UniBond League Division One
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 26th April 2005, 7.45pm
Rovers hit for four
Any faint hopes of reaching the play offs evaporated when promotion hopefuls Willenhall Town opened up a four-goal lead after just 36 minutes.
Town opened brightly with Richard Field putting a shot just wide on 3 minutes. However, a minute later they went ahead. Karl Edwards raced up the right side taking Gresley defender Matt Smith with him, which left former Moatman Nathan Jones in acres of space totally unmarked. The striker received the pass and although Gresley keeper Dale Belford got a hand to the ball it was not enough to prevent the goal.
Home defender Steve Farmer went close to opening the scoring for Gresley on 8 minutes but put his header, from a Chris Gray corner, straight into the arms of Town keeper Matthew Jones.
Things got even worse just a minute later when Mark Swann's free kick found midfielder Danny McGhee on the right and his cross was headed home by defender Gary Price.
Gresley were reeling after the two body blows and were caught out again defensively on 27 minutes. Another needlessly given away free kick by the home side was played into Karl Edwards who turned and fired his shot through a crowd of players and past Belford giving the keeper no chance.
Could it get any worse? Yes it could nine minutes later after yet another needless free kick. Swann's kick again found McGhee who in turn crossed to Richard Field who obliged by nodding the ball home with the home defence AWOL.
Gresley did manage to pull a goal back right on the half time whistle. A Nathan Tate corner from the right found its way between a defender and goalkeeper Matthew Jones and into the net.
The home side came out looking a far more determined outfit and started to push Willenhall back.
On 52 minutes Paul Edwards fired in a low shot that was well held by Matthew Jones and eight minutes later Gresley had a chance to further reduce the deficit. Liam Hebberd raced into the area only to be held back by Craig Slater. Refree Mr Steans with no hesitation pointed to the spot. Paul Edwards chose to take the kick but put his shot wide of the left post.
Jamie Barrett did well to make space for himself on 77 minutes but his shot went wide of the mark. Two minutes later Town substitute Dean Perrow put a shot wide from just outside the area.
On 82 minutes Gresley substitute Andy Marlowe sent over a corner that Matt Smith flicked on to Barrett but Matt Webb blocked the volley on the line.
Danny Cox, who had replaced Tate saw his thunderous drive parried by Matthew Jones in the Willenhall goal two minutes into stoppage time.
Manager's View
"We've given some cheap goals away this season but those we gave away tonight were absolute bargain basement. I think I said on Saturday that we hadn't been spanked and that there wasn't a team who have been head and shoulders above us and then we go and turn in that sort of performance.
"On our last home game of the season when we've still got something to play for regardless of other results and it was still mathematically possible to get in the play offs I don't think I've witnessed another 25 minutes of football like it from players who I have put my belief, trust and faith in all season. I said to the players before the game despite numerous opportunities, we haven't taken them and haven't been good enough but somehow we were still in with a shout. We must have had more chances than anybody in this league to still make the play offs and on each and every one we've blow our chances clean away and we did it in some style tonight.
"The only thing I want to say is a complete and utter apology on behalf of the players and backroom team to every supporter whether they were here tonight or not. We are all dejected and disgusted with ourselves. And I use the term ourselves collectively regardless of the eleven on view in that first half. For the first twenty, twenty-five minutes you would not recognise the players out there on that pitch.
"We talked at length about Willenhall's strengths. They are a very, very hard working side and you give then opportunities from free kicks and they take them. Three of the four goals were from very sloppy free kicks. We've defended many free kicks this season very, very well.
"For their first goal our defending was disappointing bordering on disgraceful. It was the most embarrassing twenty-five minutes since I've been here. We had some low points last season and and you get performances like that occasionally and I fully understand that. But, in a game of such magnitude and importance that performance was disgraceful. And after we've played some really, really good stuff all season. Yes, it's not been pretty at times but we've always been in with chances of games.
"Our back three who started the game, Matt Smith Steve Farmer and Jamie Hood on paper are as good as you will see at this level. There is a blend of experience, youth and quality. Steve Farmer has been absolute quality in each and every game he's played just about but all three were well off the mark today. The midfield were ten or fifteen yards of the pace and up top we were not much better in the first half.
"Credit to some of the supporters for holding their tongues at half time. It wouldn't have helped with the situation we were in. The supporters didn't barrack us tonight when they had every right to do so.
"We rallied after half time and put in a massive performance second half. But, I said to the players 'can I give you credit for that second half?' We were good, we created chances, we missed a penalty and we've had other bits. But, at the end of the day Willenhall have probably sat back and switched off, the games won so I can't give us any credit for that second half as good as it was.
"Yes, we had players missing but this squad is still good enough but tonight we were a very sorry second and again I want to reiterate my apologies to the supporters."
"The supporters will go away into the summer and remember this. Yes, we had the great start, the great FA Trophy and Cup run and that we won the first silverware for eight years and three games ago we put in arguably one of the best performances of the season against Ilkeston, a game we should have won, and then we go and do that. Our supporters have been fantastic all season and then to end it on that sour note. They will be going home now absolutely disgusted with that performance and rightly so and that's the memory they will take away from the 2004-2005 season. Not the Derbyshire Senior Cup or the fantastic performances we've had all season but a four goal salvo in the first thirty six minutes of our last home game and that's the disappointing thing I take away too."
