UniBond League Division One
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 19th November 2005, 3.00pm
Saxby keeps Colywn at bay!
Gresley Rovers and Colwyn Bay served up a warming game of football on a freezing afternoon at the Moat Ground.
The home side took an early lead after just 3 minutes when Jamie Barrett made a fine run through the middle of the park before sending Chris Gray down the left. Bay's keeper Farai Jackson fumbled Gray's cross and Paul Edwards was on hand to ram the ball home.
Bay hit back with two successive corners and on 7 minutes a half chance from Simon Burton went sailing over the bar.
Three minutes later and the action was down at the other end when Gresley were awarded a free kick taken by Allan Davies. Paul Edwards got his head to the ball flicking over to Matt Millns whose header was cleared away for a corner.
On 12 minutes Gresley keeper Gavin Saxby made the first of several match-winning saves when he pushed out Ged Smith's low shot for a corner. From the resulting flag kick the ball eventually found Tim Brandreth whose shot was tipped on to the far post by Saxby and away to safety.
Saxby was needed again on 21 minutes making another great save from Darren Wright as the visitors mounted an intense spell of attacking football.
A brief lull in pressure came when Mickey Lyons swung in a corner from the left but Millns could only put his header over the bar.
The Gresley keeper was beaten on 29 minutes but not without making a brave attempt to prevent the goal. Saxby managed to get a hand to Wright's deflected shot only to see the ball loop out to Carl Rodgers who headed the ball back into the net.
Bay should have taken the lead on 47 minutes when Chris Hogg found himself through on goal but again Saxby was up to the task and prevented the chance becoming a goal with another good save.
Five minutes later bay had another chance to grab the lead but with the goal gaping wide Ryan Baker failed to connect with the ball.
Against the run of play Gresley grabbed the lead on 56 minutes. Barrett made good progress down the left and his cross was met by Carl Slater who had his header blocked by Jackson but was quick to react and volleyed the ball home.
The lead lasted 10 minutes. On 66 minutes Smith was allowed far too much space and with the Gresley players failing to close him down unleashed a 20 yard shot the flew past Saxby and into the top corner of the net.
Two minutes later however, Gresley scored what was to be the winner when a superb piece of dribbling from Aaron O'Connor left the Bay's defence mesmerised but the striker's final shot cannoned back off the far post to substitute David Holmes who rammed the ball home from close range.
O'Connor almost got on to the score sheet himself on 77 minutes but his goal bound shot took a wicked deflection off a Bay defender and straight into the arms of Jackson.
Saxby made his final two saves first on 81 minutes when Burton managed to get around the back of the Gresley defence but the big custodian superbly blocked the shot and then three minutes later when he denied Bay substitute Frank Mottram.
Manager's View
Assistant manager Mick Curry comments:-
"The pleasing thing was we came away with three points. We've not played the best but we've played better this season and come away empty handed so it's nice to show the other side of our game that we are able to scrap and have a go and that's what we've done and it's been effective today. We've tried to nullify them the best we could and the result is that we've come away with three points and I'm pleased with that side of things.
"We said to Gav (Gavin Saxby) before we kicked off that he didn't have the best of games on Tuesday but he knew himself without anyone saying anything but he's gone out there and fully justified his position to keep the shirt and he's kept us in the game. To be honest it was a match winning performance - he was absolutely outstanding and when they've asked questions of him he's answered them. Hopefully, that will boost his confidence no end.
"To be honest, they've probably been the best footballing team we've come across this season - they are a good passing team, plenty of movement and they've caused us a lot of problems. But, we've gone in a half time and said to the lads that we need to tighten up in certain areas of the pitch and we've done it. Second half we restricted them to fewer chances. After saying that, when you look at the second goal they scored we have not gone and pressed the ball and closed them down we gave him time; he picked his spot and what a finish.
"The lads showed bags of character and bounced back and come again and took the lead. You can't ask for any more than that.
"It's always nice to get a result. When you look at the four games we have lost we've played outstanding football and we've come away empty handed. The last two games - the first seventy minutes against Eastwood we played some good football, we dictated the game. Today we set out our stall and we've got an early lead. Unfortunately, the game didn't go according to plan but we've come away with a three-two victory and that's all that matters - regardless to how we played the history books will just show the result. The supporters have gone away happy, the lads have gone away happy and you can't ask for any more than that.
"For their second goal myself and Raffaele were shouting and screaming at our lads to go and engage and close him down but we stepped back from him, allowed him space and players of that quality you can't give them space, not at this level and he showed what he's capable of doing. We did learn from it and when they got to within thirty yards we shut them down.
"Their first goal was a deflection. Gavin made a save but we didn't react and it fell to their player. We need to make sure it's a Gresley shirt who reacts first - we need to be on the front foot.
