UniBond League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 25th August 2007, 3.00pm
Rovers Shake The Lairds
Gresley Rovers produced another late show to grab all three points from early title favourites Cammell Laid with two goals in the final 13 minutes.
Lairds started off the brighter of the two teams with Carl Osman testing Rovers keeper with a fierce shot from 20 yards that David Clarke did well to tip over the bar.
A minute later Rovers carved out a chance when Tom Groves' low cross found David Brown who's shot took a deflection and away for a corner. Adam Barradell took the resulting flag kick but Karl Wayte could only put his header over.
Rovers were still pressing and went close moments later when Brown picked up on a slip by Laird's defence but fired straight at the keeper Steve Croudson.
John Corrigan then had the chance to increase the Lairds' lead when he picked the ball up looking yards offside. He ran on towards goal with the Rovers defence waiting for the whistle before putting his shot well over the bar - he should have done much, much better.
Lairds took the lead on 33 minutes when a quick thrown in found Gary Jensen just outside the area on the right who, with the Rovers defence standing off, turned and smashed home a shot into the top corner giving Clarke no chance.
Four minutes later Osman should have increased the visitors' lead when he was put through by Jensen only to see his shot expertly finger-tipped over the bar by Clarke.
On 40 minutes another good move from deep in defence saw Chris Mawbey pick out Nick Carter on the left of midfield who in turn found Barradell just inside the area. Barradell controlled the ball before hitting a shot that was well blocked by Croudson.
Minutes after the re-start Corrigan made a fine run in on goal only to find Clarke in fine form saving superbly.
Corrigan had another chance moments later. Another good move from Lairds promised much but after a great run by Alex Hay, Corrigan could only fire the pass well over the bar.
On 74 minutes Rovers went close to levelling when substitute Paul Edwards flicked on Jamie Hood's throw to Groves but the shot went wide.
However, three minutes later Rovers did level the scores. Carter's ball down the left found Groves who made a good run into the Lairds' half before sending over a high cross. Croudson looked to have snuffed out the danger but allowed the ball to squirm through his grasp for Edwards to slot home at the far post.
Things got even worse for the visitors. After levelling the scores, by a gift from the keeper, Rovers took the lead in even more bizarre circumstances.
On 80 minutes defender John Collins tried to roll his back pass to Croudson but inexplicably put the ball so wide of his keeper leaving him completely stranded. The ball was picked up by Chris Sleath who gleefully slotted the ball into the empty net.
Manager's View
"Contrasting performances - the first half an hour we played some really good stuff we've got three or four decent opportunities a couple of half opportunities and I think we matched Cammell Laird.
"We've had the little drinks break and after that we didn't get anywhere near them. A similar theme in the second half disappointingly as an attacking threat we really didn't create too much.
"There were a couple of really good opportunities from cross balls. Tom Groves incidentally as put two or three maybe four or five if you consider the ones in the first half, absolutely fantastic crosses over and unfortunately we haven't been able to get anything out of them.
"As an attacking outlet second half we really didn't create. Cammell Laird's movement at times looked like they'd got an extra man or two on the pitch. Some of their football was great but defensively the lads held firm. I don't remember Dave Clarke having too many saves to make second half.
"He made two cracking saves plucking ones out of his top corner in the first half that pretty much kept us in the game.
"But if you keep working hard this squad has got endeavour - we lack quality in certain things and we are learning in other things and obviously we've still got a number of players to come back into the fold and we managed to win the game two-one.
"We've earned our luck - yes a bit of misfortune in terms of their goalkeeper handing a couple of goals on a plate to us there and a mix-up for the last goal but we'll take that all day long - yes dead pleased really.
"To be fair they (Laird) probably feel they've thrown three points away. I feel we deserved a point against Shepshed despite what their camp feels, but if I said we deserved a point today to be honest it would have been with a little tongue in cheek.
"The opening half hour was a long time away and I said to the guys at half time you get nothing for playing well in patches of games and to be fair we only competed for forty minutes in that game anywhere near the standard we want to. But we've come out with three points and we'll take that as a bit of luck. We've now got six points out with two home wins on the back of barely deserving one point but we'll take it.
"We've rode our luck and we are not going to go on a big run riding our luck like we are but the fortunate thing is that we've got players coming back, players of quality. It was a big signing this week getting David Blenkinsopp on board, Paul Edwards has stepped back onto the pitch for the first time this season and has got a goal. We need to build on that. So there is quality there.
"The guys who have played the opening three games - some of the younger ones have learned a hell of a lot and it'll stand them in good stead and one or two have stepped up to the plate and have given us food for thought so it all bodes well for the future."
