Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 4th August 2007, 3.00pm
Moatmen and Glassboys in pre-season stalemate
Rovers' manager Gary Norton used this friendly against Stourbridge to cast his eye over a few more promising triallists.
The midfield comprised of Adam Barradell and Liam Shirley with Lee Kinzett and Chris Sleath on the wings.
Young keeper Tom Allan made several match saving stops especially in the first half. However, early in the game he suffered a back injury but managed to complete the game after treatment.
Stourbridge went close to opening the scoring on 12 minutes when Danny Ludlow headed a long throw wide of the post from a good position.
Allan made the first of some superb saves just a minute later. The Glassboys' Adam Bastable slung over an inviting corner from the left, which was met by defender Nathan Bennett. The header seemed destined for the top corner but Allan acrobatically tipped the ball over the bar.
On 18 minutes Stourbridge took the lead when John Williams got the better of Rovers' defender Luke Farmer before setting up fellow striker Mark Bellingham who beat Allan with a low shot.
The visitors were well worthy of the lead and should have doubled their advantage just four minutes later. A pass from Olly O'Connell sent Ludlow racing into the box from the tackle the ball found Bellingham who's shot was well blocked by the legs of Allan.
On 24 minutes Rovers had their first chance of the half but Shirley skewed his shot wide.
Allan again came to the fore making another fine save this time from the shot of Kyle Hadley and just before the break denying Bellingham by pushing the shot round the post.
Rovers came out for the second half looking far more determined and went close early on with Paul Edwards firing over the bar and Sleath having his low shot saved by Stourbridge keeper Lewis Solly - possibly his first save of the game.
Just before the hour Rovers managed to get the ball in the net courtesy of a superbly curled free kick. However, referee Ken Wright decided the kick need to be re-taken. This time the ball went over the ball.
Allan again kept his side in the game by making another fine block on 62 minutes to deny Ludlow.
Tom Groves, who had replaced Liam Shirley, had a shot whistle just wide of the make after some good football by the home side.
Rovers got on terms on 67 minutes. Just two minutes after coming onto the field for Lee Kinsett, Bernard Finkle latched onto a fine through ball from Karl Wayte and coolly put the ball past Solly.
The Glassboys almost grabbed back the lead five minutes later after Farmer had given the ball to Tim Nicholls. The substitute then fed the ball through to Hadley who tried to chip Allan but instead put the ball straight into the keeper's arms.
John Williams for the visitors went close less than a minute later but flashed a shot on the turn just wide.
Rovers, who had looked far more dangerous since the break, almost grabbed the lead when Barradell was put though by Groves only to see Solly make the save.
With the home defence tiring Stourbridge had a couple of further chances before the end of the game with Leon Broadhurst putting a curling shot wide and and O'Connell heading into the side netting.
Manager's View
"This was a better showing than the other night in terms of effort, attitude and application.
"We've had a look at a further three triallists today who we've had in our minds to have a look at and today provided that opportunity. I thought each of those guys did something really well and have given us something to think about.
The thing that is concerning us was evident in the last fifteen minutes. We were very tired and lethargic, giving the ball away but the lads we do have concerns with got some pitch time today and some ninety minutes which they need. They've just got to make sure that when they are mentally tired they don't give the ball away.
"But, there were some positives come out of it. The disappointing thing was most of the good stuff they created in the second half came from us giving the ball away so we've got a lot of work to do there!
"Indeed, their goal came from a bit of a misjudgement from Luke Farmer who is on trial with us but overall their were more positives than negatives and possibly some of the best football patches we've played in these pre-season games to date.
"Tom Allan has done fantastic today. He's picked up a bit of a back injury up but he's played through it and but for Tom then scoreline could have been a bit different. He stood up when he needed to and he made some great blocks and saves."
