UniBond League Division One
Queensgate Stadium, Bridlington
Saturday, 23rd September 2006, 3.00pm
O'Connor Double Lifts the Moatmen
Gresley Rovers travelled up to the East Riding of Yorkshire hoping that their journey would not be in vain. The last four away fixtures have resulted in no points being added to their total but that changed at Queensgate Stadium on Saturday.
Due to continuing injury problems, manager Gary Norton made four changes to the side that narrowly lost to Eastwood Town in midweek.
Defender Sebastian Kalinowski was recalled from a loan spell with Mickleover Sports to make his first team debut partnering Matt Millns and Andy Simpson in a back three. Also making his debut was Paulo Piliero on loan from Alfreton Town.
Bridlington opened brightly and had a chance to open their account in the first minute when Danny Buttle ran on to Phil Harrison's pass but put his shot well over the bar.
Matt Millns slip allowed Jamie Barnwell to take the ball and play a quick pass to Harrison who was forced wide by the Gresley defence before firing a shot that was comfortably saved by keeper Tommy Whittle.
Gresley began to take control of the game and on 23 minutes when O'Connor turned on a pass from Shaun Ridgway firing a shot that home keeper Gavin Kelly did well to save.
A rare attempt on goal from Bridlington came minutes later when Harrison, who should have done much better, could only put his header from close in straight into Whittle's arms.
On 28 minutes Gresley took the lead when O'Connor's superbly left his marker Carl Giblin before smashing a shot that flew over Kelly and into the roof of the net.
Gresley doubled their advantage four minutes later when Steve Gomm held up Carl Slater's pass before setting up the perfect ball for Ridgway to fire home via the base of the left-hand post.
The goal fired up the visitors and they looked as if they would score with every attack. O'Connor went close but put his shot into the side netting after some good work from Barrett and Gomm. Bridlington keeper Kelly ensured that his side was still in the game at half time by producing saves from O'Connor and Piliero.
On 48 minutes Bridlington went close to cutting the deficit when Jake Wilkinson fired Drew McCoubrey's pass over the bar.
Amazingly Gresley had not had a corner until the 56th minute but it was worth waiting for. Slater's left wing kick was headed back by Millns for O'Connor to slam into the net.
Just after the hour mark Barret fired wide and minutes later Ridgway's shot was blocked. Kelly denied O'Connor the chance of a hat trick when he managed to grab a low shot at the second attempt.
On 67 minutes Millns went close to extending the lead but put his header over the bar as did Nick Guislanzini ten minutes later.
Ravi Sangha had a good chance to finish the home side off when he ran onto a slide rule pass from Ridgway but the substitute, on for O'Connor put his attempt wide with only the keeper to beat.
Manager's View
"Once we got the goal, it settled us and the size and quality of the pitch allowed us to get the ball down and get it into good areas.
"Carl (Slater) was awesome in the way he brought the ball down and Tom (Betteridge), when he came on, put the ball in good areas.
But let's not kid ourselves — there is still a lot of work to do.
"I was pleased with the three points and a clean sheet. The points are massive when you are in the position we are in."
