UniBond League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 19th April 2008, 3.00pm
Bay's Hopes Dented By Rovers
Gresley Rovers played hosts for their final home game of this season to Colwyn Bay who had designs on grabbing a play-off place.
Once again a stiff wind was blowing across the pitch as the game began with Rovers on the attack.
The first chance fell to the home side with Brian Woodhall collecting the ball just inside the area but his shot lacked power and went straight into the arms of Bay's keeper Jamie Speare.
Bay hit back minutes later when Anthony Wright hit a shot on the turn that went just wide of the far post.
On 16 minutes David Blenkinsopp, back in the team after missing the last six games due to a foot injury, pounced on a loose ball after Paul Williams had only half cleared with a header.
The striker fired a cross into the box where Stefan Marshall was only inches away from connecting with it.
Bay went close to grabbing the lead 7 minutes later when a cross from Joe Fowler picked out Mark Quayle but his volley went wide of the target.
Again the visitors pressed forward as Bay were having their best spell of the game and Lee Hoolikin made his way into the box but his shot was headed away by home Rovers' defender Miles Chamberlain.
At the other end a long throw from Chamberlain to Marshall but the strikers shot hit a defender and bounced away.
Rovers' keeper David Clarke produced a superb save to deny Chris Taylor who had performed a perfect scissor kick to hammer the ball goalwards but Clarke was equal to the task holding onto the shot low down to his right.
On 38 minutes Rovers had their chance to take the lead when a corner from the left by Gavin Saunders was cleared as far as Woodhall on the edge of the area. He carefully laid the ball back for Jordan Nadat and the youngster was unfortunate to see his shot go agonisingly wide.
Manager Gary Norton made a change at the break bringing on Shaun Ridgway for Marshall and he was soon chasing down every ball.
On 57 minutes Ridgway pushed the ball forward for Nadat whose low shot was held by Speare
Rovers were comfortably the better side in the second half and should have got the goal their endeavours deserved.
On 66 minutes Woodhall had made a great run into the area but was hacked down by Paul Williams with the referee Mr Smith having no option but to point to the spot. Tom Groves chose to take the kick and although he struck the ball well beating Spear his effort crashed against the underside of the bar and away from danger.
Blenkinsopp went close to opening the scoring four minutes later when Woodhall sent him through in on goal but Speare did well to block the shot.
Rovers didn't have long to wait because on 72 minutes they were in front. Nadat played a corner from the right to Ridgway whose inviting cross was headed powerfully home by Dan Douglas for his second goal of the campaign.
As could have been expected Bay hit back almost immediately. They were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area and Lee Hoolikin found Paul Williams on the far post but Clarke's quick reactions blocked the effort.
On 82 minutes Blenkinsopp almost doubled the advantage when he was put through from a long ball. Speare was quickly off his line but the striker beat him to the ball just outside the area and stabbed the ball past the keeper but also wide of the post.
Clarke was in action twice more at the end of the match diving bravely at the feet of Adam Wade as the substitute made a dangerous run on goal and then tipping Hoolikin's free kick over the bar.
Rovers hung on to what were in the end three very deserved points.
Manager's View
"I'm really pleased with the performance particularly the second half as the first half was a scrappy affair.
"On the second half performance I thought we just edged it and maybe deserved the win and we missed a penalty as well.
"Their bench had the opinion that it was a little harsh but there was definite contact there and obviously Brian's (Woodhall) managed to get the wrong side of the defender and he's gone down under a little bit of pressure.
"But we took that on the chin and Grovesy (Tom Groves) to be fair has made up for it. He chased a lost cause that I would question whether he would normally do that but he wanted to amend the penalty miss and he's forced a corner.
"Something we've been trying to work on - Shaun Ridgway peeling off un-noticed and he's actually slung a cracking cross in and a brilliant header from Dan Douglas.
"I'm really pleased with the three points and pleased for the supporters that hopefully one or two of them have gone away with one or two positives things for next year.
"It's a totally different atmosphere around the place and from the moment I set foot in the ground there's a different buzz and vibe about the place and obviously that's down to the new people coming in.
"Obviously we are not naïve enough to think that things are going to be fixed over night, there's a lot to sort out but the guys coming in have got the bit between their teeth and are well up for the challenge.
"They are being open and honest and I think the players have responded to that as well. Certainly the level of performance has been absolutely different and that's down to the players first and foremost but also sometimes when there are some positive things happening behind the scenes.
"Andy Roberts, who's signed for next season, has showed again today that he's more than capable and going to be a good asset for us potentially in the team.
"David Clarke was magnificent today and probably ran Dan Douglas close to man-of-the-match. Having said that he didn't have a massive amount to do but there were one or two big moments he made a couple of really, really good saves at key times during the game and he's got his mates out of the mire when Hoody (Jamie Hood) gave away a cheap free kick right at the death.
"Hoody said it was going over but Dave says he owes him a pint because Dave tipped it onto the bar and we managed to hang on.
"We were a little frustrated with Jordan (Nadat) in the first half because as good as he was going forward we had some problems defensively. We experimented with Brian (Woodall) on the right and Jordan on the left and they were both very good going forward but defensively they got a bit of work to do.
"Second half I thought he had a bit more balanced performance more of a disciplined performance from him and it restricted him going forward and getting at people. Jordan's a decent find and he's one that's certainly in our thoughts if we are able to secure him for next year.
"There are a lot of scouts watching him at the moment but he's doing well at the minute and he's learning very well holding that left hand side in the last three or four games. He's very young and a bit naïve at times but what an opportunity for him to learn.
