UniBond League Division One South
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 25th October 2008, 3.00pm
Rovers TipToe Through The Tulips
Gresley Rovers put on a great show at the Moat Ground despite the damp and dismal weather.
Nearly everything they tried came off and in all honesty the winning margin could have been by two or three more as the home side put the Tulips to the sword.
Striker Louis Briscoe was added to the side after completing his three game ban and added the extra cutting edge Rovers had been looking for, for the past few matches.
Rovers had a decent shout for a penalty after just ten minutes after Briscoe's ball in from the right appeared to be handled by Steve Julian in the box as he attempted to put the ball out for a corner but the referee Mr Robertson turned away the appeals.
Jamie Hood took a quick throw in catching the Tulips out after they thought they'd won the throw. His ball to David Blenkinsopp resulted in a shot that was only half cleared as far as Briscoe who hit a first time shot that Julian managed to block at the far post.
Spalding had a very rare attempt just minutes later when David French's free kick was cleared by Barry Woolley but only to Luke Kennedy but the final shot blazed well over the bar.
On 26 minutes Jamie Barrett went close hitting a long-range effort just wide and five minutes later a free kick by Hood picked out Brian Woodall but he placed his header wide.
Rovers took a deserved lead on 35 minutes. A long goal kick by Rovers' keeper Lee Evans found Blenkinsopp up in the right corner who in turn laid the ball back to Miles Chamberlain. Barrett diving full length met his cross and the midfielder glanced his header past the helpless Luke McShane.
Three minutes later Rovers almost doubled their advantage when Blenkinsopp curled a superb attempt just past the far post.
However, the second goal wasn't long in coming when Briscoe played an inviting pass to Luke Edwards who smashed a 20 yard screamer into the top corner leaving McShane a mere spectator.
Rovers continued to press forward and went inches away from increasing the lead when Barrett's shot flew past the far post within two minutes of the re-start.
Sixty seconds later they did increase their lead. Briscoe took advantage of some poor Spalding defending smashing in a low shot on the turn into the far corner.
Rovers were well in control and it looked just a matter of time before a fourth goal arrived and it duly did just before the hour mark.
Awarded a corner Woodall swung in a great ball that the visitors failed to deal with and defender Woolley was on hand to volley the ball into the net from just inside the area.
Rovers looked like scoring with every attack. The home supporters were hoping that Moat Ground favourite would get on the score sheet and Blenkinsopp almost obliged on 67 minutes latching onto a fine through ball from substitute Tom Liversage but his shot went straight at McShane.
With only five minutes remaining Briscoe almost grabbed himself a second goal when he left his two markers and hit a shot that McShane did well to block at his near post.
To everyone's pleasure Blenkinsopp got the goal his tireless efforts had deserved. A superb through ball from Briscoe sent the striker on his way and after shaking off the attention of Andrew Stanhope coolly slipped a shot past the advancing McShane to complete a thoroughly comprehensive drubbing of their visitors.
Manager's View
"There's a huge weight lifted off our shoulders and we're going to enjoy that tonight as it's been a long time in coming.
"I've said to the players and the press that before long we're going to give somebody a good hiding and the only disappointing thing was that we didn't capitalise on it because if we'd have carried on turning the screw in the second half I felt as though we could have got more but if I'm honest I have took a one-nil and three points but it was a big blessing to get some goals as well.
"This was a stylish win but I'd settle for an ugly win every week if it gets us up that table.
"It's nice today because we started off the game well. Anthony (Hemmings) is normally very confident before a game but I'm a little more of a pessimist and with this run of late even Ant was nervous because you just don't know what you're going to get.
"We're not going to get carried away with that performance but we are delighted for the lads because we've taken some slating between us over the last few weeks.
"We haven't had the best of luck but today we've played very, very well and scored some nice goals and we got a very welcome three points and a clean sheet as well which is something we've been desperate for because all the work we've done on the training pitch as been based on organisational work.
"We've had bits of luck but you earn your luck in games and there's been plenty of games where we haven't had that luck so today we're pleased with it.
"We got the goal at the end but up to that point it was a good healthy score and then we got David Blenkinsopp on the scoresheet which was ironic because the goalkeeping coach had asked when was the last time we won a game as convincingly without David on the scoresheet and that's testament to the players we had out on the pitch.
"I thought Louis Briscoe was absolutely superb today. Perhaps he was a little too unselfish at times. Before today him and David had only spent seventy minutes on the pitch together and I was desperate to get them out there today and they've got ninety minutes under their belts.
"You could see there is an understanding between them, a developing understanding between them. David hasn't had the best of games today but he's grafted and he's put their defence under all sorts of pressure. You could see his first touch wasn't quite there but the goal at the end will boost his confidence.
"He's a lovely lad and we had a really good chat midweek before Tuesday night's game and he's back to what he does best today getting and poaching goals and that's thirteen now and hopefully that will get more confidence in the lad.
"I will not have a go at the players if they give one hundred and ten percent and Dave knows that he can deliver that week it just depends what mood he's in. With Louis Briscoe has worked his socks off today and terrorised their defence. That's a benchmark now and if he drops below that we'll have to start having a word with him.
"We'll enjoy tonight because it's been along time coming. I'm just pleased for the chairman, the supporters and particularly Tony Hemmings who has worked so hard lately and we were starting to take a bit of flak as a management team and I'm very protective of my staff, my goal keeping coach and Dave Fleary.
"We'll not get carried away though we'll just enjoy Saturday night and look forward to next week.
"Luke Edwards goal was a special one he's got that capability. He had an awful game on Tuesday and my normal reaction perhaps would have been to give someone else a start.
"I've been critical of myself during this run that maybe we have tinkered and changed a little bit too much at times. We've got such a good strength in depth and sometimes maybe a little bit of patience. Luke hadn't started the game the best but the goal gave him gave him a bit of confidence and he struck it very, very well and he's got that in his locker and he's done all right. We withdrew him because he got a little bit of a knock on his foot the other night and we just didn't want to take any risks.
"I was very pleased with Brian's (Woodall's) game. There were little bits and bobs that we need to have a word with him about like when to release the ball and when not but he's done very well today and put a good shift in for us. He's learning the game and we are trying to work with him about what to do when the opposition has the ball. Sometimes he switches off shape wise but he's getting there. He's picking bits and bobs up for us and he's doing it and all of a sudden it's not the same things we've got to talk to him about.
"Going forward he's a menace, he's powerful he's big and strong and he's had a good game today. The question is can he carry that on and that's the challenge Brian's got.
"I thought Nathan Morris had a good game today. He's played left back for us before, I think he started the game at Lincoln at left back and we pushed Sam Wilson further forward.
"It's a strong back four we've had out there today. Miles has done a good job on the opposite side and Nathan has a good left foot. He's big and strong as well and he can head it and I was pleased with that today.
"I was also pleased with Jamie Hood. Jamie and Barry Woolley were exceptional and Barry's popped up and got a goal as well. Only another nine to go before he hits the target I set him. But I was very pleased with the back four today and Lee Evans who's not had a lot to do today but what he did have to do he did well and they've earned that clean sheet between them.
"I think this is my biggest league win as the manager. I can't remember too many games where we've won five-nil so I'll enjoy that tonight."
