Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Solihull Borough
Moat Misery - Andy Parker - Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers' dismal display against Solihull Borough at the Moat Ground on
Saturday was not just their worst under John McGinlay but one of the most awful
most fans could remember.
Solihull were handed two gift goals while the Moatmen managed just two scoring
attempts: one in first half stoppage time and one in time added on at the end.
It was no wonder McGinlay grilled his team for 40 furious minutes afterwards,
for there was no hint of any kind of improvement under the new manager, nor
has there been for several games.
Anyone searching for plus points would have echoed McGinlay's view that new
signing Barry Woolley made an encouraging debut and Neil Kitching a satisfactory
return after exactly a year out with a broken leg, while youngster Tim Pole
became the latest reserve team player to graduate into the first team when he
appeared as a second half substitute. Beyond that there were none.
It was typical of a poor game played on treacherous surface that the opening
minute featured a howling blunder, Borough keeper Mike Payne missing a long
punt up field and the ball trickling only just wide of his empty net.
That
was just about as near as Rovers came to a goal, certainly in a one-sided first
half. With lone frontman Chris Smith posing more problems than Rovers knew how
to handle, Borough made and missed a string of chances before being gifted the
lead on 20-minutes.
Midfielder Craig Dutton was heading away from goal when Jamie Roberts launched
into a lunging tackle from behind that gave referee David Adcock no choice but
to point to the penalty spot, Smith giving Simon Baldwin no chance with a thumping
right-foot shot into the roof of the net.
Moments earlier only a goaline clearance by Woolley had denied Smith after
the striker had skipped past the hesitant Baldwin and hammered in an acute-angled
drive while Simon Hollis lobbed over, again after hesitation by the teenager.
Then Ritchie Gardner's loose backpass let Hollis in again with the winger's
shot this time crashing back into play off an upright.
Rovers'
only moment of hope came when the hard-working Kevin Allsop teed up the otherwise
anonymous Simon Tucker for a right-foot shot that flew just wide from 16yards.
There was no improvement after the break with Baldwin forced to distinguish
himself with a good blocking save after Smith had robbed Ian Bluck.
Rovers were being consistently outplayed in midfield and there might have been
more goals, Hollis seeing an in swinging corner cleared off the line by Mark
Peters then firing over under pressure from Carl Middleton.
The winger was to have the last laugh, however, Baldwin's poor goal kick landed
straight at his feet and the ball was despatched back into the top of the net
via a fearsome right-foot shot from 30 yards.
The impressive Woolley almost gave Rovers a late consolation when he met Peters'
injury time corner with a thumping far post header but the ball came back off
the crossbar to round off an afternoon to forget for McGinlay and his Moatmen.
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Solihull Borough (1) 2
Scorers: Smith 20 (pen), Hollis 85
Gresley Rovers: Baldwin, Roberts (Pole 82), Middleton, Bluck, Woolley,
Coates, Wardle, Peters, Allsop (Reynolds 80), Tucker, Gardner (Kitching).
Solihull Borough: Payne, Dodd, Beale, Healy, Knight, Russell, Hollis,
Smith, Pearce, Amos, Dutton. Subs not used: Woodfield, Clare, Stamford.
Rovers
Star Man: Barry Woolley - sound debut.
Referee: DJ Adcock
Attendance: 386
