Sutton Coldfield Town vs Gresley Rovers
Unbeaten run ends
John McGinlay said before Saturday's game at Sutton Coldfield Town that a test
of a side's strength is the way they bounce back after a defeat. Gresley had
gone 10 games unbeaten before the Sutton match and must now show their manager
that they can regain the form that had moved them up the table and which gave
John McGinlay his first manager of the month award.
Former Rovers' manager Brian Kenning is now assistant manager of Sutton Coldfield
and the side included former Rovers players Richard Gardner and newly signed
Neil Kitching.
It was the home side that took the lead on 15 minutes when Ian Bennett put
a through ball to Gardner who found Dominic Reece. Reece steadied himself and
put the ball wide of James Lindley and into the net.
Gresley then had their turn to make an impact with Andy Bourne putting the
ball over the bar after Barry Woolley had nodded on a cross by Chris Gray.
Bennett, who recently joined Sutton from Bilston, was again a threat to the
Gresley defence when along with Kevin Jones he laid on a ball to Tim Steele
whose first time shot was superbly turned round the post by the alert Lindley.
On 36 minutes Gresley missed their best chance of an equaliser when Chris Parkins
headed straight into the arms of Royals keeper Justin Bray after good work by
Woolley and Ryan Ford.
Bourne went close when he also hit the ball straight into the arms of Bray
after a free kick by Ian Bluck had deceived the home defence.
In the early stages of the second half Gresley began to apply pressure and
their deserved equaliser came on 54 minutes.
Steve Farmer, who received a yellow card for his indiscretion, had obstructed
Jake Fairbrother. Ford took the resultant free kick and it was Fairbrother who
got his revenge by scoring.
Gresley continued to press and where caught by a classic breakaway on 58 minutes.
Reece galloped down the left and put in a fine cross into the area. The unfortunate
Ian Bluck in attempt to clear scored what was his second own goal of the campaign
past the helpless Lindley.
On 75 minutes The Royals should have extended their lead when Jones got by
Woolley only to put his shot straight at Lindley.
John McGinlay and Mark Peters came on in place of Chris Gray and Lee Westwood
and seemed to spark Gresley's determination in getting an equaliser.
However, another piece of dismal defending on 84 minutes allowed Sutton to
make sure of maximum points.
The impressive Reece again broke clear of Ford and delivered an inch perfect
cross, which Andy Cheetham appeared to leave to his keeper. Lindley stayed were
he was and Kitching took great delight in nodding the easy header into the net.
On a glue-pot of a pitch it was the determination of the home side and also
the loss of the influential Stuart Evans in defence that proved the difference
between the teams.
The manager's view of the game
"That was a poor game for us, especially the first half. I had a bit of a go
at them at half time, which I shouldn't have to do.
"Ian Bluck's own goal came from their first attack of the second half and it
changed the whole game. We had got ourselves level and I thought we started
quite brightly after the interval.
"We've now got to bounce back and we have a game on Wednesday that will enable
us to start another run."
Gresley Rovers: (0) 1
Scorers: Reece 15, Bluck 58 (og), Kitching 84 (Sutton Coldfield Town);
Fairbrother 54 (Gresley Rovers).
Sutton Coldfield Town: Bray, Moran, Reece, Manton, Farmer, Bailey, Jones,
Steele, Kitching (Davies 90), Bennett, Gardiner (Whitehouse 53). Sub not used:
Randall.
Gresley Rovers: Lindley, Wardle, Cheetham, Westwood (Peters 77), Woolley,
Bluck, Fairbrother, Ford, Parkins, Gray (McGinlay 77). Sub not used: Fletcher.
Rovers
Star Man: Jake Fairbrother - another good performance.
Referee: D Harris (Stroud).
Attendance: 177
