UniBond League Division One
Victory Park, Chorley
Saturday, 10th March 2007, 3.00pm
No win at Victory Park
Gresley Rovers manager Gary Norton was forced into making a change to his back line when central defender Barry Woolley succumbed to illness just before the start of the match at Victory Park.
Striker Paul Edwards was drafted into defence alongside Matt Millns as skipper Colin Hoyle had missed the trip due to injury.
Rovers almost took an early lead when on 3 minutes when Sam Litchfield laid the ball back for Carl Slater but he fired his first time shot wide.
On 10 minutes Litchfield went close himself when he latched onto a poor headed clearance by James Mullineux but the volley was well held by Chorley keeper Phil Priestley.
Chorley wasted a golden chance just two minutes later when Edwards' poor header back to his keeper David Clarke was pounced upon by Adam Roscoe who should have done much better but put his shot straight at Clarke.
The home fans didn't have long to wait for a goal because on 14 minutes they took the lead. Jordan Goodeve's low free-kick hit Edwards and fortunately landed at the feet of striker Dave Moore, who gave Clarke no chance as he hammered his shot into the roof of the net from close range.
On 23 minutes Rovers thought they'd got back on terms when Slater hit a low shot that Priestly spilled and Karl Brown followed up to stick the ball into the net only for his effort to be wiped out for offside.
Chorley doubled their advantage three minutes later when a long high hopeful ball from Greg Traynor deceived Rovers full back Nicky Carter and fell nicely for Roscoe who then expertly lobbed the ball into the net over the stranded Clarke.
Rovers' nightmare continued just three minutes on. Another long high ball into the area saw Carter bring down Roscoe and the referee had no choice but to point to the spot. Roscoe took the kick and sent Clarke the wrong way for number three.
Chorley were running through the Rovers' defence with ease and another big defeat looked on the cards as the home side threatened to bag a couple more before the break.
On 37 minutes Moore managed to get the better of Carter before firing a shot at Clarke that the keeper had to take at the second attempt. Two minutes later Clarke pulled off a great save to deny Goodeve by tipping his shot round the post.
Chorley came out looking for more goals and continued to pile on the agony for their visitors going close within a few minute of the second half starting.
Sheppard was the first to go close curling a shot just wide and then Roscoe putting a shot wide with Moore almost getting on the end of it.
On 55 minutes Rovers did pull a goal back. Shaun Ridgway's free kick found Matt Millns who prodded the ball past Priestly and into the far corner of the net.
Almost from the re-start Chorley went close to scoring when Moore's shot clipped Edwards but thankfully bounced off the top of the bar and to safety.
On 62 minutes Rovers had the chance to reduce the arrears. Litchfield flicked the ball on to strike partner David Blenkinsopp, but Priestley blocked his shot before gathering the follow-up.
Norton brought on Liam Hebberd in place of Dan Douglas for the final twenty minutes or so as he looked to push for further goals but Chorley stood firm and comfortably held out for the rest of the game with Rovers never looking threatening.
Manager's View
"We found ourselves three-nil down away from home after giving goals away. Chorley must have thought all their Christmases, birthdays and bar mitzvahs had come at once.
"Yes, we had been forced into fielding an experimental defence, but there was no excuse for the way we gave the goals away.
"The first goal came from a cheap free-kick when Nick Carter tried to pinch a header and yes, they had a bit of luck with the deflection, but we didn't react, we just stood still.
"The second goal, we were not tight enough in midfield, Carl Slater in particular as their 11 (Goodeve) was running the show.
"We got done by a route one ball and then Nick Carter was climbing all over their guy for the penalty.
"At three-nil down, we have given ourselves a mountain to climb.
"It was a much-improved second half, but that is not enough for me. You can't just play for 45 minutes and expect to get results. And why does it take us to be 3-0 down before we get a reaction?
"We have not been good enough this season and the difference between where we are and the play-off places is mental toughness and consistency."
