UniBond League Division One South
South Kesteven Stadium, Grantham
Saturday, 25th April 2009, 3.00pm
That's All Folks!
Gresley Rovers ended their UniBond League venture, and with it a very challenging season for everyone connected with the club, with a dogged performance at the South Kesteven Stadium, Grantham in a typical game of two halves with the visitors comfortably on top for the first period.
With manager Gary Norton preparing to run in the London Marathon the following day, his assistant Tony Hemming took charge for this final game.
Hemmings' task was made all the more difficult with several players ruled out through injury and other various reasons. Paul Edwards and John Shales had cricket commitments, Chris Knight and Ryan Spittle picked up injuries playing for their University team in midweek, Nathan Rolph (groin), Matt Weightman (calf) and Brian Woodall (ankle) were all absentees along with Jamie Barrett (suspended) and Callum Keenan (work commitments).
Into the squad were called reserve and youth team players Justis Hayden, James Manley and Chris Burnham with Tyrell Shannon-Lewis given his first team debut.
The visitors were nearly caught out with barely a minute on the clock with Rovers' keeper Simon Baldwin having to make an early save to deny Danny Hargreaves.
Unfortunately, visiting defender Chris Mawbey suffered a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Justin Ashley after just 3 minutes.
Rovers slowly got themselves into the game and for the rest of the half were on top. On 13 minutes a long-range low shot from Jordi Gough tested home keeper Richard Stainsby who made a fine save. Three minutes later Rovers went close again when Lee Fell's shot needed to be cleared off the line by Paul Lister.
The visitors continued to press and Gough again went close as he beat a static Grantham back line to run onto Carl Slater's through ball. The low shot was fumbled by the diving Stainsby but fortunately for the keeper the ball rolled the right side of the upright.
James Davies then went close for Gresley firing a vicious volley that needed a touch from Stainsby to make sure it cleared the bar and then on 37 minutes debutant Shannon-Lewis almost marked his debut with a goal when he turned on Burnham's flicked header and curled a shot that beat Stainsby but also the far post.
As the half drew to a close Shannon-Lewis picked out Carl Timms who in turn sent Gough forward. The young winger saw Stainsby off his line and tried a lob that just cleared the bar.
Within a minute of the re-start the Gingerbreads were in front when David Brown was given time on the right to send over a superb cross to pick out Lee Beeson in acres of space who planted his header past Baldwin and into the net.
Rovers should have been on terms 7 minutes later but this time it was no fairy tale end as Shannon-Lewis found Slater just inside the 18-yard box but the skipper spooned his shot over the bar.
On 57 minutes Gough headed a cross from Davies towards goal but it didn't have the power to trouble Stainsby.
Slater went close on 63 minutes flashing a shot wide but it was the home side that were clearly getting on top.
Three minutes later Beeson went close but his shot flashed across the face of goal and wide of the far post.
Grantham doubled their lead with a remarkable goal on 74 minutes. A clearance landed at the feet of Brooks, a couple of yards or so in his own half, and with Baldwin well off his line the Grantham skipper launched a lob that, aided by a stiff breeze, sailed perfectly into the net.
Rovers were clearly tiring now and the home side should have taken advantage but somehow failed to increase their lead. On 76 minutes a cross found Beeson at the far post who somehow managed to put the ball wide from very close in.
Baldwin finished the game in fine form making two first class saves firstly from Brook who hammered a shot that the keeper did well to get a hand to and secondly blocking a shot with his legs from Hargreaves who should have been less selfish and squared the ball for a team mate totally unmarked in the centre of the box but instead tried to go out in a blaze of glory which sadly backfired.
As the referee's final whistle ended what had been a very emotional season for Gresley both on and off the pitch the young 'patched-up' squad were deservedly applauded and cheered off the field by the visiting supporters.
Whatever the future holds for Gresley if they can hold on to the majority of this squad it can only be bright one.
Manager's View
Anthony Hemmings
"I thought the result was harsh. The lads played really well first half. We played three at the back, four in the middle of the park and three up front and I thought for at least an hour it worked today and it was such a shame that we didn't take our chances.
"To go down so early in the second half I think the lads left the first half back in the dressing room and they went and scored. We slowly got back into it and once again a killer goal got us.
"But, I thought, considering we had a number of lads who hadn't played on a regular basis, the side was patched up and I thought they applied themselves really well today, I'm proud of them.
"I've been told that it was the second time the lad has scored a goal like that against somebody here so the least said about it the better! I've got my own opinions on it.
"I'm pleased about the performance today. I think the lads today, the lads all season have really given us effort and desire for Gresley Rovers Football Club considering the situation we are in. Those lads in the dressing room haven't been paid. I hate mentioning money but it is a factor nowadays. They've come over here and given everything they've got but in the end we weren't good enough but never the less they performed for a good hour for us and fitness told.
"To be quite honest Carl (Slater) has been spoken to before now as have many other players but I've said to all of them in the dressing room that I'd love to see them all here next season and I'd love to work with them and get them on a training pitch to get them organised because I think we'll be challenging next year whatever league we'll be in. Gresley Rovers will be back in whatever guise but we'll be stronger financially and on the pitch. If Carl leaves he'll miss me and he'll be back within three or four weeks.
"I'm not going anywhere at the minute. It's not that I've got to learn anything, be a manager or whatever it's just that I like being around football and at the minute Gresley Rovers is quite easy for me. It's just down the road from where I live so it's not too much strain on my family. I've got three young children and they like to see me all the time whereas previously I was travelling all over the country playing football whereas now it's all on my doorstep so it's quite easy for me.
"From the management side of things a lot of people ask me if I'm going to be a manager. Obviously if the opportunity comes up, yes I'll take it because I'm more than capable of doing it but at the minute it's nice just to support Gaz (Gary Norton) at Gresley Rovers Football Club and to see if we can win the league next year.
"James Davies has been one of the positives in the last three of four weeks, he's looked good. Funnily enough Carl (Slater) has started to play in the last couple of games and last week's performance was outstanding. James, did okay Carl did a good job and Carl Timms as well. Lee Fell came off with an injury; he started with an injury and came off with an injury.
"It would be nice if we had all the players to work with at training. With the situation at Gresley we don't know who's going to turn up. The gaffer rang me up this morning and said we haven't go this player, we haven't got that player and it was one of them. What do you do? We were ringing around trying to get players left, right and centre but the players we put out performed and performed well and just imagine if we had them in on a regular basis over the last four weeks I think we'd have won today."
