UniBond League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 29th December 2007, 3.00pm
Rovers Hang On For The Points
Gresley Rovers made the best start possible as they stormed into a three goal lead with just 14 minutes on the clock.
Rovers took the lead on three minutes when Jordan Lambert picked up a clearance from the Kidsgrove defence. The midfielder hit a first time shot from 25 yards that flew past the surprised keeper James Coates and into the top far corner of the net.
Five minutes later things got even better for the home side when Lambert found David Blenkinsopp who in turn laid the ball back for Shaun Ridgway to hammer a long-range shot that took a wicked deflection completely wrong footing Coates.
Two goals in eight minutes was nice but Rovers added a third on 14 minutes to the delight of the home supporters. Ridgway slung over a corner from the left that was only cleared as far as Chris Sleath who also hit a terrific long-range shot that clattered the underside of the bar and bounced out but Blenkinsopp was on hand to coolly slot the rebound home.
Kidsgrove looked shell-shocked and only made their first real chance of the half so far on 30 minutes. Michael Lennon found himself in on goal bit with only Rovers keeper David Clarke to be blazed his shot well over the bar.
Blenkinsopp went close to adding to his tally heading Ridgway's corner over the bar and Lambert tried his luck again from distance but this time his effort went over.
Kidsgrove had nothing to lose and as was expected they came out with all guns blazing taking the game to Rovers.
Lennon went close almost from the whistle putting a shot fractionally wide but on 53 minutes his aim was on target. The striker superbly turned Leigh Platnauer on the edge of the box and fired a low shot past Clarke into the bottom corner.
Rovers almost restored their three goal lead when Blenkinsopp picked out Tom Groves just inside the area who hit a shot that Coates did well to parry at his near post.
A fast break saw the action go to the opposite end where Clarke made the save of the game diving full length to his right to push Lennon's goal bound shot away from the top corner of his net.
Kidsgrove closed the gap further on 64 minutes when Lambert handled in his own area. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot and Richard Eyre slammed the penalty kick home despite Clarke getting a hand to the ball.
Groves went close when he made a good run down the left before sending in a shot that skimmed off the top of the bar.
Stefan Marshall then did well getting himself into the area and from the left he send a low cross that just needed a touch to poke the ball home. Unfortunately, Sleath arrived just too late to capitalise.
With just three minutes remaining Kidsgrove almost grabbed an equaliser when Wayne Brotherton headed a free kick on target but Platnauer was on hand to clear the danger.
Sleath was unlucky not to have got on the score sheet right on the final whistle. Marshall made another good run down the right before laying the ball on to Groves who in turn picked out Sleath who hit a first time shot that slammed against the upright and away for a goal kick.
Manager's View
"It was a game of two halves. I thought three-nil up after fourteen minutes and second half hanging on that's football at the end of the day.
"It's always difficult when you take an early lead like that - three goals - and we have a little bit of a lull they get one and all of a sudden psychologically you are under pressure but all credit to the lads for seeing it through in the end.
"They showed tremendous character, I thought, second half. It was very difficult and they showed a little bit of team spirit and grit and in the end it got us three points.
"We were absolutely delighted at half time. That's five games unbeaten - today it's gone in another day they didn't go in but as long as we keep working hard and creating the chances we will always give ourselves a chance. Absolutely delighted.
"It's difficult to give a team talk when you are three-nil up. Do you sit in and try and defend it or do you go forward and go at it because psychologically it was if we'd have won the game.
"Second half we didn't start to be fair. The basics we'd been doing in the last five games to get on this run we didn't do. We didn't pick the first ball, the second ball up. No one was talking and organising and all of a sudden we have a problem even though we are still winning the game.
"To be fair to them (Kidsgrove) they are a good side. Lennon's movement up front was good and they are not in the right position in the league because they are a better side than what their position says.
"Fair play to them they come at us and made it difficult for us but all credit to our lads because we could have easily gone and lost that game but we dug in and it was always going to be difficult because of the wind but it's a massive three points for us and I'm absolutely delighted."
