Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Clevedon Town
Almost - but not quite
Andy
Bourne, who joined Gresley from neighbours Rocester, was given his debut against
league leaders Clevedon Town.
John McGinlay had to select a side that was without injured Richard Wardle,
Alex Green, Stuart Evans and Matt Moran.
John Allcock, also not fully fit, was asked to fill the centre half position
and he did this superbly marshalling the line with authority and leadership.
Except for a 20 minute spell during the second half Gresley were easily the
better side belying the fact that Clevedon are top of the league.
Right from the off it was Gresley who made the running. On 4 minutes Bourne,
with probably his first touch in Gresley colours, put in a cross that was only
just out of reach for Nick Kennerdale. Chris Gray then hit the resulting partial
clearance back making Jason Matthews make a fine save.
On 7 minutes the visitor's could have taken the lead when Tony Cook, although
looking offside, broke down the right before crossing for Wayne Thorne who hit
the bar with a close range effort and into the arms of James Lindley.
Bourne went close on 9 minutes when his shot was kept out by the outstretched
leg of Matthews.
On 11 minutes, striker Chris Parkins gave Gresley a deserved lead.
Andy Cheetham's corner was knocked on by Bourne and Parkins was alert to touch
the ball into the visitor's net.
It could have been even better for Gresley 5 minutes later when Kennerdale
had what looked like a perfectly good goal disallowed for what the ref said
was pushing much to the amazement of the fans.
Except for a couple of weak efforts on the Gresley goal by Karl Bayliss and
Thorne it was the home side that was applying the pressure during the first
half.
On 37 minutes Mark Peters could have made the half time tea taste even sweeter
when his first time shot flew just wide of the post after more good work by
Parkins.
Gresley might have had a second minutes after the start of the second period
when Parkins headed narrowly over from a Cheetham corner. He now seemed to be
full of confidence and was unlucky to add to his tally when a last ditch tackle
denied him when clear on goal after leaving three defenders in his wake.
This action seemed to wake the visitor's from their shock and Lindley had to
be alert to tip a speculative shot over from Keith Knight.
On 69 minutes Gresley should have had a penalty when Steve Lester, being taunted
by the lively Kennerdale, clearly pushed the striker in the penalty area and
somehow the ref missed it and waved play on.
The visitor's gained their undeserved equaliser on 75 minutes when Mathews'
long hopeful free kick eluded the home defence before Tony Cook closed in to
steer a low shot wide of Lindley.
The game was spoiled by a double sending off on 77 minutes when Darren Keeling
appeared to head-butt Cheetham who retaliated leaving the ref no alternative
but to send both of them off.
Gresley should have had all three points as Peters, Parkins and Kennerdale
all went agonisingly close in the last few minutes.
McGinlay sent on Lee Westwood, Kevin Allsop and youngster James Lewsley to
try and get the deserved win and it almost paid off when Kennerdale blazed over
from six yards after Westwood's shot had come off the post.
The Manager's view of the game.
"Although this was a patched up team we dominated for 70 minutes out of the
90 and we lapsed for about 10 minutes when they scored their goal.
"I though the players gave 100% today and were superb. They are top-of-the-table
and the way the lads played just shows we should be up there. There is not much
between us. It was a good game to watch and I though we were magnificent.
"John Allcock is not fit but wanted to play so I asked him to drop back into
defence and I thought he did a great job. He marshalled the back line superbly
because he is a good talker on the pitch, he motivated the team and they responded
to him and he is wholehearted in the way he plays. He leads by example.
"Andy Bourne I thought had a very good game bearing in mind that he only met
the lads today and had not trained with them.
"Nicky Kennerdale could easily have had a hat trick today. His pace was stretching
their defence and he is still a little rusty because the chances he had today
he would normally have put away.
"Overall I thought we were the better side and I think there is not a great
deal wrong. We have to learn to kill games off. At 1 - 0 there is still a chance
of an equaliser. At 2 - 0 it gives you a cushion.
"We adapted well today and I thought the lads at the back were superb except
for one bit of sloppy defending which gave them their un-deserved equaliser.
We should not have been caught by a long hopeful ball; we should have cut it
out.
"The attitude of all the players was very good today and has been in training.
"In the next couple of weeks we should see everyone back fit and we will continue
to improve…. and has I have just said there is not a great deal wrong."
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Clevedon Town(0) 1
Scorers: Parkins 11 (Gresley), Cook 75 (Clevedon).
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck, Cheetham, Allcock, Woolley, Middleton,
Bourne, Peters (Lewesley 89), Kennerdale, Parkins (Allsop 89), Gray (Westwood
83).
Clevedon Town: Mathews, Keeling, Thorne, Lester, Jefferies, Price, Knight,
Callinan (Clode 80), Bayliss, Cook, Badman. Subs not used: Andrews, Palmer.
Rovers
Star Man: John Allcock - asked to do a job and did it superbly.
Referee: M Lever (Wigston).
Attendance: 466
