UniBond Presidents Cup Semi-Final
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 20th February 2007, 7.45pm
Cup of woe for Rovers
Gresley Rovers dismal home record continued against third from bottom of the league Wakefield in the semi-final of the Presidents Cup.
In front of a meagre crowd Rovers slumped to their fourth straight defeat with their last home win coming against Shepshed Dynamo on 1st January.
Manager Gary Norton made a few changes from Saturday with Carl Slater handed the captain's arm band because of Colin Hoyles' absence due to an ankle injury and Shaun Ridgway and Liam Hebberd replaced Andy Simpson and Ravi Sangha respectively.
Rovers made the early running with Hebberd testing the resolve of Wakefield keeper Andy Woods with a low shot that was well held.
After a series of corners Rovers almost took the lead on 25 minutes but it was the result of visiting skipper Niall O'Brien almost heading Hebberd's cross into his own net with Woods beaten.
Two minutes later Rovers were again almost the authors or their own downfall when a poor clearance by keeper Tom Whittle followed up with one almost as bad from Matt Millns resulted in the ball falling at the feet of Ben Hardy who let fly a long-range shot that was only just wide of the mark.
Hebberd then went close at the other end when he failed to connect with a Barry Woolley header before the keeper managed to grab the ball.
On 31 minutes Whittle did well to smother the ball at the second attempt as Steve Kenworthy tried to capitalise on his blocked shot.
Karl Brown was inches away from connecting with a fine Hebberd cross but Declan Normanschild cleared just in time.
A fine ball from Kenworthy on 37 minutes put Ben Hardy one-on-one with Whittle but the Rovers keeper kept calm and produced a fine block to deny the striker.
Once again Rovers were denied what looked a clear penalty a minute later when Paul Edwards was tripped by Normanschild in the area. The assistant linesman initially put his flag across his chest indicating a penalty by when referee Mr McIntosh, who was yards behind the play, waved play on the assistant put the flag back down by his side much to the annoyance of the players and supporters.
The last action of the first half came with a long-range shot from Ridgway whistling past the far post.
Rovers took the lead on 61 minutes from a set piece. Ridgway slung a free kick from just inside the Wakefield half straight onto the head of Millns who powered his header into the net.
Wakefield hit back six minutes later with Hardy smashing a shot just wide of an upright. However, they didn't have long to wait to get back on terms and again it was as a result of some poor Rovers defending.
A long throw from the right was flicked on by O'Brien and Whittle seem to lose the flight of the ball but Kenworthy was on hand to scramble the ball into the net at the far post.
It was nothing less than Wakefield deserved because of their hard working endeavour was a notch higher than the home side.
On 71 minutes Edwards had a shot blocked for a corner that Woolley headed wide and then two minutes later Hebberd combined well with Slater but the striker's final goal bound shot was deflected for a corner.
Wakefield's winner came on 81 minutes and poor defending from the home side was again a helping hand. Another long throw was only half cleared as far as Kenworthy who thumped home a terrific volley from the edge of the area and into the net with the aid of a post.
Rovers went close to equalising almost on the final whistle when Millns headed Ridgway's corner from the right fractionally over the bar.
Manager's View
"I can't take any positives out of that game whatsoever. We've thrown a great opportunity away to dig ourselves out of the hole we are in and give ourselves something to play for at the end of the season and we've done it again on our patch.
"Belper must be rubbing their hands looking forward to Saturday and the other two teams that are due to come here as well, Matlock and Eastwood. They must be eager to come to the Moat Ground - we are an easy touch here.
"When we took the lead we lost concentration at key times and two sloppy goals from set plays. The first a long throw in - you don't win every header but the guy has won the header and the ball as gone straight across our box and someone has gambled at the far post and got ahead of his marker.
"The second goal it was a corner tossed in and we were all at sixes and sevens nobody's doing their job or other people are having to do other people's jobs and these two guys, one on the edge and one six yards from goal completely unmarked and the guy's struck it well and it's gone in off the post I think two very cheap goals.
"We struggled to create things ourselves to be honest. We had some half decent shots but they were straight down the keeper's throat.
"When we edged in front it was really without much craft or much guile we just managed to strength one out. We hadn't caused too many problems before that.
"We did say at halftime if we were going to concede or lose the game it was going to be through lack of concentration or individual errors and so it proved - very disappointed.
"Confidence is very low in the dressing room (it's also very low in my house as well!) for some unknown reason because with just one exception it's the same group of players who took us on a great run to get us back on the fringe of things earlier in the season. We were in a similar hole and we had to go out and get some new players in to get us out of it and that's what we'll be doing. We will get somebody in for Saturday even if I have to go and get some of the kids out of the youth team who would show me more effort and determination than some of the players on show tonight!"
