UniBond League Division One South
Noose Lane, Willenhall
Saturday, 17th January 2009, 3.00pm
Rovers Make A Point On The Road
Gresley Rovers re-paid the loyalty of it's supporters with a gritty and determined performance at Noose Lane and came away with a well deserved point their first in two months since the original squad was forced to break up due to well documented reasons.
Rovers started well and shocked their hosts by taking the lead after just 5 minutes. Simon Baldwin's free kick from deep in his own half was headed by Liam Hebberd to Paul Edwards, playing in the striker's role, and he duly cracked a low shot from 20 yards that beat Luke Tilt and ended in the bottom corner.
Willenhall could have got straight back into the game when Baldwin parried a vicious shot from Lee Chiltern but just as Justin Nisbett was about to pounce on the rebound the keeper reacted quickly to smother the ball.
The home side went close again on 16 minutes when Shaun Findlay volleyed Chilton's corner just over the bar.
Town's big striker Rory May went close just after the half hour mark when he capitalised on a mix-up between Lee Fell and Callum Keenan. The big front man took the ball and turned before hitting a shot that whistled past the post with Baldwin beaten.
The home side were now getting the upper hand and five minutes before the break they threatened to level. Baldwin kept his side in it with a fine save as he tipped over Scott Stevenson's shot and then from a corner May hammered a shot that looked certain to end up in the net but with Baldwin beaten Edwards somehow managed to get back onto the line and amazingly managed to clear the ball off the line.
Rovers' task of hanging on to the one-nil lead was made even more difficult when they lost centre half Chris Mawbey with a groin injury almost on the halftime whistle. Young striker Matt Weightman replaced him and the versatile Edwards dropped back in the heart of Rovers' defence.
With seconds remaining of the first period Town should have been level when the normally deadly Nisbett beat the Rovers' backline and raced forward. But, with only the keeper to beat, he was stopped from getting on the score sheet by a fine block from Baldwin.
Willenhall came out for the second period looking determined to get something from the game and it almost arrived on 53 minutes when May hammered a shot the wrong side of the near post.
Play moved to the other end and Rovers almost doubled their lead when a cross from Jordi Gough was almost slid in by Fell arriving at the far post but the ball was just a fraction in front of his outstretched leg.
Unfortunately, a couple of minutes of poor defending on the hour mark lead to Willenhall taking the lead.
A good move down right saw a ball put through to Nisbett who clearly controlled the ball with his hand. The offence was missed by both the referee Mr Parker and his assistant and play carried on. Nisbett laid the ball onto May who hit a low shot past the helpless Baldwin.
Rovers were knocked back onto their heels and the home side took full advantage by scoring again just three minutes later.
Another move down the right saw Nisbett this time pick out Findlay unmarked in the area and the midfielder had time to pick his spot past the exposed Baldwin.
To their credit, Rovers did not let the disappointment of going behind get the better of them and continued to defend well as the home side looked to increase their advantage.
It looked as if the visitors' luck had run out with twenty minutes remaining when central defender Martyn Rowntree hobbled off the field after picking up an ankle injury when he fouled Nisbett.
Baldwin made a fine save pushing a stinging shot from Chiltern away for a corner but with Mick Lonergan, on for Rowntree, causing problems down the left Rovers still looked likely to get something from the game.
Lee Fell who had switched wings scored arguably the goal of the game when he collected the ball down the left and raced forward and after leaving two defenders in his wake cut into the area before unleashing a stunning low drive that took keeper Tilt by surprise and flew into the bottom of the net at the near post.
Hebberd could have grabbed all three points but Tilt managed to gab the ball at the second attempt as frontman closed in.
Rovers deserved the point they won with manager Gary Norton dedicating it to all the loyal supporters who'd stuck with the club during the bleakest period in their history.
Manager's View
"Lee Fell's goal was the highlight of the game. In fairness to Lee we had a go at him at halftime because we felt he'd got things like that in his locker.
"We were really pleased with him up to the last game he played which was the Alfreton game so he looked a little bit leggy today and we were really pleased with his contribution to the team going forward.
"Today he looked as if he was just playing within himself or maybe just coasting a little bit as he felt himself back into it as it's been three weeks since he's had any footballing action in terms of playing in a game.
"There were one or two times when we felt he could have turned the screw a little more when he's got at a full back or a wide man and gone past him and really penetrated or got something off.
"We switched him to the left hand side in a tactical switch when Micky Lonergan came on and he let one go and he got his reward and it was a big highlight for us because obviously it got a point for us and it's a point we felt we at least we deserved today.
"It wasn't the prettiest of games but we scrapped well and but for a mad five minute spell defensively in the second half we may have come away with a little bit more.
"It was a cracking start for us. We were pleased to get Paul (Edwards) up front and see what he could do up there but unfortunately that didn't last too long either with the injuries sustained today.
"Paul's got the quality and the technique in scoring that goal was fantastic and it gave us a boost to nudge us ahead.
"But being ahead for so long we were obviously disappointed with the goals we gave away from an individual perspective and a team perspective. We felt we could have done more to prevent them but having said that we found ourselves two-one down and the run we're on at the moment since we reformed the side it would have been easy for us to maybe not fold as such but to have said okay we are only two-one down we'll take that - we've just been beaten again.
"But we didn't and we just kept going and even when we equalised I had a quick word with Anthony (Hemmings) whether we just sit in and try and protect the ball or just carry on and try and nick something. We've got nothing to lose so we just carried on and tried to nick something.
"Either side could have got the winner in the end if I'm honest but we are all now looking forward to a nice Saturday night for a change.
"I'm really disappointed with Chris's (Mawbey) injury. The threat of their front two Rory May and Justin Nisbett I felt Martyn (Rowntree) with Rory and Chris's pace with Justin we defended quite well against them in the first half.
"Chris actually twisted his knee in the first incident and we thought he was going to be okay but then he had to come off and we later found out that the injury was to his groin. Paul Edwards showed his versatility by dropping back in there but then Martyn got his foot caught in between the player's legs as he ran through and twisted his ankle. It's quite swollen and we've ended up with a patched together back four as I've had this season but we managed to hold firm and not concede any more.
"We were particularly pleased with Harley (Hollinshead) who dropped back in there. We felt he was bullied a little bit at Stamford and we had a little chop at him, he's only seventeen and it's important we remember that but he's come back today and put in a decent performance and showed he's not going to be bullied by anybody so we were pleased that in the end we managed to hold on.
"I'm not too concerned that we are not having too many chances on goal. All the work we are doing at the moment is on defensive shape so we haven't had the opportunity yet to work with the strikers as a unit. It's very difficult to get them all together at training and it's a small concern.
"We've asked the players today for a little bit more out of them with regards training. We want to do work on things like the final third and getting shots off. Lee's (Fell) has cut inside and had a shot where previously he wouldn't have done. We've said the same to Matt Weightman and Liam Hebbered. Liam had a disappointing game today by his own standards, but we've said 'if you don't buy a ticket you not going to win'. So in the final third we've got to encourage more shots and work in positions where we can create more chances.
"It doesn't concern me overly because this is our third away game on the bounce and a point away from home and a tight performance away from home ordinarily, before the budget cut, it would have been something we'd have been happy with.
"At home we want to create more chances. In three or four games including Alfreton at home we didn't create too many chances and I'll let you know in a few weeks time when we've got a few more home games under our belt if it's a concern.
"I thought Callam Keenan on his debut was very solid. He's one of those players who came very highly recommended. The people I've spoken to about him says you'll hardly notice him, he'll sit in front of the back four and he'll pick the ball up and he'll pop it about with nice simple passes and he won't try and over play. Today I thought it was a very efficient and effective performance from Callum. A very assured performance. He's only eighteen but it was a very mature and encouraging performance.
"We made the decision that we'd start him today. Carl Timms only lasted two minutes of training on Tuesday due to a knee problem but he got through a full session on Thursday but the physio recommended that he could do with a week off and so we made the decision on Thursday night that we'd start Callum instead of Carl.
"Carl has played some Sunday football and we've asked him not to play tomorrow and if we train this week to just get some light training in the hope that it will clear it up because we're hoping that we'll get one or two players really competing for positions.
"Previously we've not had too much competition. Certain players have been in the side knowing they are going to be in the side. But if we get the injuries we've picked up today back, then maybe one or two bodies then we've got really good competition as well.
"It seems a long while since we've been at the Moat Ground and I'm sure the supporters are very keen to get a get up there. It's a big game against Brigg, who are currently bottom, next Saturday. They've only won once this season so it's a big game for us and we need to take something from that game. If we can get a win that will give us more of a cushion between us and Brigg.
"This ground isn't the noisiest you come to as it's a bit flat, a bit dead but our supporters today, even when we were behind, were magnificent. The lads in the dressing room and the staff just want to say something in appreciation.
"Not just the home supporters but the home and away support. Everything, the gratitude, the support, the pats on the back we've received since the budget was taken away for the new lads who have come in has been magnificent.
"Not once have they got on our backs and again today from start to finish they were brilliant. They were brilliant at Stamford , fantastic at Shepshed and it would be nice to create a nice atmosphere for our next home games. The lads would like to dedicate the point we won today to the supporters who follow us through thick and thin.
"One or two supporters believed we could win a few points. I must admit that there's been a few I've spoken to who didn't think we'd win another game this season but we've got a point today and that's a step in the right direction.
"They said that not with any illicit undertones or anything like that but realistically. Even so if we never won another game this season they'd still be here week in week out supporting us and that's what's supporting a football club is all about.
"At the moment we're having a downturn off the pitch or at the end of a downturn off the pitch and they've stuck with it the core of supporters have and it's a massive credit to them.
"One of the big reasons why myself and the rest of the staff have agreed to stay in the circumstances is the supporters and I'm not just saying that to gain favour or anything like that with them it was a genuine statement I made at the time and I'm delighted for the supporters today because they were brilliant.
"Even supporters who were not here have been fantastic and hopefully we can get a few more points this season and maybe a few wins to thank them further."
