Swindon Supermarine vs Gresley Rovers
The wonder of Woolley
'New' striker Barry Woolley proved how good he is in that position as John
McGinlay made a couple of changes in the line-up that lost so dismally against
Solihull Borough in their last match.
There was no sign of the 'giving up' attitude, which was replaced with a gritty
determination along with some fluent football not seen in the last few matches.
Woolley was asked to lead the front line by McGinlay who had been thinking
of pushing the big defender up front for some time - and what a revelation he
proved to be.
With Woolley in the attack Gresley looked a completely different side to that
of a week or so ago.
Home keeper Liam Ball make a blocking save on 4 minutes when Michael Moore
superbly turned and hit his shot goal bound and then he saved bravely at the
feet of Chris Parkins just a few minutes later.
Andy Bourne was unlucky when Marines defender Adie Roper blocked his shot on
7 minutes.
With Gresley playing crisp fluent football it was only a matter of time before
they took the lead and on 16 minutes they got their just rewards.
Woolley got his head to an Ian Bluck long ball and flicked it on superbly to
Moore who was in space on the left of the area.
He held the ball up well and then rolled a glorious ball into the path of Parkins
who put it past the keeper with ease.
Parkins could have made it two on 20 minutes when, after more good work by
Woolley and Chris Gray, he hit his shot into the side netting.
Against the run of the game the home side scared the life out of their visitors
when they reminded them that there was life in Swindon. Tate Hulbert hit a cracking
shot which had the bar shaking for sometime - thankfully the ball went out to
safety.
Swindon began to come more into the game and Hulbert again went close from
a Steve Bennett's cross but Gresley responded at the other end when Moore hit
a ball straight at the keeper after good work down the right by Parkins.
On 35 minutes Gresley doubled their lead. A goal kick by James Lindley was
flicked on by Woolley to Moore. His superb pass sent Parkins off down the right
and it was his low cross into the area that was put into the net by a sliding
Woolley who completed the move.
It looked as if the floodgates might open when first Gray, Moore, Woolley and
Parkins all went close just before the break.
On 40 minutes Chris White came into the action as a replacement for the injured
Moore who had to be carried off the field with an ankle problem.
Bluck almost scored what would have surely been the goal of the match from
a free kick when he noticed the home keeper off his line but Ball scurried back
and just managed to put the ball over the bar with the tips of his fingers.
Lindley was called on to stop the Marines from pulling a goal back right on
half time when he pushed a header from Keith Knight round the post.
Sean Cleary almost opened his account when his free kick was expertly tipped
over the bar after Paul Donnelly, on for Dominic Dunton, had scythed down White
in what was probably his first tackle.
Woolley could quite easily completed his hat trick when he shot wide and then
as he saw the home keeper collect the ball at the second attempt after he had
received a great cross from Gray.
On 73 minutes Parkins looked as if he had scored his second and Gresley's third
goal. Bourne rushed down the right flank and put in a superb whipped cross which
White hit first time but the ball was blocked by the legs of Ball in the Marine's
goal.
Woolley was first to the rebound but his shot was again blocked and as Parkins
crashed in his shot, the referee for some reason blew for an offside.
Supermarine now threw caution to the wind and brought on another striker Peter
Macklin who soon had the Gresley defence sweating.
Macklin kept Lindley on his toes when he tested him first with a header, which
the Gresley keeper knocked into the air before grabbing the ball on his line,
and then with a shot that Lindley blocked with his legs for a corner.
This was a much-improved performance and with Stuart Evans rested for the game
against Southport next week McGinlay should have been pleased with the day's
work.
The manager's view of the match
"After only scoring two goals in the last five matches we needed a different
approach and this match provided an ideal opportunity to try it.
"We had considered putting Barry as a striker for some time and when we did
it caused Swindon all kinds of problems.
"We created a lot of chances during the game and also what was pleasing was
to keep a clean sheet. James pulled of some good saves especially towards the
end of the match.
"Overall I though we deserved the victory and it was a good three points after
going through a bit of a slump."
Swindon Supermarine (0) 0
Gresley Rovers (2) 2
Scorers: Parkins 16, Woolley 35.
Swindon Supermarine: Ball, Dunton (Donnelly 45), Davis, Jennings, James,
Roper, Knight (Macklin 58), Beaverstock, Hulbert, Bennett, Blakemore. Sub not
used: Jack.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, Cheetham, Cleary (Peters 64), Woolley,
Bluck, Bourne, Fairbrother, Moore (White 40), Parkins (Westwood 82), Gray.
Rovers
Star Man: Barry Woolley - why look for another striker?
Referee: T Curtis (Bath).
Attendance: 173
