson had done well to block Ian Ward's shot but the deflection fell to the same player who rammed the ball past Belford who was already committed to the first shot giving the keeper no chance to recover.
To their credit Gresley continued to battle and their reward came on 68 minutes. Simpson dummied Matt K Smith's short corner and Hood was on hand to smash the ball home.
Gresley almost levelled the game when Karl Brown's free kick was headed straight up into the air and the wind took the ball towards the waiting Emeka Ejiofor on the far post but as the striker looked on the ball bounced off the cross bar and out for a goal kick.
With Gresley pushing forward they were almost caught by a quick break with just five minutes left on the clock. A Gresley corner was cleared and with only one defender to beat Paul Chatterton played a square ball to David Betts free on his right but Belford pulled off a superb block to prevent an undeserved third goal.
Manager's View
"Same old story really but I don't think we deserved to be beat today. I was encouraged by the first half performance it was some of the best football we've played in weeks especially against the elements.
"We opened them up time, and time again. We hit the target and Aaron had a couple of good opportunities. Mickey Lyons broke and delayed his shot and we had other bits and bobs as well so I couldn't fault us in the first half. It was very difficult to play against that magnitude of wind and the football we played was very good. In fairness they scored against the run of play when they got a lucky break in the middle of the park and their No7 let a shot go from about 35 yards and it's in the back of the net.
"We were one nil down after 26 minutes and you're scratching your head wondering how. Second half it was key that we didn't concede early. We were just starting to get a foothold in the game when they got their second goal, which took the wind out of our sails somewhat. But to be fair to the lads they didn't let their heads drop and kept going and got a little bit of a break with the goal but it wasn't to be at the end of the day.
"It's very frustrating at the minute but if we were playing poorly I'd be really gutted about things. I was speaking to their manager before the game and they went on a similar run after we'd beaten them at our place and he said you can analyze things but all you can do is to keep working hard. There are one or two players who need to take a look at themselves but apart from that individuals are playing well and their were some great performances out their.
"We've been lacking a little in midfield recently but I thought Mickey Lyons was superb. He's come in and created things, rarely wasted anything and has got us going and I think there are good things to come from him. I was very encouraged by that performance.
"Brigg didn't cause us many problems in the first half and at half time one nil down I though we were much the better side. The second goal killed us. Dale dived to save the shot that Simmo blocked and it wrong footed him. The ball fell kindly to them and they were two up.
"I used to hear managers say ' we are not getting the luck at the minute' and I'd say what a load of rubbish. But now I genuinely believe we are not getting that bit of luck that perhaps we deserve.
"Fans have been critical of the long ball forward and rightly so. We want to use certain tactics in certain conditions. The pitch today, with all the weather we've had, has been one of the best we've played on recently and I think it shows that we can get the ball down and play. We weren't very far away today and it was encouraging but unfortunately performances are not what we are about its results at the minute."
