UniBond League Division One
Shawbridge, Clitheroe, Lancashire
Saturday, 16th April 2005, 3.00pm
Gresley win on the road
Gresley Rovers ended their barren away form with a victory at Clitheroe with a tremendous strike in each half.
In what was a scrappy first half chances were few and far between for both sides. The first half chance came on 11 minutes but Russell Clarke could only fire well over from 25 yards.
Two minutes later it was the turn of Gresley to go close when Nathan Tate headed wide from a Niall Hudson cross. A fine move involving Mickey Lyons and Tate ended with Paul Edwards steering a shot into the side netting minutes later
Clitheroe could have gone ahead after 17 minutes when Paul Crompton collected a poor headed clearance by Hudson. He cut inside before firing a low shot from 15 yards that was well blocked by Gresley keeper Dale Belford.
Gary White failed to clear allowing Lee Cryer to shoot on the turn just past an upright. The hosts went close again minutes later this time Crompton put Cryer's flick-on wide of the target.
Gresley went ahead after 41 minutes. Hudson's cross from the by-line was volleyed into the top corner of the net by Tate who was waiting on the edge of the area leaving home keeper Kris Richins helpless.
The visitors doubled their advantage on 63 minute with a superb goal from Edwards.
Tate combined well with Aaron O'Connor to set up the opening for Edwards, who seeing nothing else on, hit a thunderous volley into the roof of the net from 25 yards as the home defence backed of him.
Jamie Hood could have put the game beyond doubt when he connected with Lyons's cross only to put the header straight into the arms of Richens.
With Gresley making all the running another goal looked possible when Hudson collected the ball just in the opposition's half before haring towards goal. Again, the defence backed off and the final shot had to be acrobatically tipped over the bar by the keeper.
Gresley thought they'd got a third with only minutes to go when a Gary White corner seemed to have crossed the line before being cleared but the referee waved their protests away. Then, two minutes into time added on substitute Emeka Ejiofor was denied by Chris Nestor's goal-line clearance.
Clitheroe got a consolation goal deep into stoppage time. Adam Roscoe's pass found substitute Gary Jackson, who put his shot past Belford.
Manager's View
"We tried a different approach today by asking the lads to try and get the ball down and pop it about a bit and just see what develops. We've been caught up in the last two or three months were every game seems to be a must win game. We've risen to the occasion in some games but not done it in others where it mattered. I said to the players today that we are in the hands of other people now and to relax and try to get the ball down and see what happens.
"It was a pretty scrappy game but obviously I'm very pleased with the win because it's been a while on the road but delighted with the quality of the two goals. But, having said that we made life difficult for ourselves and Dale, in the second half, had to make some fantastic saves. I only wish the people who were quick to jump on the Dale Belford bandwagon to criticise him were here today because they were top draw saves that kept us in the game and we've managed to hang on for the win.
"I was a little bit critical with the midfield at half time - Mickey Lyons in particular did very, very well today and tried to get us passing. Ashley worked hard but his legs went in the end so we made the change and put Andy Marlowe in there. I was a little bit critical with Chrissie but he responded in the second half and got close to his man. We started as an orthodox 4-4-2 but the way they were playing in the middle of the park we tucked Chrissie in there and gave Niall Hudson licence to patrol on the right hand side and pick their eleven up. Second half I was far happier with the midfield performance.
"Everyone worked hard today it was a real team effort. We've got a lot of tired players and you could see that. Aaron had a quiet game be he was carrying a knock and Paul Edwards were thinking of replacing him just before his fantastic strike because he looked leggy.
"Niall put a great cross in and Nathan had listened to us and stayed out wide and where has he pulled that one from? It was a fantastic strike straight into the top corner. He did really well to control it and keep it down. Nathan in particular had a good game, a very good game. Aerially, for a small guy, he got up and won a lot of stuff. He got us going - he needs to work on bits and bobs but he's only a young lad and there is lots of natural talent to work with. So I was delighted about that. Then obviously the second goal Paul Edwards had shown some great touches today and he turned inside and struck one into the top corner so it's nice to get a couple rather than some flying into the other end.
"To win away takes a massive weight off our shoulders but unfortunately we need to be doing it in January and February when it could have mattered. It's our away form that's got us in this position. Up until last Saturday I was happy with our home form because we'd only lost twice all season but the away form was below average so it's good to get an away win."
