Pre-season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 26th July 2005, 7.30pm
O'Connor shoots Rovers to victory
Gresley could have been ahead as early as the first minute when they forced two corners both taken by Tony Hemmings. The first was blocked and the second cause mayhem in the Newhall defence and were grateful when Brad Clarke made two good blocks to deny Paul Edwards and Andy Simpson.
Aaron O'Connor playing his first match of the pre-season went close on 8 minutes when his chip beat Clarke but just cleared the bar.
However he didn't have long to wait for his first goal. After some good work between Hemmings and Emeka Ejiofor O'Connor slammed a low shot home beating Clarke.
Clarke was busy again on 15 minutes making a good save after Matt Millns had fired in a vicious shot from Hemmings' corner.
Gresley midfielder Carl Adams went close with a header and on 26 minutes O'Connor's shot went the wrong side of the post.
Newhall had a couple of chances when Shane Potter fired wide and when Carl Eagling stole the ball from Millns but Gavin Saxby did well to block the shot.
Ejiofor beat the offside trap and ran in on goal causing Clarke to pull off another good block and O'Connor, still finding his touch, again went wide after beating the keeper.
Eagling almost put his side on terms on 42 minutes when he charged down Saxby's attempted clearance but his finish was poor putting the ball wide.
A minute before the break O'Connor doubled the advantage picking up the loose ball and beating a couple of tackles in the area before firing across Clarke and into the bottom corner of the net.
Gresley Manager Gary Norton made a change at half time - the first of many for both sides - bringing on James Pemberton in place of Saxby and he was soon called into action. Nick McInulty found himself in on goal but the keeper made a superb block with the rebound finding Eagling but a defender blocked the final shot.
On 50 minutes Newhall got a goal somewhat against the run of play. Pemberton attempted to clear the ball hitting Eagling in the process. The ball then bounced off Millns and back to Eagling who could not believe his luck as he rolled the ball into an empty net.
Nathan Tate sent over a fine cross on 64 minutes to substitute Chris White but the header was deflected away for a corner. The ball eventually found its way to O'Connor who once more shaved the post with his shot.
Norton sent on youngster Jordan Blair after 71 minutes and with almost his first touch floated over a fine cross into the Newhall area this time Chris White's header went straight into the arms of Clarke.
For the last 15 minutes the home side put the visitors under pressure with Edwards going close with a shot and Millns header, from Gary White's free kick, almost touched into the net by the Simpson sliding in at the back post.
Gresley got their third goal with six minutes left when Chris White fastened on to a loose ball beating two defenders before slotting a good shot past Clarke.
Manager's View
"This game was a useful exercise for both sides. We haven't picked up any injuries which was the first thought on my mind and hopefully it's the same for Bob and his lads.
"It was a good workout for both sides but we were on a hiding to nothing. When we played Stapenhill we came away with egg on our faces and rightly so. I know one or two will look at our win and be critical. But, in the first half in particular I was encouraged with some of the football we played, some of the movement off the ball and some of the chances we made but I was a little dismayed by the number of good chances that went begging - we've got to address that.
"In the second half Newhall set themselves up more defensively, similar to us against Notts County, and they were harder to break down. For some reason we chose to bypass the midfield and at times looked ordinary. The last ten of fifteen minutes we managed to get some pattern to our game and we tried to probe and look for gaps.
"From a fitness point of view it was a good workout but the two big tests come against Leek on Friday and then against Tamworth next week. I'm hoping to have an almost full squad to choose from on Friday. I was hoping for that tonight but I had a few late withdrawals and also I chose not to risk a couple.
"Nick Ghizlansoni was missing due to work commitments his job as a roofer means having to work late during the summer. We've had a chat about it and he's going to do some fitness work because he's a little behind the others. It is disappointing because things are still fragmented and I would like to have been playing the players who would be challenging for a first team starting line-up. Mickey Lyons is taking a trip to Ireland and will be on holiday for a week or so, which is frustrating because he's looked really sharp during pre-season. Nicky Carter is also working but he'll be back for Friday. I've liked the look of him this pre-season and I would have liked to have seen more of him tonight. Paul Wardle has failed to shake off an ankle injury he picked up in the last match and he will not be fit for the Leek game and David Holmes is on holiday.
"It is frustrating but it does give us a chance to have a look at other players in different positions. Paul Edwards played in midfield and showed certain aspects of quality but there are bits to work on. I was nice to have Aaron back and he scored two nice goals. He's missed two weeks of pre-season and he's a little to do fitness wise but he took his goals well. And we also had Nathan back so there were plenty of positives to take from the game."
