Clevedon Town vs Gresley Rovers
Back to winning ways
This was going to be a hard fixture for Gresley Rovers as the home side had
put together a good five match unbeaten run. It was made all the harder with
the defection of John McGinlay to Ilkeston at very short notice.
Alan Titterton made just one change from the team beaten in midweek by Mangotsfield
United preferring Chris Parkins to Chris Gray who took the substitutes bench.
Gresley began the brighter of the two sides and during the first 15 minutes
looked the most likely to score with Parkins coming close on a couple of occasions.
On 21 minutes James Lindley had to make a fine save down at the foot of his
post after Aaron Blakemore had been set up by some good work by Mike Wyatt and
Sam Alison.
On 24 minutes Gresley thought they had taken the lead when Chris White netted
the ball only to find himself flagged off side by the assistant referee.
The solid Gresley defence restricted the home side to only a handful of chances
during the first half. One of those few chances fell to Allison who should have
done better from only a few yards out.
Right on the stroke of half time Gresley got their deserved goal. Ian Bluck
put a through ball to Andy Bourne who then took it to the touch line and sent
a superb cross into Clevedon's box. Jason Matthews managed to get a fingertip
to the ball that went as far as Steve Coates who smashed in his first goal from
25 yards.
At the start of the second half Gresley again began to apply pressure and within
a couple of minutes of the re-start doubled their tally. Coates passed to Simon
Tucker who ran at the home defence and has they back peddled fired a fine shot
that flew into the bottom corner of the net from off the post.
Gresley should have easily doubled their advantage. Coates and Bourne were
both denied and Parkins, Gresley's top scorer had a goal line clearance by Lee
Jeffery's deny him.
It was the turn of Clevedon, as they tried to get back into the match, to apply
pressure on the visitor's back line.
Jefferies went close but fired wide and then Wyatt brought another fine save
from Lindley.
On 74 minutes Clevedon got their reward when Wyatt powered in a header from
a Steve Lester cross past the helpless Lindley.
Gresley began to sit back on hold on to their lead and only Tucker and White
making any effort on gaol in the final third of the match.
As Clevedon pushed forward looking to salvage a point Gresley were forced to
make changes at the back due to injuries to both Evans and Andy Cheetham.
Almost on the final whistle Clevedon almost snatched a goal but for the outstretched
leg of Lindley that deflected the ball away from danger.
Clevedon Town (0) 1
Gresley Rovers (1) 2
Scorers: Wyatt 74 (Clevedon Town): Coates 45, Tucker 47 (Gresley Rovers).
Clevedon Town: Matthews, Casey, Thorne, Price, Jefferies, Skidmore,
Wyatt, Mills (Zabek 82), Blakemore (Dorrian 60), Allison, Lester. Sub not used:
Vincent.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham (Gray 82), Coates, Wardle,
Evans (Woolley 77), Bourne, Tucker, White, Parkins, Callan. Sub not used: Peters.
Rovers
Star Man: Stuart Evans - Solid at the back.
Referee: D Hannis (Stonehouse).
Attendance: 205
