UniBond League Division One
Sutton Park, Quorn
Saturday, 26th April 2008, 3.00pm
Disappointing End For Rovers
Gresley Rovers ended their UniBond Division One South season with a disappointing display at Quorn.
There was a distinct end-of-season feel about the game in which the hosts were more determined to finish with a win than their visitors.
Quorn showed their intentions forcing Rovers' keeper David Clarke into an early save pushing Justin Jenkins' away after having to change direction.
Several corners put the home side in charge of the opening exchanges with Clarke again having to make a save from Russell Peel and then from the resulting corner Jenkins had a free header that he managed to put wide.
Quorn took the lead on 18 minutes when Rovers 'gifted' them a goal. Miles Chamberlain knocked the ball back for Clarke but the keeper had come off his line and the ball sailed past him and as it looked like it would slowly roll wide Peel nipped in and had the easiest of tasks to tap the ball into the open goal.
Paul White could have doubled the lead minutes later but again Clarke made a superb reaction save as the ball took a wicked deflection off a Rovers' Jordan Nadat.
Rovers had their best chance of the match when Brian Woodhall and David Blenkinsopp played a one-two in the area before Woodhall fired a low shot that struck the outside of the near post.
White was getting down the right quite easily and causing the Rovers' defence problems this time laying the ball up for Jenkins who spooned an easy chance well over the bar from close in.
The visitors' chances were few and far between with Blenkinsopp firing wide on the turn just after the half hour mark.
Quorn increased their lead seven minutes from half time when they won a corner taken by White from the right. The ball came back to Peel who lobbed a speculative high ball into the Rovers' box and although Jenkins claimed the goal, the striker was inches away from connecting with his head and the ball deceived Clarke and ended up in the net.
Three minutes later Quorn had yet another chance but Liam Hearns scuffed his shot straight into the arms of Clarke.
The second half started as the first had finished with Quorn comfortably on top. Substitute Luke Plummer had a shot blocked and the rebound fired over by Peel within minutes of the re-start.
Quorn's third goal came from more poor defending when Hearns was given far too much space to fire through the crowed area and finding the far bottom corner after Clarke had appeared to have held the shot.
Jermain Hollis, who had replaced Lee Mellon chased what appeared to be a lost cause but he managed to charge down home keeper's Nicky Scaife's kick and the rebound flew to Woodhall who's header disappointingly went wide of the open goal.
Rovers were having their best spell of the game with Blenkinsopp firing wide and Hollis having a shot blocked by Scarfe.
Quorn's final goal was as a result of more poor defending. Rovers' defence should have been aware of the long-kick over the top as the homeside had used that tactic throughout the game.
Scaife launched a long punt up field and with Rovers' defence well up the field the ball sailed over them for Jenkins to run onto and slip the ball passed Clarke.
On 73 minutes defender Dan Douglas had to be carried off the pitch with what looked like a severely twisted ankle reducing Rovers to ten men as they'd used all their substitutes.
However, Rovers did have another couple of chances to reduce the deficit with Blenkinsopp firing just wide and them when he almost capitalised on a fumble by Scaife but the keeper was just able to push the ball away from the strikers toe as he got ready to knock the ball home.
The final attempt of the game fell to Woodhall but his shot sailed well over the bar.
Manager's View
"I'm relieved the afternoon is over on that showing it was a long one wasn't it?
"I don't quite know where that came from to be honest on the back of the last few weeks and performances and all the positively around the place.
"It was a very disappointing afternoon and the players know how I feel about it but on the grand bigger picture I've had to thank them for this season's efforts.
"On and off the pitch it's been up and down but if we take today's performance first from whistle one we were second best all over the pitch.
"I think our whole performance was optimised with the manner of the first goal. We just looked lack lustre all over the park, a yard off
"Industry, creativity and work rate we didn't get near that all afternoon. It was very disappointing on the back of several positive performances but maybe that is a kick up the backside that some of the players, myself, Steve and the other coaching staff need.
"There have been a lot of good things happening recently off the pitch and a lot of players have pledged their futures here for next year which is good and perhaps that's a little yank back that we need to sort of say look we've got a lot of work to do - hell of a lot of work to do to restructure things.
"My job is to do that on the pitch and others have the responsibility to do that off it.
"The frustrating thing is that there isn't another game to go and put that right. The last time we had a defensive performance as inept as that was away at Grantham and we got a massive response after that and went on a great winning streak but it's left a disappointing taste in my mouth at the end of the season.
"There were quite good numbers from Gresley today, faces I haven't seen for a long time and they'll be going away thinking perhaps I'm not coming back again so that's not what we want to create, we want people to come back and we want people coming back through the turn styles to support us but on that showing they're not going to.
"The lads have got six or seven weeks off now but we are starting back early. I've just said to the lads - those who have committed and those we haven't had the opportunity to sit down with - we want everybody back and if they are not going to be bang at it, and if they are not going to be gearing up to give things a go and go the extra mile don't come back!
"At games like this we only want players who will roll their sleeves up and dig in and make it difficult and keep their heads, keep their composure and grind something out of the game.
"I know it's the last game of the season and I know they've been through a lot but that was not acceptable. Your season finishes when that last whistle's gone.
"I felt we've sold our supporters and the chairman and new management cheap today we sold them short.
"It's disappointing because that's the taste I take out of this season for the summer. Maybe it's the kick up the backside I need to get more focused.
"Dan (Douglas) had to go off. He's just gone over on his ankle. It's very swollen but I'm sure it's nothing major just one of those things that will take a week or two to sort.
"Defensively we were poor today and Dan wasn't on his own. The only player for me who comes out with any credit was young Andy Roberts who started the game as fullback and then he went into a wingback situation.
"He's 17-years of age and he's been playing for absolutely nothing for us. He came in to try and earn himself a deal for next year and he's been as good as he's been today he's been fairly consistent and for me he's been head and shoulders man-of-the-match today.
"Apart from him everyone else was woefully lacking. Workrate as I've said was very, very poor. Defensively Dave Clarke, who's been our only ever present this season, and I think he's in people's minds - he's in our minds- for awards at the end of the season. Perhaps if people have voted before today maybe they are looking to take their votes back.
"Credit to Dave it was just one of those things today for him. He's not on his own - he had a poor game but over the course of the season he's been magnificent for us so I'll excuse him that one today!"
