Match Photos
Gresley Rovers vs Evesham United
McGinlay secures the points
The
game was played with the end-to-end action normally associated with a cup-tie
and Gresley were first to try their luck with Ian Bluck shooting over after
35 seconds after some good work by Ryan Ford. Minutes later the ball was at
the other end with James Lindley breathing a huge sigh of relief as Guy Hadland's
free kick flew just inches wide of the post.
The ball was then at the other end only for Chris Parkins to miss-control the
ball after Ford again put in a fine centre. Then on 8 minutes Ford cleared an
Andy Smith's corner only as far as Phil Preedy whose shot was left by Lindley
and the keeper looked in horror as the ball looped towards the net only for
the bar preventing a goal.
This seesaw game again saw Gresley attacking with Andy Bourne failing to head
on target a cross by Ian Bluck and with half-time imminent Parkins first-time
shot being well saved by Darren Steadman.
Overall, Gresley had been second best to a well-organised, strong and lively
Evesham United who had complete control of the midfield during the first half,
McGinlay needed to change things for the second period.
The half time talk seemed to have an affect as Gresley looked a lot sharper
but it was the visitors who made the first attempt with Andy Hodgett putting
his free-kick just wide of Gresley's post.
On 52 minutes Parkins had a chance to open the scoring when he and Bourne had
only the keeper to beat but Parkins decided to go for goal and put the ball
wide when it would have been easier to put the ball through to Bourne who was
very well placed.
On 59 minutes McGinlay made his first change bringing on John Allcock in place
of Bluck. Allcock moved into midfield with Jake Fairbrother dropping into the
right back position.
Gresley should have had a penalty on 62 minutes when a Ford cross was headed
by Chris Gray and appeared to hit the arm of Smith but the referee, Mr Harvey,
waved play on.
On 63 minutes Evesham made a triple change to try and break the deadlock and
it almost paid off when substitute James Brown narrowly missed a chance by putting
the ball just over Lindley's bar after beating man of the match Stuart Evans.
On 65 minutes another what can only be called a bizarre piece of refereeing
at the Moat Ground occurred. Gray had put a pinpoint pass into the path of the
flying Richard Wardle and as Wardle got into the penalty area he was blatantly
bought down by the flailing arms of Steadman who then appeared to gather the
ball. The referee pointed to the spot and has Wardle received treatment Gresley
players were deciding who would take the penalty.
Then to the utter amazement of nearly everyone in the ground the referee changed
his mind and ordered Gresley to take a throw in and throw the ball back to the
Evesham keeper who had put the ball out to allow Wardle to receive treatment.
Gresley managed to keep their composure after the farcical refereeing decision
and Bourne came close when he headed over from a Parkins cross after some fine
play by Allcock and Evans came close when he put his shot over after the Evesham
defence failed to clear a Ford corner.
Then on 76 minutes Gresley made what was to be the most important substitution
of the game with McGinlay, making his first appearance this season, replacing
Paul Fletcher.
On
81 minutes Evesham came as close has they got when Lindley saved from Brown
and Barry Woolley clearing the follow up from Steve McCartan.
The game seemed to be drawing to a 0 - 0 conclusion until super sub McGinlay
was offered a chance on 94 minutes when Bourne was up ended just outside of
the area.
He placed the ball and blasted a shot through the defensive wall and past the
diving Steadman to score his first of the season.
The manager's view of the game
"It was like a cup tie today, end to end stuff.
The final ball let us down at times because we got into some good positions
but didn't pick anyone out in the box.
From a spectator's point of view it was an exciting game it was end to end
and was probably the best game we've seem here this season.
Their side is a good side no question; organised, very strong in midfield and
it was a big decision before the game whether to bring John Allcock back from
the start because I was conscious that they are a very strong side in midfield.
I thought after Tuesday I would give the boys who played Tuesday the benefit
of the doubt and give them a go, but I felt Evesham got the better of the midfield
so we had to change that.
I had a wee bit of a go at them at half time and said we needed to step up
the work rate because I didn't feel we were working as hard as we could be in
the first half.
Second half they worked harder, got closer to people and they looked sharper.
We
are on a bit of a run. As I have said before it's winning games that gives you
confidence. We've go Sat - Tues - Sat, nine points in a week and I can't ask
anymore of them because what I've asked them to do they have done.
I feel we have the basis of a good squad but we are still looking for a striker
because we feel we still need someone up front.
I am pleased for the boys; they worked hard, they have come in this week and
trained hard, they've looked sharp in training and you can tell they're all
on their toes. They've got a spring in their step and that's because we've won
a couple of games and it shows the difference in the club and probably for the
supporters as well; it's a big difference because they're smiling for a change.
With regards to the goal they had had a couple of crosses into the box, which
were quite dangerous, and the game was swinging this way and that. Then we got
the free kick on the edge of the box and I just gave it a go and it went in.
As they say if you don't buy a raffle ticket you won't win the prize. Perhaps
if I had hit it well the keeper would have saved it.
With the penalty appeal it appeared that the ref pointed to the spot after
their keeper had bought down our boy and after the treatment for the injury
the ref gave a throw in.
A few of their players said that the ref had said sorry I made a mistake. I
don't know whether he said that or not.
Thankfully it's not a talking point, it doesn't matter now. The only difference
it would have made was that we would have won 2 - 0!
I am pleased for the boys. Like I have said they have worked hard and battled
for each other and there is a good spirit in the dressing room.
Stuart Evans had a good game. The last few games he's played he has been our
rock at the back and I also thought Jake Fairbrother was outstanding both in
the middle of the park and when he went to right back.
But I think it was a performance where you can't single out any of the players,
they all worked hard, even the players that maybe did not do so much on the
ball were back filling in and working hard and helping their team mates out.
From the keeper through the whole team, they have done everything they needed
to do.
Evesham were in the top three and they are a good side. Their side has been
together longer than we have. They have only had a couple of new players in;
not as many as we have. We are still gelling together.
This is a big month for us because we've got quite a few teams to play who
are at the top but the only way we are going towards the top is by taking points
off them."
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Evesham United (0) 0
Scorer: McGinlay 90
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Bluck (Allcock 59), Wardle, Fairbrother, Woolley,
Evans, Bourne, Fletcher (McGinlay 76), Ford, Parkins, Gray (Moran 83).
Evesham United: Steadman, Smith, Wolsey, Parmenter (Pendleton 63), Powell,
Lutz (McCartan 63), Hadland, Taylor, Roberts, Hodgetts (Brown 63), Preedy.
Rovers
Star Man: Stuart Evans - Another superb performance.
Referee: C Henry (Northants)
Attendance: 370
