Derbyshire Senior Cup Quarter Final
The Asterdale Sports Centre, Spondon
Wednesday, 21st December 2005, 7.30pm
Gresley ease into the semis
Gresley Rovers eased their way into the semi-finals of the Derbyshire Senior Cup with a victory over Graham Street Prims of the Central Midland League Supreme Division.
The visitors went close after just 4 minutes when Aaron O'Connor got on to the end of Paul Edwards' flick but the striker put his shot wide of the mark.
O'Connor went close on 11 minutes after playing a good one-two with Nathan Tate he fire just wide of the upright.
Two minutes later Gresley had a perfectly good penalty shout turned down. Edwards was clattered to the ground by Matt Simpson only to see the referee Mr Smith unbelievably wave play on. Gresley almost capitalised on the situation but Prims keeper Rob Wild did well to block O'Connor's shot and then to deny Mickey Lyons' follow up.
Prims only half chance of the first half came on 17 minutes when Neil Day found Dave Coles on the left. He hit a good low shot from the left of the area only to see it go across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.
Gresley took the lead on 27 minutes when Prims failed to clear the danger and the ball fell nicely for O'Connor who rounded Wild before slotting the ball home.
David Holmes was then denied by Wild moments later when the Prims keeper got down to his right to hold the shot.
Five minutes before the break Gresley almost doubled their advantage. Gary White's sweetly struck free kick from just outside the area cleared the defensive wall, beat the keeper but crashed back off the cross bar and Lyons' saw his follow-up shot blocked by a defender.
The home side had the last word of the half though, when Gresley keeper Gavin Saxby blocked a low shot from Adam Lillie and Day put a shot wide.
On 65 minutes O'Connor managed to shake off his marker only to see Wild block his shot. Three minutes later a Prims defender saved his side when he cleared a White free kick off the line.
Gresley did get the goal they'd been looking for on 74 minutes when Lyons made a good run down the right before passing the ball to Edwards. Edwards could have gone on himself but chose to put a square ball to Holmes who made no mistake firing past Wild and into the bottom corner of the net.
A minute later Holmes returned the compliment when he passed to Edwards who turned before firing in a hard low shot that was well held by Wild.
On 78 minutes a well-timed tackle prevented O'Connor as the striker looked odds on to race into the area.
Prims almost got on the score sheet in a bizarre fashion albeit at the wrong end. On 84 minutes a home player managed somehow to fire the ball just past his own goal post from at least 25 yards with the keeper looking on helpless.
Holmes almost grabbed himself a second goal when he beat the offside but was denied by Wild who blocked his shot.
Gresley will now face Mickleover Sports in January for a place in the final.
Manager's View
"It wasn't the prettiest of games it certainly wasn't one for the purist but a professional job done in very difficult circumstances so overall quite pleased with it.
"For penalty shout in the first half there seemed to be only two people in the ground who didn't see it and that was the referee and his assistant. I asked the referee about it at half time and he didn't think it was a penalty but I don't want to say too much about him. He was a bit better in the second half but he wouldn't speak to the players during the match!
"We played better in the second half and ground stuff out. Prims worked very hard and there was no way they were going to give up, we knew that. It wasn't the best of surfaces and it was a bit of a leveller for them. Players like Mickey Lyons, who on his day is one of the most creative players we have in the squad, was finding it difficult but he has learned in recent games to roll his sleeves up and dig in.
"Tonight wasn't the best performance and I don't remember them carving us open and having a clear-cut opportunity, maybe occasionally from distance. For saying the back four had a lot of chopping and changes because I've had a right game putting the squad together for tonight, but overall I'm very pleased and relieved.
"In the end, and it's no disrespect to the lads who came in at very late notice, it was difficult because I'd had a call from Jamie Barrett saying he'd got a cold but should be okay to play but I had a call earlier this morning saying he was feeling even worse so we drafted in Sukhy Heer to the squad. Then I got a call from Lee Soar at 3.30 this afternoon advising me that he'd agreed terms with Cambridge City. It was disappointing to learn just four hours before the game that one of my players was leaving. It was a big blow that he was leaving and that he wouldn't take part in the game. Lee's been made an offer he couldn't refuse - it's a long way down there but my only frustration was that he couldn't play tonight. That forced us to pull Gary White in and to bring Danny Cox into the squad. To be fair it's worked out well because I've seen a lot from Gary tonight that impresses me. He's played as part of a three at the back and I wanted to have a look at Gary in that position and he did well.
"Matt Millns is still a million miles away from were he needs to be and were he can be but he's shown he's got a bit of grit and determination tonight and he's played through it and I'm pleased with that.
"Dave Williams, from the reserves has done okay tonight and put pressure on the likes of Chris Gray on that side but we do need to add a few more to the squad for strength and depth."
