Pre-season friendly
Riverside Ground
Wednesday, 19th July 2006, 7.30pm
Second pre-season win for the Moatmen
Gresley Rovers manager Gary Norton used this second pre-season friendly to again run the rule over trialists and to ease in a couple of players making their first appearance.
Into central defence came new signing Colin Hoyle partnered by Andy Simpson.
Right back Ben Davies unfortunately lasted only 5 minutes before succumbing to a slight thigh injury and having to be replaced by Carl Slater much earlier than was planned.
On a reasonable pitch the first half was played in blistering heat and the wisdom of the referee Mr Lesley allowed a break midway through the first half so that both sides could take in a very welcome drink of water.
Nothing of note happened for the first half hour but then Hoyle rose to head home a looping header. Almost immediately Gedling hit back and a decent shot sailed over the bar.
Gresley were in control and a good sweeping move involving Curtis Shaw, Santos Farrell and Andy Spencer ended with a pass that just eluded David Holmes.
Norton made changes for the second period and with the sun dropping below the horizon and a cooling breeze conditions were very comfortable.
The visitors continued to push Gedling back and mistakes were starting to happen. On 65 minutes the home keeper came out and tried to trap the ball, which was unsuccessful, allowing Ravi Sangha to rob him of it before slotting the ball into the empty net.
Paul Edwards and Sangha seemed to be forming a useful understanding up front and it almost paid off on 70 minutes when an exchange of passes between them ended with the Gedling keeper making a fine block to deny Sangha his second of the night.
However, he only had to wait another 7 minutes and it was Edwards again who provided the pass that gave his strike partner the simple task of tapping the ball home with the keeper well out of position.
On 81 minutes Edwards almost got on the score sheet himself but after receiving a pass from Holmes the keeper was quick off his line and did very well to block the shot with his legs.
The referee indicated to the benches that he would cut the game short by a few minutes due to the light level dropping and no floodlight switched on but he let the game go on long enough for Gedling to score two very late goals.
The Moatmen had lifted their foot off the pedal has the game drew to a conclusion and Gedling scored two goals. The first very fortunate but the second a superb strike.
On 86 minutes Spears was three or four yards offside when he slotted the ball home but we can forgive the assistant referee as it was very dark by then!
Slater tested the keeper at the other end making him tip over a vicious dipping shot before Widdowson scored for the home side what was arguably the goal of the game hitting a superb 25-yard volley into the top corner of the net leaving Gresley keeper Steve Harris a mere spectator.
