UniBond League Division One
The Dovecote, Butthole Lane, Shepshed
Monday, 2nd January 2006, 3.00pm
Rovers win at The Dovecote
Gresley Rovers won only their fourth away win of the season by beating Shepshed Dynamo at The Dovecote on Monday afternoon.
As can be expected when playing Dynamo home or away it was a tough encounter and with better finishing by the home side the result could easily have been reversed.
Dynamo were well on top for the first 25 minutes or so and could well have been at least two goals to the good before Gresley took the lead.
The first threat on the Gresley goal came on 6 minutes when visiting striker Paul Edwards gave Matt Moran the ball. He rode the challenges of both Mickey Lyons and Carl Slater but his final shot went straight into the arms of keeper Gavin Saxby.
A minute later Andy Bourne made a fine run down the left and put in a low cross to the far post that Steve Gomm managed to get on the end of only to have his attempt well blocked by Chris Brindley at the expense of a corner.
Gresley were under pressure and a long kick by Simon Baldwin on 10 minutes found Gomm who laid on a pass for Moran on the edge of the penalty area. Moran's shot was blocked but his second shot from the rebound was not hard enough to test Saxby.
Five minutes later Moran was handed another chance when Saxby only half cleared the ball. This time it was the woodwork that denied Shepshed the lead.
Michael Savage then went close for the home side putting a header just over the bar from a Moran corner on 22 minutes.
Gresley took the lead against the run of play just two minutes later. A quick break lead to Jamie Barrett playing the ball behind the Dynamo defence straight into the path of Aaron O'Connor who then skipped around the advancing Baldwin and put the ball into the net.
On 37 minutes Dynamo were penalised just inside their area when Baldwin caught a high looping sliced kick from Duncan O'Brien that the referee Mr Short adjudged, harshly, to have been a back pass - the free kick by Gary White was blocked.
Within three minutes of the second half starting Saxby needed to be alert to stop a low drive at his near post.
O'Connor went close to doubling Gresley's advantage on 55 minutes when he collected a long ball, turned his marker and fired a tremendous shot that cannoned off the upright with Baldwin well beaten.
On 67 minutes the home side had a penalty shout turned down when Darryl Thompson appeared to be brought down by Allan Davies' tackle but three minutes later the referee was a lot more accommodating. Through a forest of players in the Gresley area the linesman managed to see Andy Simpson handle the ball on the line although the defender claimed to have blocked the shot with his chest. However, the referee backed up his assistant and pointed to the spot. Paul Gamble made no mistake sending Saxby the wrong way.
Hardly had the celebrations of the home side and their supporters had time to die down when Gresley went back in front. Almost from the re-start Barrett made a fine run down the right and put a superb ball through to Edwards who slotted the ball past Baldwin and into the net.
The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Dynamo as Gresley had numerous chances during the final 15 minutes or so has they ended the game clearly on top.
O'Connor almost grabbed his second of the game on 75 minutes but a fine block by Baldwin denied the striker. Three minutes later after some good work down the left David Holmes fired a shot just wide and on 81 minutes Edwards put a header just clear of the cross bar.
On 85 minutes Slater made a determined run through the middle of the park before hitting a dipping shot that beat Baldwin but landed on the top of the net.
In time added on O'Connor again found himself with only Baldwin to beat but the keeper was good enough and blocked the shot. The rebound found Edwards who volleyed over the gaping net.
Manager's View
"I was gutted with their goal because Simmo (Andy Simpson) is adamant in the dressing room that he thought it was going in and he stooped and the ball hit his chest and the linesman as given it as if it's hit his hand. It was a tough call to make but Simmo is adamant. I asked him to be honest and tell me did it hit his hand, not that there would be any retribution for it. The goals we keep giving away at the minute - if you look back a Bamber Bridge that's a free kick and another penalty there.
"We are looking quite solid now Chris Brindley's in the side. When Simmo went off against Colwyn Bay we conceded six goals with him off the pitch but apart from that we haven't conceded a goal from open play with Chris Brindley and Andy Simpson on the pitch. It's important we don't get carried away with it because Shepshed have not scored too many goals this year.
"It was one of those games that when they got back on terms it could have gone either way and it was crucial that we responded quickly. The way things have been going for Paul (Edwards) lately I was half expecting the ball to balloon over that net behind the goal but it was nice to see the ball nestle in the back. I think we deserved it today.
"Most of the chances towards the end were ours. Aaron O'Connor went through twice and to be fair to Simon Baldwin who is a very good shot stopper he stood up well and made a great save. But then Paul had a couple of good chances; Carl Slater went through with a half chance. It was pleasing that we managed to create chances but we've got to be taking more.
"I felt that Shepshed out battled us on Boxing Day in the midfield department and I think we had the fair share of that today. Carl Slater in particular and Mickey Lyons responded after a slow start. He was a little bit off it but then he was getting his feet in there, closing players down and getting his body in there so that's good. Slates did okay on Boxing Day but Shepshed for me bossed the midfield. Today I don't think they can have too many complaints. Savage for Shepshed was immaculate at the back absolutely fantastic - one of the best central defenders in this league for me. Lambert in the middle of the park scraps and battles all day - he impressed me on Boxing Day and the big lad, Gomm, up front never gives up so they've got a solid spine in the side and they are a tough side to beat.
"Jamie Barrett set the first goal up and the second one as well. They were playing quite a high line at the back and part of our strategy was to get the ball in behind and I think it was Savage who just couldn't quite reach it which left Aaron one on one and he took that one well. Jamie responded when they scored with getting down the right for the second goal. He pulled the ball back for Paul Edwards and Jamie's done well today.
"It's a good start to the New Year with an away win. I've just said to the lads in the dressing room that hopefully this is a new beginning and we can try to put things right away from home. We know we are way off were we could or should be with this squad of players we've got. The thing I try to instil in the lads if you look at Shepshed and the players they've got they just work very, very hard. They've had some great results this year. They've done the double over Chorley and have been very unlucky by all accounts. They've impressed me a lot when I've been to see them. They don't concede many goals - okay they're not scoring but they don't concede. That's through the work ethic that Pete's instilled in them. If we could do that on a more consistent basis particularly away from home, stifle sides playing we have always got that threat of getting goals on the break through Aaron O'Connor and Paul Edwards and the like in the side. It's something we desperately want to put right, our away form, and we're making every effort to do that."
