Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Swindon Supermarine
Rovers sink Supermarine
Swindon
Supermarine came to the Moat Ground on the back of an undefeated three-match
run that had given the Wiltshire outfit a glimmer hope of remaining in the Dr
Martens Western Division.
It was the visitors who started the better of the two sides. On 4 minutes they
could easily have taken the lead when Ian Bluck deflected a Paul Donnelly towards
his own goal but James Lindley was quick to react and tipped the ball over for
a corner.
Dominic Dunton and Andy Jennings both went close within the first 15 minutes
as Gresley tried to get in gear.
On 18 minutes a slip by Owen James gave Swindon another attempt on goal but
Steve Bennett could only fire wide.
Tate Hulbert then latched on to an Owen James back header but Andy Cheetham
superbly blocked his effort.
On 21 minutes Gresley had their first real attempt of the game. Chris Parkins
hit a ferocious drive that visiting keeper, Liam Bull, failed to hold but he
recovered well to deny Chris White who was racing in to follow up.
Aidan Callan was unlucky when his 25-yard shot went wide after some good work
by Andy Bourne.
Gresley began to take control as the half wore on and after Callan had been
brought down Whites free kick rebounded off the Swindon wall but Bluck shot
flew over the bar.
On
40 minutes Parkins almost opened the scoring for Gresley when his shot hit Swindon's
Lea James and was deflected onto the post.
Gresley started the second half looking more determined and on 50 minutes man-of-the-match
Parkins again went close when his shot shaved the left-hand post.
On 57 minutes Parkins was involved in Gresley's opening goal. White played
the ball through to Parkins whose shot was blocked but Bourne was quick to react
and his resulting shot deflected off Steve Davies, a Swindon defender, and looped
into the net with Steve Bennett making a valiant effort to clear.
On 65 minutes came the astonishing piece of refereeing. A vicious tackle on
Chris Gray by Dominic Dunton resulted in Gray reacting but then to the utter
amazement of the crowd Dunton clearly attempted to punch the Gresley midfielder
but the referee only yellow carded both players.
On 73 minutes Gray went close when his inswinging corner was cleared off the
line by Bennett and then Parkins saw another shot skim the bar.
On 82 minutes, a long kick by Lindley was totally misjudged by Bull and as
the ball bounced off the hard pitch and over his head, Simon Tucker, although
being pulled back by the keeper, nipped in to knock the ball into an empty net.
With only 3 minutes remaining of the game Lindley was called on to make a rare
second half save from Peter Macklin.
The manager's view of the match
"I thought it was a disappointing first half. The wind and the bone-hard
pitch didn't help things.
"We were putting balls through the middle but their midfield was winning
everything. We did try to settle on the ball but the ball was bouncing high
and we just couldn't seem to get it under control.
"They
seemed to adjust to the conditions better than us and perhaps had the better
of the first half hour. But I think we had the better of the second half and
again had many chances to win it comfortably.
"I thought the referee was awful today. We had similar at the Shepshed
match on Monday and when you see Ian Bluck get sent off for what he was supposed
to have done in that match and the referee only yellow card the Swindon player
for a clear punch at Chris Gray which everyone in the ground saw I just don't
know.
"James Lindley hardly had a save to make all game but you have to remember
Swindon beat Evesham at Evesham and have won three games on the trot. So they
would have been up for it today and would have thought they could beat us.
"We battled and at the end of the day we have three points which will
keep us in the top five. We want to finish as high as we can in the league and
if possible win some silverware because the club, the lads themselves and the
supporters deserve it.
"I think the players deserve something this season. As you know the first
12 games of the season were awful but the lads dug in and turned it around putting
a run together and I think they've quite played well since then.
"When the new manager comes in, whoever that will be, we'll take it from
there. At 3 o'clock I would have taken 2-0 and three points.
"There are no new injuries for Wednesday and I think Barry Woolley and
Dave Whittaker stand a good chance of being back in the team. Woolley trained
a bit before today's game and although he said he felt a little sore he could
possibly feature. He is seeing the physio again on Monday and is hopeful of
a return.
"Stuart Evans will definitely miss the game as will Mark Peters. Peters
could be back for next Saturday's match.
"Although we won the match today we will need to lift our game against
Alfreton on Wednesday."
Gresley Rovers (0) 2
Swindon Supermarine (0) 0
Scorers: Bourne 57, Tucker 82.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham, Wardle, O James, Callan, Bourne,
Tucker, White, Parkins, Gray. Subs not used: Moran, Lewsley, Withers.
Swindon Supermarine: Bull, Roper (Smart 78), Davis, Beaverstock, L James,
Jennings, Jones, Dunton, Bennett, Hulbert (Mackilin 68), Donnelly (Giles 61).
Rovers
Star Man: Chris Parkins - another good performance.
Referee: M Dexter (Leicester).
Attendance: 345
