UniBond League Division One
Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood, Lancashire
Saturday, 20th August 2005, 3.00pm
Hemmings on target
Gresley Rovers made the long trip up the M6 to face newly promoted Fleetwood Town for their first match of the new UniBond One campaign.
They started brightly enough and were soon putting the home defence under pressure. On 7 minutes Chris Gray put David Holmes in on goal where he beat home keeper Andy Banks to the ball. But, has Holmes stretched to poke the ball past Banks the ball deflected off the keeper and was cleared by a defender.
Aaron O'Connor then went close on 17 minutes when he fastened on to Holmes' pass but the outstretched leg of Banks blocked the attempt on goal.
Three minutes later, Gary White put a long throw into the area where it was met by Nicky Carter whose shot was blocked and White following up could only fire the rebound over the bar.
However, it was the home side who went ahead in the 24th minute when new captain Andy Simpson was penalised for holding striker Darren Hall in the area.
Referee Mr Taylor, who had earlier dismissed what looked like a good shout, this time had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Joe Booth made no mistake putting a low shot past Gavin Saxby.
Saxby was to earn his man-of-the-match vote as Fleetwood grew in confidence as the half drew to an end.
In the space of a couple of minutes he produced three inspired saves twice denying Ian Stevens and then Booth as Fleetwood piled forward looking to increase their advantage.
Just before the break Saxby did well to deflect Stevens' header for a corner after the striker had intercepted Allan Davies' back header.
Gresley were fortunate to be only a goal down at the break and were finding things difficult when the second period started.
On 52 minutes Fleetwood were very fortunate not to have lost the services of Nathan Pond. After being booked in the first half for a foul on O'Connor he then illegally blocked Nathan Tate just outside the home penalty area and received just a finger wagging from the referee.
From the resulting free kick O'Connor was unlucky to see his shot land on the top of the net.
Manager Gary Norton then made three substitutions that seemed also spark some life into the proceedings. Minutes later O'Connor seized on to Lee Pryer's loose header but saw his shot blocked by Martin Moran.
On 65 minutes it was the turn of Gresley defender Davies to keep his side in the game when he did well to get a touch on Booth's cross before Darren Hall could capitalise at the far post.
Gresley were now looking the stronger of the two sides and on 77 minutes they got a deserved equaliser. A superb 1-2 between substitutes Paul Edwards and Tony Hemmings ended with Henmmings blasting the ball past Banks and into the far corner.
Having drawn level, Rovers looked the more likely side to snatch victory as they piled forward during the closing stages with O'Connor firing straight at Banks.
A win for either side would have been unjust and a draw was perhaps the fairest outcome.
Manager's View
"I'm a bit relieved to be fair. The way the game went, particularly the first half, I thought it was going to be one of those days.
"I thought we started better, but then could not get anything going - we were very poor. We looked like a side that had not played together and one or two players were passing on responsibility instead of getting the ball down and playing.
"We gave a way a sloppy goal. Simmo said he didn't think he'd touched him, but he had his hands on the guy's back and the referee gave it.
"Saxby then made three great saves - the first of which was world class - to keep us in the game. I said at half time that we were still in it at 1-0 and I think the subs made the difference.
"Edwards linked things up and set up the goal by holding the ball up and rolling it round the corner for Hemmings to score."
