Gloucester City vs Gresley Rovers
Bayliss at the double
It wasn't until 11.30 am that Gresley knew they had a game. The pitch had been
subject to an inspection and given the go ahead late Saturday morning.
John McGinlay was forced into making changes to his team. Ian Bluck was out
with an injured ankle, Mark Peters was suspended, Stuart Evans still not recovered
from an ankle injury and Chris Parkins not available due to work commitments.
John Allcock was on the bench after recovering from the flu and new signing
Michael Moore made his Gresley debut partnering Andy Bourne.
It was the home side that made all the early running and it was only the form
of Gresley keeper James Lindley that stopped the home side from taking an early
lead.
On 20 minutes he had to be alert to a terrific long-range effort by Steve Jenkins
pushing the shot round the post for a corner. Jake Fairbrother made a poor attempt
of a clearance and the ball was volleyed back by Andy Hoskins and Lindley did
well to tip the ball over.
The resultant corner produced another chance for Hoskins but this time it was
Westwood who saved the Moatmen on the line.
Then against the run of the game Gresley took the lead. Chris Gray started
the move with a fine run down the left found Lee Westwood who in turn resisted
two challenges as he ran into the penalty area. Moore was waiting unmarked at
the far post and Westwood found him with a cross and the debutant striker's
shot was blocked by Tiger's keeper, Matthew Bush, but through a crowd of defenders
Moore knocked in the rebound on 30 minutes.
Gloucester almost equalised immediately when a Jenkins corner resulted in a
shot by Neil Griffiths which was again cleared off the line this time it was
Richard Wardle who saved Gresley.
At the interval McGinlay was replaced by another Gresley debutant, teenage
striker Chris White. And the second half had only just got going when the Tiger's
pressure paid off.
On 46 minutes they were level. Ryan Ford had been harshly adjudged to have
fouled Tom Webb who was going away from the goal and on the bye line.
Lindley pulled off a tremendous save from Karl Bayliss and as Hoskins attempted
to get the rebound the referee noticed his assistant flagging. After a conversation
between the two the referee again pointed at the spot after apparently Andy
Cheetham's mysterious and largely unseen push on Luke Prince. In the melee that
followed both Gray and Hoskins were booked.
This time Lindley could do nothing to prevent Bayliss scoring from the spot.
Gresley seemed to loose heart after the goal and could easily have found themselves
behind only 5 minutes later.
The impressive Lindley made a superb save to deny Bayliss a certain headed goal
by tipping the ball over his bar.
It was only a matter of time before the constant Tiger's pressure enabled the
home side to take the lead. On 60 minutes a Prince cross from the left found
the head of Bayliss who powered home a terrific header at the far post
On 64 minutes John Allcock was brought on in place of Gray and Gresley began
to get back into the match.
With only six minutes to go Bourne could have salvaged Gresley a point when
he had only the home keeper to beat after being put through by a superb pass
by White but could only put his shot disappointingly wide.
The manager's view of the match.
"I don't think we deserved to get anything out of the game but I thought the
penalties were a bit harsh. Their lad went down like a sack of spuds to be honest
when he was going nowhere and the second one apparently for a push by Andy Cheetham.
"Overall I thought the officials had a poor game, but every non-league manager
probably says that on a Saturday afternoon.
"I was not happy with our indiscipline. I had a bit of a go at them because
it showed today and I think it went a long way towards us losing the game. I
don't like to see players running up and arguing with the officials because
the players then lose their concentration and we lose shape.
"That's why I took Chris Gray off, but then you end up wasting a substitution.
I thought James Lindley had a good game and I'm pleased with how Michael Moore
and Chris White played.
"Michael took his goal well and I though he did well considering he is not
quite match fit and I thought Chris White looked lively with some nice touches."
Gloucester City (0) 2
Gresley Rovers (1) 1
Scorers: Bayliss 46 pen, 61 (Gloucester City): Moore 30 (Gresley Rovers).
Gloucester City: Bath Webb (Smith 81), Prince, Griffiths, Steadman,
McClusky, Burns, Jenkins, Bayliss, Hoskins, Wilkinson. Subs not used: Delves,
Cook.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, Cheetham, McGinlay (White 45), Woolley,
Westwood (Fletcher 84), Bourne, Fairbrother, Ford, Moore, Gray (Allcock 64).
Rovers
Star Man: James Lindley - kept score down.
Referee: R Davies (Brise Norton).
Attendance: 239
